While traveling I used my calling card from payphones to make phone calls. Unfortunatley for me these calls were placed through Opticom.
Upon receipt of the billing I was shocked to see each call was billed as 4 minutes to an amount of $231.85.
As billed
12/08/03 12.29pm Chipley Fl To Houston Tx 4.0 = $30.95
12/10/03 03:13pm Albany La To Houston Tx 4.0 = $20.89
12/10/03 03:14pm Albany La To Houston Tx 4.0 = $20.89
12/10/03 03:16pm Albany La To Spring Tx 4.0 = $20.89
12/10/03 03:20pm Albany La To Houston Tx 4.0 = $20.89
12/10/03 03:20pm Albany La To Houston Tx 4.0 = $20.89
12/10/03 03:40pm Denham La To Houston Tx 4.0 = $32.15
12/10/03 03:43pm Denham La To Houston Tx 4.0 = $32.15
12/10/03 03:52pm Denham la To Houston Tx 4.0 = $32.15
When I contacted Opticom about the mater this is what I got as a reply:
Thank you for your inquiry. Opticom works closely with state and federal commissions to ensure our rates, charges and carrier identification policies are in compliance with all regulations, while state-of-the-art technology provides our customers with the highest quality of operator services available.
Opticom provides specific notifications to inform the caller that Opticom is the carrier that will be processing the call. Opticom audibly identifies itself as the carrier before any charges are incurred. Every caller has the ability to access their carrier of choice. Consumers also have the ability to request a rate quote from the operator at no charge prior to placing the
call. Please note, there are more network costs involved in processing an operator assisted call in comparison to calls you make from home.
Although the charges are correct, we have issued a one time customer courtesy credit in the amount of $81.13 plus tax. Please allow one to two months for the credit to appear on the billing statement. We apologize for
any inconvenience you may have encountered.
Thank you,
Steve Riddle
Opticom Operator Services
With the credit I am still going to have $150.72 in 9 phone calls that ranged from my receiving voice mail to a conversation of less than 2 minutes each.
As you can see for the reponse the fault for the high phone bill lies on me for not getting a quote first. Do not be deceived by the "CALL ANYWHERE IN AMERICA FOR $1.00 FOR 4 MINUTES" that is plastered on the phone it is not a sign that you will not get ripped off by OPTICOM.
Dennis
houston, Texas
U.S.A.
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