Viewer Fills Out Survey, Gets Billed For Voice Mail
Verizon Confirms Complaints About OAN Services
POSTED: 5:46 pm EST November 3
UPDATED: 6:00 pm EST November 3
Like many people, Rita doesn't always look closely at her monthly phone bill — she just pays it.
"I knew something was wrong, because I never knew about this company, " Rita said.
On her bill was a $14.95 charge for OAN Services, Inc. From USA Voice Mail, a voice mail service. It took Rita days to track down the charge to an online survey she had taken.
While she worked to get the charge removed, she was billed for another month — another $14.95.
Rita finally learned that in the terms and conditions section of that survey, it said that by taking the survey, she was signing up for the service. The onus was on Rita to click a "no" button to decline.
"Verizon suspended billing for USA Voice Mail on Sept. 15. This action was taken by the corporation due to the large number of cramming complaints and questions regarding USA Voice Mail's marketing practices."
OAN disputed the complaint about its marketing practices:
"The service is marketed on the Internet through various co-registration marketing programs. The service was clearly described in both the text and in the terms and conditions on the offer page to fully educate the consumer before purchasing the service. All orders must be affirmatively ordered by the customer."
The Consumer Alert bottom line is that you should always be skeptical of free offers and you should always check all the terms and conditions of anything you sign or click online.
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