Tentative Deal in ‘Slamming’ Case

National Telephone & Communications Inc. has reached a tentative agreement with state regulators to pay $370,000 to settle claims that it switched the long-distance service of at least 10,000 consumers without their permission.

The pending settlement, which must be approved by the state Public Utilities Commission, ends a nine-month investigation by the commission’s staff into consumer complaints against the Irvine telecommunications company.

The agreement marks the third time NTC has settled cases alleging illegal switching, a practice called “slamming.”

Last month, it paid $1.25 million to end a civil fraud suit brought by the Orange County district attorney’s office. In July, the company paid nearly $56,000 to settle a case involving consumers in Connecticut.

The company didn’t admit any wrongdoing.