Once again I have found myself wasting an enormous amount of time on the telephone trying stop stop charges for unwanted services that were never requested. Then demanding a refund for all past current and future charges.
I first spoke with the company named on the bill. The good folks at Enhanced Billing Services Inc. Quickly informed me that I had called the wrong number. It seems that all they have to do with SBO-Online is collecting the cash from this scam. They were happy to provide me with SBO's number. Then it really gets fun.
Once you get these jokers on the phone you have to be very persistent. First they will tell you that someone in your home authorized the service. Possibly even you yourself, but you probably forgot taking their survey and allowing them to use your phone account as a defacto credit card. If you do not fall for this ploy the representative will try to convince you to take one month's refund. They will assure you that that is the best they can do. Do not accept this line. Next they will offer to drop the upcoming charge for the next month. Don't stop there. The part you really have to argue with them about is for any amounts from prior months that you did not notice on your bill.
Remember they have no right to extort charges for services you do not authorize. Be very careful about sites you visit that ask you to take a survey. Even if you do not participate all they have to phish out of your computer is your phone number. Which is of course connected to a name and address.
Now here is the real kicker for me. Where does AT&T come to the conclusion that your account should be available to these shady companies. That they should be able to throw out your account as an open credit card for anyone who decides to throw a charge on your account. No courtesy call to ask your permission. No written agreement with them to allow for such transactions and no assistance in removing the charges.
Now I get to go and have fun doing this whole process two more times. One for Voicemail Solutions which is hand in hand with SBO-Online. And another lovely round with ILD Services.
0 comments