This is not just a email warning I received... It actually happened to me.
I got a extra $40 charge added to my phone bill this month from a place that calls it's self 'ATLANTIC MANAGEMENT'
The number (on my phone bill) I was supposed to have called was 900-444-0358 and it was billed as two minute call.
$40 plus $1.20 fed tax and $2.40 state tax for a total of $43.60 for a single 2 minute call.
I ofcourse called SPRINT right away to dispute the charge. Told them I've never in my life called any 900 number.
I was told that it commonly can be caused by a virus on your computer. Your computer dials the number, connects
And you get charged! Isn't that amazing! All without your knowledge.
The phone company told me they'd remove the charge from this months bill, and 'hold' the charge for 90 days.
I had to call the 3 rd party company that had it put on there in the first place and tell them I've never used their services.
Then try to get them to remove the charge.
So. I didn't have a lot of hope of getting anywhere, but I called the original 'billing company'
They didn't want to budge. I insisted I never used the 'services' I was billed for.
They said maybe someone else in the house did... Another family member or friend without my knowledge.
They said they'd check on it and I said NO... Remove the charge. I was insistent too.
The woman became very agitated towards me and finally said a credit would be issued and HUNG UP ON ME.
I called right back, got a different person and asked her to make sure a credit would be issued.
She SAID it would, but it would take 2 to 3 billing cycles before it showed up on my phone bill.
Time will tell...
Anyway, the moral of the story is protect yourself before it happens to you.
I had the phone company put a "3rd party block" on my phone to prevent anything like this happening again.
It will not allow any 3rd party to add a fee for 'services' to your phone bill.
Just call your phone company business office and tell'em you want to put a 3rd party block on your phone.
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