Office of Inspector General Request
9 07 2009All…
This is for folks who may have an inside information of whatever is happening in the VRS industry of wrong doings.
The FCC OIG has asked that I provide you the following information: The FCC OIG would appreciate any information anyone with first-hand, personal knowledge about the practices described in the FBI Warrants and Warning Alert (and in comments on this Alert) could provide. If you are willing to provide such first-hand information, you should contact the OIG Hotline at (888) 863-2244 or hotline@fcc.gov.
I strongly suggest you do that! It is high time to clean up the nefarious actions.
eyes open & thumbs up,
Ed B
“Conscience is the root of all true courage; if a man would be brave
let him obey his conscience.” —James Freeman Clarke
“The torture of a bad conscience is the hell of a living soul.” —John Clavin
So, if “everyone was doing it” – or maybe doing something that was shady, marginal, right-on-the-edge-of-ethical-and-probably-a-tiny-bit-over-the-line ….
Naw, I am not going to snitch; I am retired and my friends are still trying to earn a living.
YES, SURE, ABSOLUTELY, the misuse and outright abuse MUST stop.
But little Deaf World is too too small to put my friends out of work just because some corporate thief decided to implement questionable policies.
Anyone still doing abuse or misuse or even “maybe-this-conference-call-is-a-questionable-use-of-VRS” should stop NOW.
BTW, Ed. Thanks for posting the search warrant applications. Very interesting reading! I did not know that Bernie Madoff also had a VRS company!
NotMe!, Will you please provide us a link that states that Madoff also had a VRS company. Thank you
Rickl,
Notme! is just being sarcastic. Bernie Madoff doesn’t own a VRS co. but with the “dirty business” of VRS it would seem he was involved in VRS too.
I cancelled reservations and had to call to make reservations using credit from the cancellation and this process took one hour. The video interpreter darted wary looks now and then. Good people like myself are taking the bum rap. Now using the VRS is like an egg-shell. I’m very scared to take a minute or two to call to order something tasty for delivery because I may not realize I can order the same thing online. Legitimate business-related training calls for legitimate business persons using VRS aren’t covered by the acts (ADA, etc.) so what are legitimate business persons supposed to do? Functional equivalency. Damn this! There are some persons who have legitimate needs and the policies, acts, laws are poorly written and advocated they’ll be screwed over. We need to establish business class VRS for business persons certified even by the FCC or a contracted agency. This program can be closely monitored.
I would like to see this OIG Notice be posted at all VRS Call Centers. And the owner of VRS providers issue an annual letter to employees stating that if they have any information or suspecting of wrong-doing at work, call FCC’s OIG. This letter should be posted at all VRS Call Centers too.
Ed, as you know I am the CEO of CSDVRS (the Z). A couple months ago I sent you a copy of our code of ethics. This is an internal document that we are now making public on our website. Please feel free to publish it and even take the lead in supporting, editing and/or endorsing the Code as an industry wide code asking other providers to sign up. People can now go to our web and read that code. The industry will make it thru this challenge. It is a shame it had to happen.
Sean Belanger, Thumbs Up with you!
In many cases it is difficult for a VI to report abuse of the system, nobody wants to loose their job. Does the FCC OIG offer some sort of whistleblower reward for people who decide to report this kind of fraud?????
White/private labeling VRS (e.g. CADVRS thru CSDVRS / ZVRS) is very simple to do because this allows accounting of minutes measured through IP Addresses (e.g. CADVRS.TV). This is a method measuring how much each organization receives in sponsorship. This white/private labeling practice needs to be outright banned.
Like Convo Relay- white label under CACVRS. Makes me wonder whether there are any difference in any affiliates that are with CSDVRS & CACVRS.
HOVRS as well with AT&T & Sprint- the only difference I see with that is certification part…. AT&T / Sprint are certificated relay provider.
I understand ConvoRelay is new. At least Ed Bosson have sincere intentions but I’d like to see maximum transparent documentation within their Website. In light of what’s going on lately I think it’d be so nice.
Never mind about White/private labels.. I’m little confused different between white and private label. I think white label is more of like sponsors related, and private label is more of like Convo for CACVRS. Please correct me.
FCC’s initial offer of $17 a minute has led to abuse. I do recall one being raided after the government discovered employees inside were making VRS calls within the company so the VRS provider could bill the government for bogus minutes. It was owned by foreigners, I am not exactly sure which one, but that was about five years ago.
I am the “if it works, don’t fix it” type of guy and I have stuck with one VRS provider that suits my needs.
X-files,
Yes, that is how I see it, too. Convo – altho not certified – intends to be certified (in the process now). Convo has a call center, and rent/lease CAC’s technical platform. Convo gets paid for providing VRS. Other white label services do not have their own call center, does not have oversight responsibilities over call centers, and do not use technical platform and is sponsored by CSDVRS in return for marketing services by organizations. At least, that’s how I understand it.
Richard,
You are probably referring to Publix (spell wrong) who manufactured TTY minutes through traditional TTY relay service. FBI got into that and eventually the guy was proved guilty in court. Was fined in millions.
Eds,
Thank you for posting my 2nd post. I wondering what happened to 1st post i typed.. it’s quite long cynical for most VRS providers. Isn’t at least OIG interests to know first post?
I have not had any problem with VRS. I strongley encourage everyone to make the difference with VRS. VRS is very significant for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community to use. Whether they abuse it, or not, we cannot allow VRS to go away. We NEED VRS because of the communication accessible. We always have good terps, or bad terps just like we have good customers, or bad customers. We will go through good times, or bad times. When I first use VRS approximately 3 years ago, I didn’t realize how much I need to use VRS and how much I miss the communication if I don’t use VRS. Majority of the time I use VCO (voice-carry over) with VRS. How can I beg to please not to let VRS go!!! I use Viable VRS. Viable have great interpreters and great service. I have no problem with them. FCC, please don’t take away VRS from the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community. We need ‘em.
Teresa,
I agreed with you and all VRS should start focusing on discipline now and it will get better, not getting worst. I for one, should VRS stay, not shut downing.
Teresa: VRS is here to stay. It will never go away. Mark my words on that.
R-
(edited to remove name of VRS provider by editor)
I think private/white-labled VRS should be banned because it helps generate minutes. One VRS Provider have too many affilates that needs to be terminated and use the original VRS provider. I am upset after I am reading this, FCC needs to be strong and more serious about VRS issues because I know many providers out there are abusing it. I just read the The new Code of Ethics by one VRS provider, it doesn’t make any difference, who give a flying crap about it. VRS needs to stop fooling around, be serious and don’t abuse our taxpayers money to abuse the system. I think IP Relay based should be banned so that way VRS can only use VP to place phone calls to prevent fraud calls. Becuase many international using IP Relay based to place scam calls, by removing IP Relay system, it will help eliminate fraud. This is my opinion to protect the deaf community.
To All VRS Victims:
tO ALL Shames on VRS Interpreters and Customers:
Many VRS interpreters are very dirty to call many wrong phone numbers and re-dailed the right phone numbers over again, because they wants to overcharge more money on FCC funds. Many VRS intepreters ARE ILLEGAL to steal many hundreds of deaf private phone numbers to give out to any stranger people who still harrass to call to deaf VRS victims’s private phone numbers at all times.
Many VRS Customers did not care if any VRS victim wants to file any complaint against VRS interpreter’s unprofessional behavior and code of ethic problems at all time.
Many deaf VRS victims are fed up against VRS customers and interpreters who still make fun of deaf VRS victims at all time.
Many VRS companies still harrass to e-mail to many deaf VRS victims’s private e-mail messages as they try to steal their private e-mail messages without their authorization at all time.
Many deaf VRS victims must be alert to know about VRS customers and interpreters who can evade to look into your private e-mail messages, credit card numbers, driver license numbers, and etc.
NO ONE TRUST TO ALL BAD VRS INTERPRETERS AND CUSTOMERS AT ALL..
ALL VRS CUSTOMERS AND INTERPRETERS ARE VERY DANGEROUS TO STEAL YOUR PRIVACY E-MAIL MESSAGES, CREDIT CARD NUMBERS, DRIVER LICENSE NUMBERS, AND MANY DIFFERENT THINGS NOW.
SHAME TO ALL VRS CUSTOMERS AND INTERPRETERS ARE DISHONEST NOW.
FCC OIG should arrest to any VRS interpreter and customer for illegal evading of e-mail messages, private phone numbers, harrsssment to call to deaf VRS victims as they try to steal private driver license number, credit card number and many things.
ALL DEAF VRS VICTIMS MUST REPORT NECESSARY COMPLAINTS TO FCC OIG AGAINST VRS CUSTOMERS AND INTERPETERS IMMEDIATELY.
TO ALL VRS VICTIMS:
YES, IT IS VERY TRUE THAT VRS INTERPRETERS ARE VERY BAD SERVICES. VRS INTERPRETERS ARE BIG GOSSIPS TO THEIR VRS COMPANY AND OUTSIDE OF PUBLIC PLACES ABOUT ANY DEAF VRS VICTIM’S PRIVACY VRS CALLS AND E-MAIL MESSAGES.
YOU NEED TO WATCH OUT AGAINST VRS INTERPRETER WHO TRY TO ABUSE TO ANY DEAF VRS VICTIM’S PRIVACY CALLS IMMEDIATELY.
YOU NEED TO REPORT TO FCC OIG AGAINST ANY VRS CUSTOMER SERVICE OR INTERPRETER’S ABUSIVE OF VRS VICTIM’S PRIVACY CALLS/E-MAIL MESSAGES/PERSONAL CREDIT CARDS AND MANY DIFFERENT THINGS RIGHT NOW. YOU NEED TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHT PRIVACY PROTECTION FROM VRS INTERPRETERS WHO CAN STEAL YOUR VRS PRIVACY CALLING INFORMATIONS RIGHT NOW.
David and Deaf Victims,
It happened to my friends in past. If YOU feel that Interpreter are not bound to those code of ETHIC, REPORT TO FCC and RID. That’s all you can do. If they do nothing. I ADVISE you to keep recording of each occurred then report to FCC again. It’s your job to make sure that your personal information is protected.
FCC should have strict standard for interpreters, if they have done wrong to deaf people. They should have face jailed or fines or both! That’s their lesson. If interpreters may not do anything wrong to deaf people, then good job. We wanted to thank you for your skills and help deaf community to have an access!
It will be an interesting to see more and more deaf people reports again interpreters for an attempting impersonal or ID thief someone’s life!
For those who have had that happen (and I do realize it is possible) that is sad. In all honesty it makes me ashamed to think that others in my profession would be that cruel, ignorant, self serving and outright disgraceful. Those who would be involved in that practice should be reported. You can write down the VI number for any VRS Interpreter you use and keep a notebook of your call and subject matter. For example “June 15 2009 used xyz vrs service interpreter number 1234 to call about my chase credit card”. I would find it sad to do so but I understand the need to protect private information.
We process so many calls in a day for hundreds of different issues, and never once have I thought about, or been tempted to steal someone’s personal information. My job is not to find out your personal information, it is only to help you communicate. As a hearing person, I still have difficulty entering credit card information online, or over the phone but it is necessary in so many situations, I can’t imagine how worried I would be having another set of eyes or ears lurking over my information. I would report any interpreter who I thought was stealing information as anyone should who has any amount of self respect. I hope I never have the need to actually go through the experience. Please know not everyone is deceitful and out to cause harm.