News, Events & Things You Should Know
URGENT NOTICE
IN AN EFFORT TO HELP KEEP OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR SUBSCRIBERS SAFE, WE WILL BE CLOSING OUR BUSINESS OFFICE LOBBY EFFECTIVE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020.
OUR DRIVE-THRU WILL REMAIN OPEN AT THIS TIME.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO USE OUR ONLINE BILL PAYMENT OPTION IF POSSIBLE.
Annual Members Meeting
In accordance with the orders of Governor Northam, our Board of Directors has elected to postpone the annual membership meeting scheduled in May to a date to be determined after this has passed. Capital Credit checks will be issued on schedule.
Follow us on Facebook (Pembroke Telephone) for the latest announcements & information!
Scholarships
Pembroke Telephone Cooperative will award one (1) $1000.00 Scholarship to a Graduating High School Senior who is planning to attend a two or four year college. Payment will be made $500.00 per semester for (2) semesters and will be sent directly to the educational institution upon receipt of verification of enrollment for that semester. The student should submit verification directly to our office.
Scholarship will be awarded to a student whose parent/parents are full-time residents of the 626 or 544 telephone service areas, have had a Membership in good standing with the Cooperative for more than one (1) year and are currently subscribing to telecommunications services from PemTel.
This includes eligible Graduating Seniors from area high schools as well as those who are being Home Schooled.
Selection will be made based on: Need, High Achievement, Leadership and Activities. Winners will be chosen by the Pembroke Telephone Cooperative Scholarship Committee.
Children of PTC Employees and Directors are not eligible.
Scholarship will be awarded to a student whose parent/parents are full-time residents of the 626 or 544 telephone service areas, have had a Membership in good standing with the Cooperative for more than one (1) year and are currently subscribing to telecommunications services from PemTel.
This includes eligible Graduating Seniors from area high schools as well as those who are being Home Schooled.
Selection will be made based on: Need, High Achievement, Leadership and Activities. Winners will be chosen by the Pembroke Telephone Cooperative Scholarship Committee.
Children of PTC Employees and Directors are not eligible.
PemTel Directory Cover Art Contest
Entries for the PemTel Directory Cover Art Contest will be accepted through April 5, 2020. The first place entry will be featured on the 2020 Giles-Craig Telephone Directory and will win $100.00. You may submit up to three (3) photos by email or CD for judging. You must be a current PemTel Member in good standing to enter.
Late Charges
Payments must reach our office by the due date to avoid late fees. Payments made via USPS mail, payments made by your bank on your behalf, payments made at The National Bank, etc. sometimes require several days for processing before reaching our business office. If these payments do not reach our office by the due date, they are considered late regardless of the date you made the payment, Therefore it is important to make your payment in such a way that it reaches our office on or before that date to avoid incurring late payment charges.
Failure to receive a bill does not exempt your account from late charges. Call our office at (540) 626-7111 for more information.
Failure to receive a bill does not exempt your account from late charges. Call our office at (540) 626-7111 for more information.
Accessibility Statement
Giles-Craig Communications Inc. qualifies for a waiver from the FCC that relieves Giles-Craig Communications Inc. of the requirement to ensure that on-screen text menus and guides for the display or selection of multichannel video programming provided by navigation devices that it leases or sells are audibly accessible in real-time upon request by individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Therefore, customers who are blind or visually impaired using Giles-Craig Communications Inc. will not be able to audibly access any of the functions in the display or selection of multichannel video programming via on-screen text menus and guides. Other television providers in your area may offer navigation devices with audibly accessible features. For more information, contact Giles-Craig Communications Inc. at 540-544-2288 or pembroke@pemtel.net.
Robocalls
What is a Robocall?
If you answer the phone and hear a recorded message instead of a live person, it's a Robocall.
What can I do to stop Robocalls?
The FCC requires telemarketers to allow you to "opt out" of receiving calls. Robocalls are required to include a number that you can call to be removed from their lists. You can also register your telephone number on the National Do Not Call Registry.
Where can I get more information?
More information about Robocalls and what you can do to stop them is available on the following websites:
FCC Cutting off Robocalls
FCC Stop Unwanted Calls, Texts and Faxes
National Do Not Call Registry
FTC Robocalls/Consumer Information
If you answer the phone and hear a recorded message instead of a live person, it's a Robocall.
What can I do to stop Robocalls?
The FCC requires telemarketers to allow you to "opt out" of receiving calls. Robocalls are required to include a number that you can call to be removed from their lists. You can also register your telephone number on the National Do Not Call Registry.
Where can I get more information?
More information about Robocalls and what you can do to stop them is available on the following websites:
FCC Cutting off Robocalls
FCC Stop Unwanted Calls, Texts and Faxes
National Do Not Call Registry
FTC Robocalls/Consumer Information
Phishing Schemes
Dear PemTel Subscribers:
It’s never been more important to actively protect your personal information! Criminals often use elaborate tactics to get you to reveal information like passwords, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, etc.
These criminals may send e-mails, instant messages or even call pretending to be someone from a bank, a credit card company or even the Internal Revenue Service! They may try to tell you that you have to update your personal information, but it’s a trick! You should never give this type of personal information out! PemTel, nor any other reputable company, would ever ask you for information that they already have.
In some other cases, emails will state that you have won an award, or a free vacation, etc. They may ask you to click on the links provided in the email to claim your prize. Clicking these links can then jeopardize the security of your computer and the information stored on it. Don’t do it! If you receive an email or phone call offering you something that seems too good to be true, it is probably a scam!
Another scam involving Internet and computer services begins with an individual calling you to advise you that your computer is infected with a virus which they offer to fix it for a fee. They may claim to be with some well known company. They may ask for your credit card as payment and will ask you to install a piece of software that allows them to control your computer. This is a scam! Following their instructions gives them access to your credit card information, your computer and the information stored on it! If you suspect that you have a virus on your computer, consult a reputable professional for assistance!
In order to protect yourself from being a victim of these types of scams, we urge you to use caution and to follow these basic rules:
1. Don't share your personal information, such as passwords, for "verification" purposes, whether be it online or by phone.
2. Keep your anti-virus software up-to-date and install a firewall.
3. Don't click on pop-ups or links in emails unless you know and trust the sender.
4. Use different passwords for different accounts.
Please protect yourself! And contact us at 540-626-7111 if you have any questions. Or report suspicious activities to the Giles County Sheriff’s Office at 540-921-3842.
Sincerely,
PemTel
It’s never been more important to actively protect your personal information! Criminals often use elaborate tactics to get you to reveal information like passwords, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, etc.
These criminals may send e-mails, instant messages or even call pretending to be someone from a bank, a credit card company or even the Internal Revenue Service! They may try to tell you that you have to update your personal information, but it’s a trick! You should never give this type of personal information out! PemTel, nor any other reputable company, would ever ask you for information that they already have.
In some other cases, emails will state that you have won an award, or a free vacation, etc. They may ask you to click on the links provided in the email to claim your prize. Clicking these links can then jeopardize the security of your computer and the information stored on it. Don’t do it! If you receive an email or phone call offering you something that seems too good to be true, it is probably a scam!
Another scam involving Internet and computer services begins with an individual calling you to advise you that your computer is infected with a virus which they offer to fix it for a fee. They may claim to be with some well known company. They may ask for your credit card as payment and will ask you to install a piece of software that allows them to control your computer. This is a scam! Following their instructions gives them access to your credit card information, your computer and the information stored on it! If you suspect that you have a virus on your computer, consult a reputable professional for assistance!
In order to protect yourself from being a victim of these types of scams, we urge you to use caution and to follow these basic rules:
1. Don't share your personal information, such as passwords, for "verification" purposes, whether be it online or by phone.
2. Keep your anti-virus software up-to-date and install a firewall.
3. Don't click on pop-ups or links in emails unless you know and trust the sender.
4. Use different passwords for different accounts.
Please protect yourself! And contact us at 540-626-7111 if you have any questions. Or report suspicious activities to the Giles County Sheriff’s Office at 540-921-3842.
Sincerely,
PemTel