In Sept I was charged $87.00 for 4 internationl calls from my home that I, nor anyone in my home ever made. Bell South is my local home phone service and I have them deduct my monthly bill automatically from my bank account. Unfortunalty when I became aware of this, the amount had already been deducted.
I called BS/customer service, and was informed that 3rd party billing is very routine and that Bell South does not need my permission or verification to apply these charges to my bill when said 3rd company tells B/S to apply the charges.
When I informed B/S that I, nor anyone in my home ever made these charges I was instructed that I was a victim of "cramming" and the I should contact USBI, the company billing me these charges and the FCC to report them for cramming.
I called USBI at the number given and was told by a person who did not identify themselves that One Call was the company responsbile for these charges and to call them at the number she gave me, but she did directly connect me to One Call. A recording answered and asked for my phone number which I entered. The recording stated that they did not recognize my phone number as a valid account and hung up on me. I called USBI back and spoke to unidentified lady number 2. She stated that she would directly connect me to One Call's customer service supervisor bypassing the recording, and she gave me that direct number.
However, when she connected me, and again when I dialed the number I received the same recording and upon entering my phone number recieved the same hang up response. I called USBI back, speaking this time to Julian. Julian listened to my story, verified that both numbers were correct and that he would speak to a supervisor at One Call and then directly connect me to the person he spoke too. I was put on hold for 7 minutes and then an unidentifed lady came on the line and asked if she could help me.
I explained and referred to Julian and she interrupted and asked "Who's Julian?" She then stated as I explained about One Call and USBI and the phone numbers that she had never heard of USBI, never heard of One Call and never heard of or talked to Julian. She then asked for my SS# which I didn't give and I hung up on her. I called USBI agian, and spoke to Vivian. I exlained the whole situation to Vivian and asked to speak to Julain. She put me on hold, then came back and said Julian was attending another customer.
She explained that she didn't know why I was not being connected to One Call, and that she would connect me to her supervisor. I was put on hold for a long time, and then a lady came on the line, asked if she could help me, and as I explained the situation, she said "I've never heard of USBI, I never heard of One Call, and I don't know any Julian or Vivain, and I don't supervisor anybody.
I went on google and found the USBI web site and emailed them. They've emailed me back and without addressing the bogus connections stated they referred my complaint to One Call.
I heard from Shelby Morris at One Call, by email, and she states that I'm not getting my $87.00 back, to much time has passed, and she stated that obviously, without my knowledge, someone in my family, a friend, or a visitor to my home made these calls using a 1010 number without my knowledge. Not possible. For obvious reasons.
I also sent an email to the FCC about them cramming me but I have never heard anything back from the FCC.
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