I don't like being a victim.
I Received $5.99 (small bill but it is irritating) on my recent phone bill from Bellsouth for directory assistance charges at my business here in Georgia. They were billed under "Miscellaneious Charges and Credits". It just so happens that I have a block on phone so that no one can charge to my telephone unless it was direct dialed; my business was closed on the day of the charges.
I contacted local telephone company (Bellsouth) and was told that they could not do anything for me and to call USBI. I asked the Bellsouth rep how charges could possibly be charged to my telephone when there is a block on the phone; his response (after a short on-hold) was that the block I had was free and that it does not cover directory assistance but for a fee, I could block directory assistance charges.
I asked him if there were any regulations in the State of Georgia or the USA that restricts someone from charging to any telephone number they wish to and the response from the Bellsouth Representative was "no there is not". So, I guess I have to find that out myself. I was told again by the Bellsouth rep that there was nothing they could do for me and that I needed to contact USBI.
I then asked for the phone number of the representative in the Bellsouth Fraud department. I was provided the name of Sandra Lamb (may be incorrect spelling) at 205-968-4982. I have left a message for her to contact me. I have found numerous reference to USBI and lawsuits on the Internet in several states against this same company where there were settlements where USBI agreed to credit back customers.
Most scams were about automatic dialers on their computers using their modems to make International calls outside the US. I have not found any reference to directory assistance scams by USBI thus far. I called USBI (888-474-8724) and the telephone was answerd as "National Discount Info". I asked how they were affiliated with USBI and they said they are a billing company for USBI. I was told that USBI found no other charges for my telephone number and that they would credit me.
When I told the representative from NDI that the calls were placed on a particular day according to the bill and that my business was closed on that day, she responded by saying that the date on the bill is not necessarily the date of the charges. I asked if she could provide the details of the charges such as the date and time and she said no but she could take my name and number and have someone call me.
I said 'No" I would like a telephone number to contact the telecom company that issued the call to directory assistance and she said she could not provide that number but that she could have someone call me instead. I then told her "why would I give you my name so that you can scam me more" and she said "you will be credited but the tax must be credited by your local telephone company" and she hung up on me.
Bellsouth should NOT be able to make a revenue from blocking criminals from using your telephone number. Their Block should cover any and all charges unless the calls are directly dialed from your telephone. I was assured back in 2004 when I requested this block that it covered all unauthorized charges, but now Bellsouth says blocks DO NOT COVER directory assistance.
Bellsouth and other telephone companys (SBC, Qwest, AT&T which is actually SBC) should NOT charge their customers for this type of block. USBI MAY be affiliated or the same as United Security Bancshares Inc in Alabama and their stock symbol is USBI. USBI operates as the holding company for First United Security Bank, which provides commercial banking services in Alabama and Mississippi. I have no idea if this is the same company listed on my telephone bill, but I hope not.
I suggest everyone recommend that no one purchase USBI stock IF IT IS THE SAME COMPANY but instead issue complaints and get an investigation started; there are too many scams for several years now. They need to be investigated by law enforcement.
Mathea
Brunswick, Georgia
U.S.A.
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