Enhanced Services Billing, ESBI, Billing Services Group Ripoff Bogus voice mail crammed on SBC bill Glenview Illinois

I discovered Enhanced Services Billing, Inc. (ESBI) charging $15 / month for Orbit voice mail service. If I had wanted voice mail, I would be paying SBC $8 or $10. I never heard of ESBI or Orbit until I saw their charge on my SBC bill. The SBC customer service rep said they're legit, or they would not be allowed to use SBC billing. The Illinois Commerce Commission rep said they're not regulated, which means SBC is not allowed to pass their charges to customers.

They were hard to track down. Google's first entry for them is ripoffreport.com. There was a Federal Trade Commission suit ftc.gov/opa/2001/08/billing3.htm against them for the same offense in August 2001.

Farther down is a press release announcing ABRY Partners' acquisition of them. I called ABRY, who said ESBI is not an ABRY company. Farther down is Billing Concepts, Inc., billingconcepts.com/home/index.php, who claims ABRY bought them, ESBI, and another company in 2003.

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) rep gave me the number 847-832-0077, which Google found in the Yahoo! directory as Billing Services Group, LLC, part of The Thurston Group. I called them, and they admitted owning ESBI. The ICC rep has started an investigation.

Anthony
Wheaton, Illinois
U.S.A.