ESBI, Enhanced Services Billing Fraudulent Billing Nationwide Nationwide

Our company recently received charges on a Verizon bill from ESBI (Enhanced Services Billing, Inc.) for charges that we did not authorize and do not recognize.

We were charged a total of $99.90 for something they call WebXtes gold set-up fee and monthly fee (We were charged $49.95 for Oct. 27 and $49.95 for Oct. 28, 2004). I called ESBI on December 6 to inquire about the charges and they informed me that the charges were for a Website they were "hosting" for us, and directed me to corinthgroup.visualcomposer.com. This was a generic Website with my company's name at the top, one which neither I, nor any person from my company, had ever authorized. Minutes after my conversation with the representative from ESBI, the Website was taken down from the Internet.

ESBI informed me that they had an audio recording confirming my company's authorization. I informed them that we had no business with them and that I believed their company was running a scam. I asked them to remove the charges and to stop charging us. The company representative, who identified himself as Ron Madriz, said that they would not remove the charges and we would continue to be billed, claiming that we had authorized it. He said he could not send me anything in writing.

My company already has a web site and a credible web host that we have been using for many years. In addition, we are a three-person company. Any authorizations for Web revisions would come directly from me, and we would never pay for them through the phone bill.

We believe that this is the result of a phone call by a telemarketer to our company, in which they asked to send us a proposal showing us how to "optimize" our Web site. One employee, who was new, said they could send us a sample of their work, and we think they fraudulently spliced this phone conversation into a recording "authorizing" the work.

The employee at ESBI (Ron Madriz) whom I spoke with gave me the following address for his company:
2500 Wilcrest Blvd, Suite 540
Houston, TX 77042

This is the same address as the one for the company who was listed as the host of the false website. They are called WebXites, and I am not sure if they are falsely implicated in this scam. The information for ESBI that was included in my phone bill was: 1-888-296-3724; Web: www.billview.com/esbi.

ESBI is a scam. I am reporting them to the FCC. I am having Verizon reverse all charges to ESBI so they will bill me directly (if they dare) and I am having Verizon put a block on my account so that outside businesses cannot bill through my Verizon account.

FILING A COMPLAINT TO FCC:
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Complaints
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20554

Your name, address and the telephone number or numbers involved with your complaint; (if telephone related)

A telephone number where you can be reached during the business day;

Specific information about your complaint, including the names of all companies involved with your complaint;

Names and telephone numbers of the company representatives that you contacted, the dates that you spoke with these representatives, and any other information that would help process your complaint;

If telephone related, include a copy of the bill(s) listing the disputed charges;

What type of resolution are you seeking?


www.fcc.gov/complaints

Danielle
New York, New York
U.S.A.