Scamming and billing through ATT

ComplaintsInternet ScamsUSABD, Billing Resources

Complaint

0
Savagette
Country: United States
I was hijacked by these people.  My ATT bill was hacked into and LUCKILY ATT credited me for the two months of $51.20 (charges for each month).   I cannot get a hold of them- they put you on hold and you have to listen to loud reggae music until you can't stand it any longer and hang up!  

I found the FCC site and made out a complaint claim online.  

ATT has been really gracious to me. They will keep an eye out on me future statements (as will I!) but I feel this is not the end of it.  

STUPID STUPID scammers...I am so incensed.  All I did was answer the phone and some idiot lady tried to get me into a FREE website directory. I said no, but all she needed was my phone number I guess.
Grrrrrrrr  you HAVE to watch your back at all times in this world.

Comments

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  • 0
    Cindy
    I can't believe this company has not been stopped yet. I called the number on my AT&T phone bill at the beginning of May and did get through and talked to some who promised me that I would get the account for WorldWebAccess.com cancelled.  I called the Billing Resource again today and they told me that all this is verified with birth date and mothers maiden name and both were incorrect.  I would not give her the correct information.  After yelling at the person and making her swear on the grave of a very important person to her.  She gave me a conformation number and told me I would get a credit for two months anything after that would involve a police report.  I will have to wait and see next month.
  • 0
    Debbie
    I got scammed by the Billing Resource also.  I looked at my last phone bill and noticed to erroneous charges - one from the Billing Resource and one from ILD Telecommunications.  I did not sign up for any of these.  They both claimed I did and it was attached to some promotional offer I accepted on the internet recently.  I think it was from some free magazine offers I accepted thru Biz Rate.  Anyways, the Billing Resource said they would cancel the service but said I would have to pay the 1st month's billing since I "authorized" it, which I did not.  These people make me sooo MAD.
  • 0
    allzee
    I got a surprise charge of $8.53 on my ATT phone bill for "V-PHONE SETUP", charged by the THE BILLING RESOURCE. I have no idea what the service is and definitely did not authorize it. I will cancel my ATT phone service if they do not take care of this scam.
  • 0
    Mark
    Steve, so what happened when you deducted this amount from you AT&T bill?
  • 0
    tj
    The Billing Resource is a billing aggregator that submits charges from other companies to be billed through local phone bills.

    They are the same company as Integretel, and have been caught before handling billing for cramming scammers.

    For example, see this FTC action against an "adult video-text" crammer that used Integretel to process their fraudulent charges.
    http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2004/09/verity.shtm

    Integretel agreed to cough up the fraudulent charges, here:
    http://articles.latimes.com/2002/nov/27/business/fi-porn27

    Note the requirement that they not deceive consumers calling to dispute charges, and that they investigate claims of unauthorized charges.  Failure to do so could be a violation of their settlement agreement.  Contact FTC if you have any problems with obtaining a full refund.
    http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2002/11/integretel.shtm
    "...
    Next, the order prohibits the Integretel defendants from misrepresenting any material fact, including, but not limited to the misrepresentations that were cited in the complaint. They also will release all claims to the $1.6 million consumers paid on the VIL bills, with the money transferred to an escrow account that the FTC will hold until the litigation against the remaining VIL defendants is concluded. Finally, the order contains provisions for compliance reporting, monitoring, and FTC access to the defendants' business premises as necessary.
    ..."

    In addition, there appear to be a number of state Attorney General actions against the company.  For example, google "Integretel settlement Attorney General".

    Other complaints:
    https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/vzeORY5DpADbiAjJnZ2qZA

    FTC settlement permanently barring fraudulent collect-call crammer from access to billing through phone bills.

    http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/03/cram.shtm

    "...
    The FTC also has charged the billing aggregators that billed on Nationwide’s behalf – Billing Concepts, Inc., ACI Billing Services, Inc., and BSG Clearing Solutions North America LLC (which billed consumers using the d/b/a “OAN Services”), and The Billing Resource d/b/a Integretel – with deceptive and unfair billing in violation of the FTC Act. The FTC’s case against them and Garcia, Riaboukha, and Kaid is still pending. Defendant Mary Lou Farr previously settled with the FTC.
    ..."

    The case against The Billing Resource / Integretel appears to be pending, with settlements with the other billing aggregators.  Integretel is reported to attempt to try to deflect consumer disputes of fraudulent charges, or attempt to settle for minor refunds, but has been reported to cave with complaints to FTC, state AGs, etc.  There may be existing settlement agreements with FTC and various state AGs requiring that they correctly investigate and refund fraudulent charges.  

    In addition, there may also be settlements with phone companies such as ATT and Verizon in some states, such as Florida, requiring that they also properly handle claims of fraudulent charges.  

    Settlements may require phone companies or billing aggregators to track levels of fraud complaints, and cut off companies submitting excessive levels of fraudulent charges.

    File a written complaint with your phone company to establish the timely disputing of any fraudulent charges then contact FTC and your state Attorney General.  

    Do not accept attempts by either billing aggregators or your phone company to refuse to refund fraudulent charges.  Include the details of their attempts to aid and abet fraud in your complaints, and send a copy of your complaint to your phone company's executive offices.
  • 0
    ron
    I have been hit by this company as well, out $1400.00.  So what happen FTC any way to take legal action?

    Ronkarrd@aol.com
  • 0
    Ron
    Did you  get your money back?

    Ronkarrd@aol.com
  • 0
    Ron
    This is the worst company and I was never called on this and told them that I wanted my $1400.00 back.  Please stay away from this company USA business Directory, it's a SCAM.   ATT is great and I told them I refuse to pay the bill for this amount and they have put this on a hold and will not charge me.  But USA is refusing to send me my money and you cannot get a hold of anyone.  Please stay away from.  I am still working on this to try to get my money back.  Did anyone every get money back, if so HOW???
  • 0
    TMB
    I just totaled my 5 phone lines I was scamed by USBI , PaymentOne, & Enhancned Services Billing Inc. The total $970.25 for the past 18 months.  I requested ATT and the companies to credit me back ...Will see.  They requested I get an Attorney.  WhatEVER....
  • 0
    Shelly
    I work with two companies, both of who got scammed. One to the tune of about $1,300 over a year, the other about $1700 over 18 mos. After some calls to the scamming companies, I called AT&T and told them the charges were fraudulent and never authorized.  They put a credit through for the full amount and said they would charge it back to the various companies.  However, he said there was a chance the credits would be refused by the companies and we'd be charged back, but he'd try anyway.  Guess what, they didn't dispute the credits, because of course, they KNEW THEY WERE FRAUDULENT!  The president of the other company I work for called himself and requested a copy of the tape they said they had from the person who authorized the charges. He said it was obvious the tape had been dubbed.  He got full credit back, too. So, I'd say, go back to AT&T and ask them to credit you and charge back the companies that scammed you.  Also ask them to block third party charges.
  • 0
    KT
    I had a charge of $8.62 from "The Billing Resource" and when I called to have it removed was told someone who was not me and did not live at the address for the number the charge was made to authorized the service. Are they just making this up or reading from a script?? This is the second bogus charge on my ATT bill. Where will it stop?
  • 0
    MeToo
    I noticed the charge on my bill last month and called and they cancelled it. They sent me two checks to reimburse me, and said it was too late to cancel it for the next bill but that it was definitely canceled. I got my bill today and it's still there. I called again and was reassured that it was canceled. I called AT&T to try to make sure it couldn't happen again and was told that according to the PUC, they are just "billing" things and they have to be an equal opportunity biller so they can't block companies from billing even though I never authorized having "enhanced" voicemail. That's crazy. I called the Billing Resource again and said if they ever billed me again, I would sue them. And I will.
  • 0
    Desdumona
    Yeah, I just discovered "The Billing Resource" on my own AT&T bill. The guy at AT&T told me I need to contact The Billing Resource and tell them I want my money back. After having some coffee - and time - I began to think about this... I never authorized anyone's extra service (What kind of service do they provide, anyway?), AT&T did, so it is THEIR responsibility to return my $21. Maybe if everyone tells AT&T this, they'll get the message. I am calling back tomorrow. If I get even the slightest bit of run-around, I'm canceling local provider with them and calling another phone company. This is one of the most unsatisfactory situations I've ever encountered.
  • 0
    PlakeKim
    Me too..I just discovered "The Billing Resource" on my AT&T bill. The woman at AT&T told me I need to contact The Billing Resource so I did.  They said that my husband authorized this over the phone and they have it on a recording.  Knowing my husband does nothing with the phone (he uses cell..exclusively), I asked to hear the recording.  Interesting enough, they couldn't come up with it. Called AT&T and got a very rude 'operator, or whatever her job was, and after explaining my issue, she said, "would you like me to cancel your AT&T service?".  I would fire her if she worked for me!  Now, I just wait until my next bill comes in.
  • 0
    Cent
    I just spent an hour on the phone with AT&T getting and $18. plus dollar charge off of my private home phone line.  I have never given my number out for any billing purposes and the number is unlisted.

    AT&T agreed to remove the charge, but I decided then and there that I was unwilling to do any further business with AT&T for even allowing this to occur.  I just made arrangements for another phone carrier.

    I called the number on my bill for "the billing resource" and it is a voice mail nightmare...no live people at all. Looks to be a complete fraud and scam, all rolled up into one!
  • 0
    Chrissy
    They are trying to take my company for 203.00. They would credit 60.00 but I will not accept just 60.00 I want it all back! I will get the monies owed!
  • 0
    Inafit7
    I, too, was a "sucker" who got scammed. I did quite a bit of research on this issue and the FCC. Come to find out, it isn't AT&T at all...It is a loophole in the FCC's legislation that allows these little third party pip squeaks to submit charges to AT&T for billing.
  • 0
    reza
    199.98 charged. called verizon andthey said they have nothign to do with it and if you dont pay verizon will not disconnect it. called them and supositly got a confirmation number that i have to give to verizon which means taht i wont have to pay????? wtf is happening to america? too much scamming in this world
  • 0
    Dana Whitlock
    Hey!  i just went thru the same issue, was given the same number 1888-296-8079.  which also didnt work at all.  I was told to keep trying that their number was just temporarily out of service.  this was very stressful because i couldnt afford to have these charges on my next months bill.  I have found a solution!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    go online and just google THE BILLING RESOURCE....and then gop to their website.  theres two different option, you can complete a inquiry form (which i also filled out), and i was not convinced that this would help me.  Theres also a number to call them!!!!  the number is 1800-476 7415!!!  the people explained exactly how these charges were made (someone filling out a survey for free groceries)..who happened to be my step son who is 12.  He enetered his birthday in wrong therefore making him over 18!  Then he entered my phone number, which thus subscribed my telephone number!  They gladly corrected the problem and gave me a confirmation number!!  I hope i could be of help to you guys as wel....
  • 0
    Dana Whitlock
    Hey!  i just went thru the same issue, was given the same number 1888-296-8079.  which also didnt work at all.  I was told to keep trying that their number was just temporarily out of service.  this was very stressful because i couldnt afford to have these charges on my next months bill.  I have found a solution!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    go online and just google THE BILLING RESOURCE....and then gop to their website.  theres two different option, you can complete a inquiry form (which i also filled out), and i was not convinced that this would help me.  Theres also a number to call them!!!!  the number is 1800-476 7415!!!  the people explained exactly how these charges were made (someone filling out a survey for free groceries)..who happened to be my step son who is 12.  He enetered his birthday in wrong therefore making him over 18!  Then he entered my phone number, which thus subscribed my telephone number!  They gladly corrected the problem and gave me a confirmation number!!  I hope i could be of help to you guys as wel....
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