MCI - The Neighborhood ripoff incorrect billing Nationwide

After having The Neighborhood for only 6 months and being extremely dissatisfied with the actual cost vs. the advertised cost, I cancelled my service. One week later, in July of 2003, I received a notice from a collection agency that I owed $369! I spoke with six different "customer service professionals" (over a 3 month period of time) who ultimately referred me to their "professional" supervisors (obviously MCI needs to pick up a copy of a dictionary to get the definition of "professional") who all gave me different answers on the way this erroneous situation (and they all did agree that it was an incorrect billing) would be resolved. The first "professional" told me [and I quote] "sometimes our computers just mix up the billing."

I lived in Cleveland, Ohio at the time, and my bill was "confused" with that of a person living in Ft. Myers, Florida! Obviously, area code, phone number, first and last name (and - yes - our professional's even gave me the person's full name and phone number) were not even close to mine. One "professional" told me that I would receive a letter in one week indicating their error; another "professional" told me it took 30 days to be corrected on their records; yet another "professional" told me that they NEVER sent out letters and that she had personally fixed it in their billing system... Of course, none of these individuals actually resolved the issue.

I continued to contact the collection agency (almost daily) to find that my name was still on the active list and was getting closer and closer to being put on my credit report as an unpaid bill! Finally, in October, 2003, I spoke directly with a supervisor at the collection agency who called someone at MCI (so, apparently SOMEONE has a phone number), came back on the phone and agreed that it wasn't my bill, told me that he had taken care of it and not to worry.

Imagine my surprise just last week when yet another collection agency sent me a new bill for the exact amount! I have now faxed copies of all my bills, copies of all my payments and an overview of the "professional" help I received from MCI.

I believe that possibly the only way to handle this situation is a harassment lawsuit - although, their "professionals" probably couldn't even SPELL harassment let alone try to correct it! Does this company even have a CEO or any adult running the place or is it just a bunch of under paid incompetents who are made to feel good by being given the title of "professional customer service representative/supervisor"? As a HR Director, I understand the importance of training - oops - probably another word that MCI doesn't know the meaning of!

Lois
Columbus, Ohio
U.S.A.