Enhanced Services Billing Incorporated Fraudulent Charges On Local Phone Bill Ripoff Internet

This company had a "Hosp Tel Charge" of $10.00 plus $1.08 in surcharges for a total of $11.08 added to my local phone bill this month.

This is a ftraudulent charge. I was in the hospital overnight for observation after a neck artery operation. I did not have a phone in my Intensive Care room. Even if I did have a phone, I could not have used it as I was hooked up to monitoring devices and was unable to use either arm.

I did not make any calls to or from the hospital. Also my wife did not call to or from the hospital because she is deaf and doesn't use the phone at all.
There are no other members in my family to make any calls.

I am at a loss to understand why my local phone company (Verizon) allows these third parties to bill through their system. Verizon's bill has a disclaimer that states: "This portion of your bill is provided as a service to Enhanced Services Billing Inc. Your local telephone service will not be disconnected for failure to pay the charges on this portion of your bill. If you fail to pay these charges, the service provider may pursue collections independently."

Seems to me that Verizon knows this is a scam and I suspect they are also getting a percentage of all they collect. Why else would they allow someone else to bill through them?

Kurt
newfane, New York
U.S.A.