On my most recent phone bill from SBC/AT&T I have a strange charge from IDL Teleservices for Nationwide Voice Messaging. It seems IDL is the billing company for another company Nationwide Voice Messaging. Nationwide Voice Messaging has a shady business practice of billing charges to a phone and only requiring that the requestor know my email address (I'm not even sure if they check that it's mine) and my phone number.
Here's what seems to happen: Anyone can go to one of their web sites (I cannot find this, however, I think they trick people into filling out the information) and fill out a form with false data and request the service they offerbut not for themselves for me or anyone else they choose! All they need to know to bill it to my phone is some information they could find in a phone book. Nationwide Voice Messaging will then send an email out stating that the service will be charge to you if you don't cancel within 3 days. This is where I think their process is most flawed. A reputable company would request a follow-up communication from my email, or better yet my phone number since that's where they charge their services. I'm sure anyone with a sound mind can agree to that, but I'm sure Nationwide Voice Messaging would not. They way I see it, Nationwide Voice Messaging will loose a large percent of their profit/revenue if they switch to this policyso they choose to scam innocent people for their money instead.
So Nationwide Voice Messaging will allow anyone who has internet access and my phone number to charge services to my phone bill, and they claim it is legal. They hide behind some law titled: Electronic Signatures In Global And National Commerce Act. This law was put in place to allow for the easy of electronic business, however it is being abused by companies like this. Personally, I think they are not in compliance with the law becuase they do not do the due diligence to ensure I am the person requesting the service. I found more information on this law at: http://www.ftc. Gov/os/06/esign7.htm
I'm urging SBC/AT&T to stop doing business with these companies, but would like everyone's help who also does business with SBC/AT&T. SBC and AT&T charge a fee to these companies for billing through a customers phone bill, so I'm sure they're making some good money off this scam too. With the proper bad-press, perhaps they will take a look at who they choose to do business with. Thank you for taking the time to read my plea.
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