900 DIRECT Ripoff dishonest deceptive billing Canoga Park California

900 Direct sent me a bill for almost $49.50 for a call made from my dedicated fax (that does not have a handset where you can make a call) and DSL line. They say it was made and I can guarantee that it was not and sent in pictures of the set-up and followed their process for disputing the charge.

I eventually called my long distance provider and asked them if they see this happen often and if they had any advice. They stated that they see this all day, everyday. They also provided what was likely happening given their experience with "900 companies" and this is what I believe is happening. If you have DSL and you get pop-ups (like I do), some pop-ups run an application in the background that have the ability to dial a "900" number through your DSL connection without your knowledge.

You may actually think you are clicking on the "x" to cancel the pop-up when, in fact, you may be clicking on an executable initiating a call without your knowledge. Ultimately, you get the charge as I did and have no clue where it came from until you dig and do research

Essentially, 900 DIRECT does this and threatens people with their credit and many eventually pay (targeting elderly, etc.) Qwest recommended that I (1) file a report with an FCC against 900 DIRECT (2) get 900 blocks (which are not 100%). I also got legal advice directing me to file a complaint with the states Attorney General's Office and the Public Utility Commission. I am in the process of filing all reports.

Also, their customer support is trained to say, "No, you owe us and you must pay or we will send to a collection agency and negatively affect your credit". They get you to go through the dispute process (because they have to by law) then say, "Sorry, our records report that you made the call, you must pay in full". They will try to convince you that someone in your family did it without your knowledge or something that you know didn't happen. They even said someone might have broken into my house and made the call. In my case they would have used the phone and not the fax machine in a closet behind a printer with no headset (insane). Also, I have read on this site where their legal council wants you to call him to settle disputes. Well, he is unresponsive.

I also called a collection agency and found that you need to have $50 (principle) in claims to go against your credit. Also, if you need credit in the future and it somehow showed up, just dispute it on your credit report and that is typically a "non-issue".

It is unfortunate that there are companies that try to take advantage of the public and focus their business on complete deception.

Jason
Boise, Idaho
U.S.A.