'Reaching out to touch someone' doesn't mean what it used to...
I originally took out a bundle service with Cincinnati Bell. I knew when the promo ran out, craziness would ensue because I had been here once before. But, when there are only two phone and internet providers in your area—what do you do? They wanted to charge me 104.15 for a service I'd been paying 65.22 a month for. I had just gotten the new bill, called, told them to cancel my service. My billing ran from the 18 of Dec. To 18 of Jan. I disconnected on Dec. 23. Only five days of service right? Wrong. They tried to charge me the 104.15. I said I wouldn't pay it.
The 'final' bill they sent, they 'gave' me a 36.65 'credit'? To bring the bill back down to 67.50. I guess that was supposed to make me more amenable to paying. So, I paid them half of the 67.50, which came to 33.75, thinking that would surely appease, because after all, I ONLY owed for 5 days of service. No... The next bill came on Jan. 17th saying I owed an additional 9.36 for long distance when I had disconnected on Dec. 23. H-e-l-l-o... For a total NOW of 76.86. Even the "Final Bill"didn't mean 'final'.
So, I went online and filed a complaint with the BBB. I didn't get a response until approx. 3 weeks later and when it came, it came from a Collection Agency.
I called them, told them what was happening and that I would not pay. That I had overcompensated them by paying the 33.75. If they had pro-rated my service for those 5 days, it would only have come to 11.05.
Filed a second complaint with the BBB to get my 22.70 back.
An exec, (and I use that term loosely) named Donna, called me and we argued back and forth for almost an hour. She wouldn't give me back my 22.70 and I said I owed them not a penny more and would not pay the 43.11.
So, finally we agreed she would drop the 43.11 and make the whole thing go away for both of us. Wrong again. I just found out today (my birthday no less, GREAT gift) that the Collection Agency is still pursuing the 43.11 and SO, I filed
another complaint about being lied to.
I've filed a complaint with the States Attorney General office. They recommended I also call the Ohio Public Utilities —where I filed another complaint.
I have to fax my response about this bogus 43.11 charge to the collection agency or Cinci Bell wins. I know the ONLY reason 'Donna' agreed to wipe out the 43.11 was to make me think that it had gone away so I wouldn't file my
response with the collection agency. The notice they sent was on the 3/3 and I ONLY get 30 days to respond. It's the 24th.
So, here we still are... I am SO thoroughly disgusted with this company. The first time I had service with them and told them to disconnect me, the guy I was talking to said, "He wouldn't disconnect me"!!! The unbelievable nerve and gall of the multi - million dollar companies. They ALL think they can treat consumers A-N-Y way they want.
Unfortunately, they train everyone at these companies to 'act' this way because the other provider is just as bad. It's maddening. Their whole purpose is to frustrate you SO badly, that you'll shut up and pay, WHETHER you
owe it OR they deserve it or not. Clearly, they don't.
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