I received my Qwest phone bill in September and there was a charge from "The Billing Resource, on behalf of OPTIMUM VOICE MAIL, INC." for $15.74 placed on my QWEST bill 9/15/05. I have never heard of this company! I did not and do not need a voice mail service and I never applied for their service—I use a good-old-fashioned answereing machine (which is free!!!)
After attempting several times to contact "The Billing Resource" at 1-888-296-8079, I had to contact my phone company QWEST for their assistance in getting through to this company. The actual phone number is 1-800-339-6340. After 15-20 minutes we were able to reach a live person at RESOURCE who rudely informed me that I authorized a request to charge & create a voicemail service.
This customer service person would not give me his name and he proceeded to recite back personal private information about me (my birthday, email address, etc.) He claimed that I got on my computer and filled out a form for $1000 worth of grocery coupons and he claimed that I wanted the service to try out. I never ever fill out these online forms&IT IS NOT SAFE/SECURE!!!
He claimed that I entered my personal information & and that I had electronically signed the request for service. The service rep then proceeded to tell me that this order took place over Labor Day weekend—THIS IS WHERE I KNEW IT WAS A SCAM. Because over Labor Day weekend (Friday-Monday), I was working 15-20 hour days and did not access the computer at the time he said this occurred (and no one else knows my passwords, etc.) — and where were these supposed grocery coupons? Email correspondance? I NEVER FILLED OUT A SURVEY. This company is a fraud.
At first, the Optimum Voice rep refused to refund the initial $15.74 but I told him that I refused to pay for it. I threatened to report their company. He told me that he would cancel it and that it would continue to appear on my bill for 1-2 more billing cycles before it would be corrected but that I would not have to pay it. That's right! I am NOT paying them a dime!!! They gave me a confirmation code for the credit.
It is now January. The charge is still on my QWEST bill. They have not refunded my money. I attempted to contact "Billing Resource" on 1/3/06 and was not successful.
I have given OVM adequate time to remedy the situation. I now will begin reporting them to every and any agency that will listen!
This has been a headache and a complete waste of my time. This company is a scam and should be investigated!!!
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