COMMUNITY LONG DISTANCE, INC.
LONG DISTANCE SERVICES AGREEMENT
This Long Distance Services Agreement ("Agreement")
governs the rates, terms and conditions for provision by Community Long
Distance, Inc d/b/a Comporium Long Distance ("Company") of interstate and
international long distance service ("Service"). Interstate long distance
Service is a service involving a call originating in one state and terminating
in another state (also referred to as a "state-to-state" call). International
long distance Service is a service involving a call originating in one country
and terminating in another country. As used in this Agreement, "you", "your",
and "Customer" refer to the individual or entity using or paying for the
Service. THIS AGREEMENT INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE THE RATES, TERMS AND
CONDITIONS INCLUDED IN THE COMMUNITY LONG DISTANCE, INC. RATES, TERMS AND
CONDITIONS GUIDELINES. The Community Long Distance, Inc. Rates, Terms and
Conditions Guidelines ("RTC Guidelines") is available at the Company's offices
at 245 E. Main Street, Rock Hill, SC 29730 and on Community Long Distance,
Inc.'s website at www.comporium.com.
BY ACCEPTING SERVICE FROM THE COMPANY YOU ACCEPT THE RATES, TERMS AND CONDITIONS
INCLUDED IN THIS AGREEMENT AND THE INCORPORATED RTC GUIDELINES AS A BINDING
AGREEMENT BETWEEN YOU AND THE COMPANY.
1. SERVICES. Availability of individual Service offerings of the Company is
described in the RTC Guidelines.
2. RATES. You agree to pay the Company for the Services at the rates and charges
listed in the RTC Guidelines. The Company will apply rates and charges for
Services provided to you as described in the RTC Guidelines.
3. CHANGES IN RATES, TERMS AND CONDITIONS. The Company may change this
Agreement, including the incorporated RTC Guidelines, from time to time. Changes
in rates, terms and conditions are effective no sooner than fifteen (15) days
after the Company posts on its website modifications to the RTC Guidelines
reflecting the changes. The Company will also notify you of rate increases by
bill message, bill insert or other reasonable commercial method at least fifteen
(15) days prior to the effective date for the increases. Advance notice does not
apply to increases in taxes and other charges described in Section 5 below. The
Company may decrease rates and charges without providing advance notice. USE OF
THE COMPANY'S SERVICE AFTER THE FIFTEEN (15) DAY NOTICE PERIOD SHALL BE
CONSTRUED AS YOUR AGREEMENT TO THE CHANGED RATES, TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
4. PAYMENTS. You must pay all bills or invoices from the Company for Services on
or before the due date. Terms and conditions applicable to payment are contained
in the RTC Guidelines. Terms and conditions contained in the RTC Guidelines
applicable to payments include, but are not limited to, a requirement for
payment by you of returned check fees and late payment charges at the highest
interest rate not to exceed the amount allowable by law.
5. TAXES AND OTHER CHARGES. In addition to payment for Services, any applicable
federal, state and local use, excise, sales or privilege taxes, franchise fees,
or similar liabilities chargeable to or against the Company as a result of the
provision of the Company's services to you, shall be charged to and payable by
you. The company will not provide advance notice of changes to taxes and
surcharges, except as required by applicable law.
6. TERMINATION OR DENIAL OF SERVICE BY THE COMPANY. In the event of nonpayment
of any bill rendered or any required deposit, the Company may, after written
notice, suspend your service. The Company may, immediately and without notice to
you, and without liability of any nature, temporarily deny, terminate, or
suspend your service: (a) In the event you or your agent: (i) willfully damage
the Company's equipment, interfere with use of the Company's service by other
customers of the Company; (ii) unreasonably place capacity demands upon the
Company's facilities or service; (iii) violate any statute or provision of law,
or any rule or regulation of any state or federal regulatory agency relating to
communications; or (iv) otherwise fail to comply with the provisions of the
Agreement or applicable law; or (b) In the event you become insolvent, are the
subject of any formal legal proceeding commenced in a court involving a
voluntary or involuntary petition or proceeding in bankruptcy, seek protection
or relief from creditors in formal legal proceeding after a filing for such
relief, or execute an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (c) In the
event that the Company determines that any service is being used fraudulently or
illegally, whether by you or your agent.
7. INDEMNIFICATION. YOU AGREE TO DEFEND, IDEMNIFY, AND HOLD THE COMPANY HARMLESS
FROM AND AGAINST ANY THIRD-PARTY CLAIMS AGAINST THE COMPANY THAT ARISE FROM YOUR
USE OF THE SERVICES. FURTHER, YOU AGREE TO REIMBURSE THE COMPANY FOR ALL COSTS
AND EXPENSES RELATED TO THE DEFENSE OF ANY SUCH CLAIMS, INCLUDING ATTORNEYS'
FEES. THE FOREGOING SHALL NOT APPLY TO SUCH CLAIMS THAT ARE BASED ON THE
COMPANY'S WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OR GROSS NEGLIGENCE. THIS PROVISION WILL CONTINUE
TO APPLY AFTER THE AGREEMENT ENDS.
8. LIABILITIES OF THE COMPANY. Except as stated in this Section 8, the Company
shall have no liability for damages of any kind arising out of or related to
events, acts, rights or privileges contemplated in this Agreement.
(a) The liability of the Company, if any, for damages resulting in whole or in
part from or arising in connection with the furnishing of service under this
Agreement, including but not limited to mistakes, omissions, interruptions,
delays, errors or other defects in transmission occurring after service
activation and during the course of furnishing service or arising out of any
failure to furnish service shall in no event exceed an amount of money
equivalent to the proportionate charge to Customer for the period of service
during which such mistakes, omissions, interruptions, delays or errors or
defects in transmission occur and continue. However, any such mistakes,
omissions, interruptions, delays, errors, or defects in transmission or service
which are caused by or contributed to by the negligence or willful act of
Customer, or which arise from the use of Customer-Provided facilities or
equipment shall not result in the imposition of any liability whatsoever upon
the Company.
(b) The Company is not liable for any act, omission or negligence of any local
exchange carrier or other provider whose facilities are used concurrently in
furnishing any portion of the services received by Customer, or for the
unavailability of or any delays in the furnishing of any services or facilities
which are provided by any local exchange carrier. Should the Company employ the
service of any other common carrier in furnishing the services provided to
Customer, the Company's liability shall be limited according to the provisions
of Section 8(a) above.
(c) Under no circumstances whatever shall the Company or its officers, agents,
or employees be liable for indirect, incidental, special or consequential
damages.
(d) The Company shall not be liable for any failure of performance hereunder due
to causes beyond its control, including but not limited to fire, flood, or other
catastrophes; Acts of God; atmospheric conditions or other phenomena of nature,
such as radiation; any law, regulation, directive, order or request of the
United States Government, or any other government including state and local
governments having any jurisdiction over the Company or the services provided
hereunder; national emergencies; civil disorder, insurrections, riots, wars,
strikes, lockouts, work stoppages, or other labor problems or regulations
established or actions taken by any court or government agency having
jurisdiction over the Company.
(e) The Company is not liable for any damage to Customer's premises or equipment
arising out of the connection of any of Company equipment associated wiring on
such premises, or from the installation or removal thereof except to the extent
that such damage results from the Company's negligence or willful misconduct.
Customer will indemnify and save and hold the Company harmless from any claims
of the owner of Customer's premises or equipment, or other third party claims
for such damages.
(f) The Company shall not be liable for any act or omission of any other entity
furnishing to the Customer facilities or equipment used with the service
furnished hereunder; nor shall the Company be liable for any damages or losses
due in whole or in part to the fault or negligence of the Customer or due in
whole or in part to the failure of Customer-provided equipment or facilities.
9. WARRANTIES. EXCEPT AS THIS AGREEMENT EXPRESSLY STATES, THE COMPANY MAKES NO
WARRANTY REGARDING THE SERVICES AND DISCLAIMS ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY, INCLUDING
ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
10. BILLING DISPUTES. In the event Customer disputes any charges billed by the
Company, Customer may withhold from payment to the Company the disputed portion
of any billing pending resolution of the dispute, provided Customer submits to
the Company an itemized statement in writing which identifies the disputed
charges and reasonably explains the basis of the dispute. Customer's explanation
must be received by the Company within ten (10) days of the bill date of the
disputed bill. The Company shall resolve the dispute, within thirty (30) days of
receipt of determination of whether any billing adjustment should be made into
Customer's account. In the event Customer does not agree with the initial
determination by the Company relating to amounts in dispute and adjustments, if
any, which the Company may agree to make, Customer shall so advise the Company
and within ten (10) days following the Company's initial determination shall
submit to the Company any additional information which Customer deems pertinent
or relevant to the dispute. Within twenty (20) days of the Company's receipt of
additional information, the Company shall make its final determination based
upon all documentation or information available to the Company. If the Company
determines that all or any portion of such disputed amount is still owed,
Customer shall be required to tender payment of such amount within ten (10) days
thereafter. If Customer withholds the disputed amount thereafter, or within the
time required, fails to provide supporting information in writing which sets out
a legitimate basis under this Agreement for disputing any charges, Customer's
account shall be deemed to be past due and unpaid. In such event, the Company
shall be entitled to deny Customer's service immediately and/or require an
additional deposit. If the billing dispute is resolved in favor of the Company,
any payments withheld pending resolution of the dispute shall be subject to a
late payment fee of 1.5 percent per month for the period during which such
charges remain unpaid.
11. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Entire Agreement. This Agreement (which incorporates by reference the RTC
Guidelines) constitutes the entire agreement between the Company and you and
supersedes all prior agreements, understandings, statements or proposals, and
representations, whether written or oral. This Agreement can be amended only as
provided in Section 3 above. No written or oral statement, advertisement, or
service description not expressly contained in the Agreement will be allowed to
contradict, explain, or supplement it. Neither you nor the Company is relying on
any representations or statements by the other party or any other person that
are not included in this Agreement.
(b) Separability. If any part of this Agreement is found invalid, the rest of
the Agreement will remain valid and enforceable.
(c) No Third Party Rights. This Agreement does not provide any third party with
a remedy, claim, or right of reimbursement.
(d) Assignment. The Company can assign all or part of its rights or duties under
this Agreement without notifying you. You may not assign this Agreement or the
Services without the Company's prior written consent and assignment shall be in
accordance with the RTC Guidelines.
(e) Deposits. The Company may require a security deposit for new and existing
customers in accordance with the RTC Guidelines.
(f) Notices. Notices from you to the Company must be provided as specified in
this Agreement. Notice from you to the Company made by calling the Company is
effective as of the date that the Company's records show that the Company
received your call. The Company's notice to you under this Agreement with
respect to changes in rates, terms and conditions will be provided as described
in Section 3 above. The Company's notice to you under this Agreement for matters
other than changes in rates, terms and conditions will be provided by one or
more of the following: posting on our web site, recorded announcement, bill
message, bill insert, newspaper ad, postcard, letter, or call to your billed
telephone number.
(g) Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by the law of the State of
South Carolina.