AT&T Long distance carrier rip-off Nationwide

In I moved to my current home in November of 2000, I had a second phone line installed for my computer. Just a few days ago, in February, 2003, I discovered that each month I've had that line, AT&T has been charging me $7.53 for a long distance package on that line. Even though the charge appears on my phone bill each month, AT&T has that account under a different name, and a different address. That name and address are apparently those of the woman to whom the phone number was assigned prior to me.

Calls to AT&T go nowhere. I go from one befuddled Customer Service clerk to another, being told time and again they can only reimburse me for six months, not the entire 27 months. I've also been told I should fax each and every bill to the "Precision Response Team", who "might" be able to help me.

My question is that since they can "see" on the computer that they've been charging me incorrectly all this time...why do I have to produce the bills? Secondly, why do I only get a fax number, and no one I can contact live...not even a phone number where I can try and contact them? And third...if they have the ability to refund the last six months, knowing that it was incorrect...why can't they refund the rest?

Frankly, I've been around enough of these companies to see all the dodges they're throwing out there. There will be no response to my fax. When I try and follow up with a second fax, I'll get a response saying they can do nothing without my "case number", which was never assigned because they never responded, and we'll start going in endless circles, with them hoping I'll just give up.

I've already started the process of complaining to the state public utilities commission, and the fcc, with, as yet, no response from either. I have little hope either agency will help me, or that I'll ever see the other 21 months that AT&T owes me.

Brian
Albuquerque, New Mexico
U.S.A.