BusinessMAX, Advanced Business Services Deceptive Phone Solicitation, Ignoring Do Not Call List, Recurring $49.95 monthly bill through local phone company Des Plaines Illinois

My wife received a veiled phone solicitation that I am told that she agreed to the businessmax service. Our number is on the national do not call list after this company did the same thing around a year ago. And I was told that they had taken us off their call list as well.


When I saw a membership card show up in the mail, I immediately began looking through our credit card and bank statements to see if we were being direct drafted for this "membership". Sure enough, of all places, my home telephone bill showed a $49.95 charge from LDDSWORLDCOM for a number called 000-000-0000 and the call listed placed to "BUSINESS M AX".

I called the 800 number listed for billing inquiries and was first told that I was not billed for anything. Then they admitted that I was charged and was told that the "membership" would be canceled and I would see a refund on my next phone bill.

The next month, instead of a refund, I was once again billed $49.95 from the company.I called again, and was told that their system time stamps all calls and that I had never called. I bumped up to a "team leader" and was given a verbal promise of a refund for that month's charges and a confirmation number. But I was told that I would have to fax (long distance) a request for the past month's refund.

Now I've spent over two hours of my day off fighting for my money back. The local telephone company says they are federally required to collect for these charges.
This is the second time that I have fought this battle with this company. The government should shut this company down.

Dave
Fort Mill, South Carolina
U.S.A.