After giving my telephone account number, I asked when and in whose name the charges had been made. The CSR told me that I had applied by FULL NAME for the accounts on 02-08-2008, that I would have to contact each provider in regard to each account, and was given toll free numbers. I was also told that I would be liable for the charges to my account.

It is obvious that someone got my name as Corporation President of my small business and crammed the charges to my AT&T account.

I called AT&T Billing Information, got an explanation of how the charges were made, requested and got information as to how to apply for credit -- if the "provider" credited my account -- within 2-3 billing cycles (FTC rules allow that period for complaint verification to prevent fraud), then had a "Cramming Blocker" put on my account. The AT&T CSR then flagged the ESBI portion of my account so that that unpaid balance would be carried forward for up to 90 days and not be treated as delinquent.

I called SBO (877-726-4222), verified my AT&T account (I had the CSR read my billing address to me rather than giving it to the CSR), and requested account closure. I was told that the closure would be effective in 1-2 billing cycles. I requested that my account be credited the amount of $29.95 and told that it would be done in the same period. I then had to give my FAX number and was given a Cancellation Number.

I then called ORBIT (800-263-0206), verified my account as before and was told that my account with them would be closed in 5-7 working days. I asked for the $14.95 to be credited to my AT&T account and was told that it would take 1-2 billing cycles and that if any further charges were made before then, I would again have to contact ORBIT for credit. I asked if a flag could be placed to preclude any further charges and was told IMMEDIATELY that it was done, but to "keep an eye on my AT&T bill for any further charges from ORBIT." I HAD TO ASK FOR A CANCELLATION CONFIRMATION NUMBER; I got it and was told that it would be confirmed via email.

I learned from this adventure that:

1) It is incumbent upon each consumer to be aware of ALL bill charges since AT&T and other companies, including credit card and finance companies, have no way to identify the sources of crammed charges. We must call each about the "crammed" account and have the situatioin remidied.

2) Safeguard each and every account by constant vigilance, if possible putting "Cramming Blockers" in place on each one.

3) If one is "public"; ie: in business, blogging, YOUtube, etc., expect that some foul, conniving thief will try to take your money any way possible......It's an unfortunate fact of our degenerating society.

i2bnscrewed

Why can the phone company let ANYONE put charges on my bill? I bet they get a cut.

Photochick57

I'm going to see whether it would be cheaper for me to use my cellphone for all my LD calls and delete it from verizon.
BTW-Do you know that you are also charged tax on tax on your phone bill?

XJSGUY

I'm one likely one of the few college graduates (outside of the top managers) who has ever worked there. Believe me, it's amazing how many people there don't give a crap about their jobs. The problem said attitude is justified because management will usually turn the other way if you are willing to show up and take calls 8 hours a day. It's cheaper to hold on to a trained worker who doesn't give a crap than train someone else.

dragonfire81

Yea right guys, let's try this one more time.

david_consumerist

Gorky

calvinneal

The first thing I did when I got hit with this charge last year was call my phone company and file a dispute; they immediately credited me for the amount. I also dreaded calling the number listed, but they were quick to cancel the "service".

I called my phone company (Frontier) again to block 3rd party billing, but they insisted that it would cost me $4.95 a month! I am no longer a customer and my new provider does not charge a penny for the protection.

fscrp

So, hang up on these calls when you're at work too.

Jim

... until yesterday when I had the day off work, nothing better to do, so I did call and after 45+ minutes of the phone got the $0.48 credit.

coan_net

sixseeds

Angryrider

I had a ringtone service bill me the $9.99 for a month when I didn't even try the service. Verizon couldn't credit the charge but they directed me to the company that billed me. I confirmed cancellation of the service since the addition was not authorized, and I received a credit within 10 working days.

I pay close attention to my wirless bill - especially the data portion since I rarely [read: never] go over package minutes in a given month.

tmlfan81

I can tell you that they were very concerned about not only complaints to the phone companies, but also to any state AG's office. I do know that the FL AG went after them at one point, but it seemed as if what they were doing was just shy of breaking the law.

They were raking it in hand over fist on these subscription products. I know because I processed the billing files every week. We're talking SEVEN FIGURES PER WEEK for products that cost them virtually nothing.

davebg5

johnva

If companies are going to pay on commission, they had better get serious about actually disciplining/firing their dishonest employees. My guess is that they don't care because these dishonest employees make the company more money than they cost them.

johnva

Jeffrowe

davebg5

So no, this wasn't cramming in the traditional sense, and who knows if Sprint sent something to my parents, but for at least a few years they've been paying $11/month to Sprint for probably less than an hour TOTAL of long distance charges. (Not per month!)

Definitely worth going over the bills. It's not like my parents are old or senile and are getting preyed upon, I have no idea how this got overlooked for so long, but they're glad to have it gone. (They actually just turned off long distance on that line completely)

Justin42

dragonfire81

The problem is we are given commissions on the things we sell and we can also be fired if we don't sell enough stuff (even we are providing great customer service) so some less than ethical reps just add stuff to accounts without customers consent, all the while knowing they'll likely be caught because they will never talk to that particular customer again and the next rep who will probably won't make much effort to track down the crammer as they don't get paid enough to care.

dragonfire81

chiieddy

SVreader

chilled

I am going through the exact same B.S. with a company called Thumbplay on my parent's wireless bill.

Very few things really anger me in this world... And this is one of them.

Hambriq

Shannon

jomil91

What was the exact date/time that Chris made the order?
What is Chris's last name?
How was the order placed from Chris (over the phone, through the mail, internet, etc)?
What information did Chris provide that proved to TES that he had authority to order such service? (Ask them to repeat it to you)

Quite frankly, it should be illegal for phone companies to allow this.

sleze69

JollyJumjuck