900 Direct; Gess & Assoc Fraud, Extortion by Direct 900 and accomplice Gess & Assoc collection agency. Call 800 number which converts to 900 number unawares until the bill arrives. Ripoff Canoga Park California

One year ago I, too, received a $74.25 bill from 900 Direct and, I, too, had 900/long-distance call block for 16 years which worked very efficiently. Twice recently I have been been stung by this type of fraud.

I believe what is happening is you call an 800 number, as I have frequently done in the past, and when you choose an option it converts you, unawares, to a 900 connection. I supposedly made a short phone call to an unknown phone number.

The sheer amount of the bill reeks of fraud. I was offered a "waiver" by the company to sign stating "the charges are ligitimate but made by an unauthorized member of my household" so the charge would be waived. I refused to sign it because that is simply not true. NO ONE could have made a 900 phone call from my home PERIOD. Not today, not yesterday, not a year ago, not 10 years ago.

This is NOT a phone company slip up. What a coincidence that would be! Phenomenal! Think of it! The only slip-ups made by a local phone company JUST HAPPEN TO BE for the benefit of one 900 Direct. Darned spooky! Congratulations Sherry, and my other brethren, we've been slammed.

Being a paralegal, I am knowledgeable in filing complaints with the FCC, state attorneys general, and federally under the Fair Credit Practices Act and the federal Uniform Act, have informed Gess collection agency and 900 Direct I intend to proceed if their extortion attempts are not halted at once and/or if this shows up on my credit report. And I will. My phone company is completely behind me. I refuse to be a victim of extortion (call it for what it is) especially when I paid a premium each month for the privilege of being protected from these goons.

Jane
Muskegon, Michigan
U.S.A.