AT&T Third Party Biller or Ripoff Nashville Tennessee

On our AT&T bill of Feb 17, 2009, I noted an unfamiliar charge: "ILD Teleservices, Inc." ("New services provided and billed"). Contacting AT&T customer services for an explanation, I was informed that AT&T is a "third party biller" for ILD - and that ILD's charges were listed on page 4 of our monthly statement. Three items were listed: 1) Billed on Behalf of US Credit Find, Inc. $9.99; 2) Billed on Behalf of My Billing Guys: $8.43; and 3) AL - State/Local Tax $1.11. Total ILD Teleservices, Inc.: $19.53.

I was then asked if I had requested any of these services. I had not nor was I familiar with ILD, US Credit Find, Inc. or My Billing Guys. "Okay, we will remove these charges from your bill. If you have further questions you can contact ILD (1 800 433 4518)." This I did.

The ILD representative informed me that ILD handled US Credit Find's customer service. He canceled that charge and gave me a confirmation number of the cancellation. I wanted to speak to someone at US Credit Find, Inc. However, he was unable to give me their address or telephone number. He, then, informed me that I would have to contact My Billing Guys to have their charges canceled. He gave me their customer service number (1 800 215 1961).

My Billing Guys customer service rep was quite insistent that I had ordered their services. When I responded that I had never heard of them before the AT&T bill and didn't know what services they provided, she informed me that I must have closed one of their pop-ups while online. "What?!?" "If you close our pop-up, you authorize us to charge you for our services." After listening to she rewording this explanation a couple of times, I told her that I had not requested their service and that I wanted the bill canceled. She agreed but "needed" additional information (address, etc.,) to complete the cancellation. I told her the information they had to bill me should be adequate for them to also cancel me.

Certainly, I am concerned about the practices of My Billing Guys, US Credit Find, Inc., and ILD. Certainly, I also wonder if such charges will appear again in a month or two on our AT&T statements. However, I'm even more concerned that AT&T is a "third party biller" for those with such practices. I think the whole thing is a pipoff.

What do you think?




Paul
Fairhope, Alabama
U.S.A.