SBC Ohio - AT&T ripoff dishonest slamming and cramming Cleveland Ohio

I agree that 3rd party services should be allowed to append to your telephone bill. But, the company should atleast be checked out and pass some kind of criteria before allowing them to bill. OAN Services has numerous "cramming" indictments, backruptcy suites, and failure to comply with court rulings since 1999. If I had a credit score like OAN has a bad reputation, I wouldn't be able to finance a shoelace.

Be sure and file a complaint online with the FCC for any communication related issues. They have a million different forms, one is a consumer complaint form.

I would strongly suggest that as consumers we hit these big corporations where it hurts- with their profits. Cancell and go somewhere else. The message will be sent loud and clear if enough citizens do this. They take no responsibility so it is up to the consumer to stop them in their tracks. It is discouraging for us, but they are not going to change unless they have to and since money is their motivating factor, when it starts to dry up then they will listen.

So let me get this straight...companies like Verizon should not allow 3rd parties to "fraudulently" bill you for services you allegedly did not order? First of all, local carriers CANNOT refuse third-party billing if the 3rd party has authorized consent for charges. This is done so large companies cannot hold a monopoly on non-regulated services (which, in Ohio, are all services short of local dial tone) - thus giving consumers more choices.

If you have a beef with a 3rd party, then take your case to them instead of heaping blame on the biggest target available (in this case, Verizon). Verizon cannot simply pick up the phone and order these carriers to stop billing for services that the 3rd parties feel are legitimate. YOU have to take responsibility for dealings with these companies - for as with CLEC ported-out local accounts, Verizon has NO control over your accounts with separate carriers.

The most frequent way they get your phone number is from various websites & popups where you have input your name, address, and phone number.

When you call to cancel their services or request a refund they can usually tell you where they got your information. If they will not work with you, then call your phone company and dispute the charges, but your phone company will ask that you call these 3rd parties first.

Anytime you put your name & phone number on any website, be sure the read the fine print and the terms of use for the site. They can't bill you without that information.

It is not the phone company's fault. They are required by federal regulations to provide for 3rd party billing, otherwise your long distance, MSN, AOL, DSL, etc., would all be billed separately.