Integretel, FAQ900.com, SBC Ripoffs! Here's what to do. Internet

Having found an odd charge on our phone bill (SBC) here in Ohio, my wife called the phone company to explain. Of course, it was either me or my son who she assumed was responsible. The phone company could not answer any questions to the bill. They said that it was a computer charge because all they saw were strange symbols.

The next day I found this site and realized (amazingly)what this company (and their customers) have been capable of doing. Even when my wife called Integretel, they said that we ordered this Faq900.com at 6:00 A.M. and used it for 2 minutes, exactly like I read in one compalaint on this site. No one uses the computer at 6:00 A.M., we are busy running around trying to get the kids and ourselves out the door.

I took over the next day and called SBC. After I tried to tell them as simply as possible about the company and the false charges, I asked about a third party block - which can only be done if they have called you. Computer orders cannot be blocked this way, so Integretel goes after victims by both means. The phone company said that they are obligated to bill us by a third party when the claim is we ordered the service, but with one dispute from their customers, they remove the charge and return it to the company to collect.

I told them Integretel had promised to remove the charges after one or two billing cycles and I found this unagreeable. The phone comany will not take any more charges from Integrel and they will have to come after me another way for their payment, well that's just wonderful - because I'm going after them as well.

Thanks for all the advice and for this site, because we may have never gotten to the bottom of this charge. The phone compnay's DSL expert and I discussed the tactics behind protecting yourself, and we concluded it was no virus but probably "spyware" or "adware". Find a free download of great software to remove and protect yourself from these spiteful things. Also, set your browser to automatically ask you permission when a website is requesting a "cookie". If you know the website one permission is all you will be asked and it will allow you to return without prompting. If you don't know the website, refuse it and hopefully this will keep you safe.

Always read through your phone bill and your Internet bill to make sure charges like these don't sneak past. A few seconds of your time might save you alot of money.
And do proceed with filing complaints that have been listed here against the company(ies).

Christopher
Xenia, Ohio
U.S.A.