Buongiorno, DBA ToneTown Offered downloadable ringtones for Verizon, then made me agree to "subscribe," and offered no ringtones whatever Ripoff Miami Beach Florida

This evening, the 26th of June, I logged on to a site, ToneTown.com, that offered me a specific ringtone (cicada, per google search) that I had on an earlier cell phone. The wwebsite system works this way. You enter your phone number at the ToneTown site and there's a place to selected your wireless provider. My company, Verizon Wireless was among them. A "pin" number was text messaged to me. I entered it into a box and agreed to the terms which is to pay $9.99 per month (billed via Verizon), which is cancellable at any time. I expected to pay the rather outrageous fee for just one ringtone, but to my horror there were no ringtones available. There were only subscriptions to text messages - ridiculous ones. And it charged me for that.

I called the toll free number given on the ToneTown sign-up and complained that I had not wanted silly text messages - jokes, horoscope, or something called "Yo Mama." I felt I was deeived into spending $9.99 by a false promise of a specific ringtone or at least a selection that might give me something else I liked.

The person on their 800 number said that ringtones were not available for Verizon! And yet they had a menu with the Verizon Wireless logo on it, and the page that came up with the text message subscriptions even had a small Verizon Wireless logo at the top right.

I was told by the person on the "ToneTown" line that this was because they didn't have ringtones compatible with Verizon. Obviously, I asked why it was a menu option. Answer: "We'll have to look into that."

I could not get them to recind the billing, though they did offer to refund me by USPS. Unfortunately, I am in Denver with no permanent address yet and don't receive mail at my Maryland home. I asked repeatedly to simply cancel the charge, as I did not receive the product I was promised. When I asked too many questions about the corporation, Buongiorno (such as registered agent), the man on the phone announced he was terminating the call - and he did.

Verizon is going to try to contest the matter when it shows up on my bill. But it doesn't really resolve the problem. The problem is that I was lured into spending money for something they did not offer and which they had no intention of providing. It's simply a trap to get money from people who are looking for a service and agree to pay before they learn the goods they seek are not available. "Bait and Switch." "Rope-a-Dope."

I repeat: Due to the fact that I am in between residences, I can be reached only by email or cellphone, not by USPS, either for a refund check or for purposes of this complaint.

Thank you. :-)

Diddley
Lusby, Maryland
U.S.A.