Integretel - ZPDI ripoff I got over $1,200.00 bill for calls never made! Internet

You said that your phone was disconnected for not paying the crammed charges, even though you had paid your legitimate charges every month while the fraudulent billing was in dispute. I hope the following information is of some use to you.

According to information on the SBC site, you are not required to pay fraudulent charges and they will work with customers to get crammed charges removed Also, SBC local carriers WILL NOT DISCONNECT local telephone service for nonpayment of a disputed third-party charge.

SBC Consumer Information is located at (http://www.sbc.com/gen/general?pid=1418). It states, in part, the following:

How SBC Can Help if You've Been Crammed:

If customers are billed for collect calls they did not accept or for calls that were accepted under false pretenses, such as calls falsely represented to have been placed by family members, they should advise the carrier that they dispute the charges and refuse to pay any unauthorized charges.

With regard to the disputed charges, customers should first attempt to deal directly with the carrier with whom the charge originated, whose name and toll-free telephone number should be printed on the same bill page as the charge in question. Often, the problem can be resolved with a single telephone call.

If the carrier with whom the charge originated does not agree to resolve the problem, customers should call SBC at the number that appears on the first page of their bill.

CUSTOMERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO PAY CHARGES FOR GOODS AND SERVICES THEY NEITHER ORDERED NOR RECEIVED, AND SBC WILL WORK WITH THESE CUSTOMERS TO GET THE "CRAMMED" CHARGES REMOVED FROM THEIR PHONE BILL.

To file a cramming complaint, contact your local public utilities commission or the Federal Communications Commission at 1-888-225-5322 (CALL FCC) or http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/cramming.html

In addition, there is an SBC/ATT so-called Consumer Advocacy page located at: http://www.sbc.com/gen/press-room?pid=6044

From that page, there is a link to an SBC PDF file:
(http://www.sbc.com/Common/images/news_room/press_
kits/sbc_top_scams.pdf

The PDF file title is: Tips for Safeguarding Against Scams and Threats

Reporting Scams and Fraud

When consumers have questions about charges on their telephone bill, they should contact the carrier with whom the charge originated, whose name and toll-free telephone number should be printed on the same bill page as the charge in question. Often, the problem can be resolved with a single phone call.

If the carrier with whom the charge originated does not agree to resolve the problem, SBC customers should contact an SBC customer service representative using the phone number on their bill or by going to www.sbc.com/contact_us.

SBC REPRESENTATIVES WILL WORK WITH THE CUSTOMER AND THE CARRIER TO HELP REMOVE FRAUDULENT CHARGES FROM THE PHONE BILL.

SBC LOCAL CARRIERS WILL NOT DISCONNECT LOCAL TELEPHONE SERVICE FOR NONPAYMENT OF A DISPUTED THIRD-PARTY CHARGE.

I'm with SBC also, and I've been "crammed" for "Voice Mail" the last two months. As a precaution, I instructed SBC to block both collect calls and "900" outgoing calls. They confirmed that this was done. The VM charges MAY now be settled. Guess I'll soon find out with the next bill.

Good Luck, Julie!