I am a call center representative for a large local telephone company. I see fraudulent charges all the time for Qitel, Integretel, ESBI, and others. It is revolting, to say the least, to see the same scams day after day.
After reading the scams listed under keyword search "integretel", I can say I have seen all of them. I have some advice that has worked in the past which I would like to share with you. And I would like to say I am sorry for the dishonesty that you have all experienced.
The first thing you can do is MONITOR YOUR PHONE BILL and IMMEDIATELY REPORT ANY STRANGE OR UNUSUAL CHARGES. If it looks suspicious, call us (your local provider). As call center reps, we are paid to handle our customer's questions, and we do not mind doing so.
Keep in mind, however, that your local provider acts as a "messenger" for charges that are imposed by other companies and cannot credit charges that are not their own. Most local companies can "dispute" the charges by sending them to a toll-investigation team OR send them directly back to the billing company so that they can decide if they want to bill you seperately.
IT IS MOST IMPORTANT that you report anything unusual IMMEDIATELY. Watch your monthly bill; many customers pay the bill each month, blindly, and then find months later that there is a strange voice mail charge on their bill, or an operator service charge they did not authorize. At this point it may be too late for us, your local carrier, to adequately dispute your charges.
What happens is this: when your phone is charged with anything from another company, the local company pays the other company's bill. So, let's say your local bill is 20.00, but there are 30.00 in charges from XYZ company. If you are late paying your bill, or VERY late (more than a month), your local provider foots the bill for charges to XYZ company, because they were charged on local billing accounts.
At that point, the moneys owed are to your local provider, and not XYZ company, even if the charges are fraudulent. This is why it is SO important to report anything you feel is strange IMMEDIATELY; if it goes too far, it will be out of our hands.
If your local TV or radio supports a fraud hotline, or if they are even interested in investigating local claims of fraud, take it to the street! No company wants bad publicity, even the nasty ones. If you are lucky enough to get a rep from the crooked company, advise them that you will be taking the matter to the media and reporting it to the Public Service Commission or the Public Utilities Commission, or even the Better Business Bureau.
Take it to your local PSC (Public Service Commission) or PUC (Public Utilities Commission). The name varies from state to state. File with the Better Buiness Bureau, or check for class action lawsuits online. Chances are there is one out there if the company is made of thieves. The BBB should be able to tell you more on Class Action Lawsuits against a particular company.
I sincerely hope this helps. I have been doing my job for years and am pained when someone waits too late or simply lets it go. Fraud does not have to be hundreds of dollars... in fact, the smaller amounts are almost more important because no one notices them until it is too late. It is important, no matter how much the amount, THAT YOU REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY.
It truly is excruciating to examine your montly bills but, believe me, you are much better for taking the time to do so. And nothing will happen to these crooks unless we DO SOMETHING about it; the sooner we can refute charges, the less power the company has to do it again.
Sincerely
Customer Service Representative
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