Allo Allo? Calling card company told to play fair or pay up

One of the biggest telephone calling card distributors in the country agreed to pay $1.3 million to settle a federal lawsuit accusing the firm of shorting immigrants and lower-income users their promised time -- often by half. Some users also were charged for calls that were never connected, the Federal Trade Commission said.

Clifton Telecard Alliance One and its principal Mustafa Qattous also agreed to pay more than $24 million if the company failed to comply with the terms of the settlement, which require considerably more honesty than the practices described in the lawsuit.