AT&T accuses Sprint of “fat fingers” scheme

AT&T has filed a lawsuit against Sprint and two other long-distance carriers accusing them of conducting “fat-finger” dialing schemes.

Under these schemes, companies register for 800-numbers that are similar to more commonly-known collect calling numbers with the intention of getting the businesses of individuals who have misdialed

In the case in question, AT&T is accusing Sprint, one of its subsidiaries known as ASC Telecom and as a group of interlocking entities doing business as Opticom of trying to siphon of customers from its (800) CALL ATT service.

According to AT&T, among the numbers registered to Opticom and ASC Telecom are (800) CAAL LAT are (800) CALA ATT. In addition, AT&T says people who call these numbers are not informed of what carrier they have reached, and face much higher charges than what they would have paid using AT&T.

AT&T is seeking to enjoin the defendants from continuing these actions and payment for damages incurred.

In a prepared statement, Sprint denied that either it or ASC engage in “fat-finger” dialing plans, but acknowledges that some customers who have 800-number of their own might have done so in the past.

“Customers of Sprint and ASC select, own and control the use of their own telephone numbers, much as any residential or business customer does, and they may use their 800 numbers for various services. We are aware that certain former customers of ASC are alleged to have used 800 numbers in the manner described by AT&T, and ASC has ended its contractual relationships with those customers.”

Representatives of Opticom could not be reached for comment.