Complaint Review: Z-tel Communications - Atmore Alabama
- Z-tel Communications PO Box1059 Atmore, Alabama U.S.A.
- Phone: 800-511-4572
- Web:
- Category: Telephone Companies
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I have been recieving telephone charges from this company that I did not make. I have informed them of this on 1/26/01, 1/27/01, and 3/03/01. I have now been informed that my account is in collection, and they are threatening to cut off my service. They can only tell me that the problem is being investigated and that I must pay for the calls I did not make and wait to be credited. They cannot tell me how long the investigation will take, nor can they let me speak to an investigator. These are mobile maritime calls. I have never made any of these types of calls. They are as follows: 11/05/00- 1 minute for 1.25, 11/07/00-4.5 minutes for $5.63, 11/08/00- for 5.4 minutes for $6.75, and 11/08/00- 46.4 minutes for $58.00. Any further information needed contact me. Also the free 200 minutes of free long distance calling time each month has been promised but is not always reflected in the billing. When you contact them about this they promise to investigate but do not get back to you.
This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 03/03/2001 12:00 AM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/z-tel-communications/atmore-alabama-36504-1059/z-tel-false-charges-4593. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content
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#5 Consumer Suggestion
Study your options...
AUTHOR: Alan - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Thursday, December 19, 2002
All readers should be aware that, for the most part, all local telephone service provided by companies other than your incumbent local phone provider (Verizon, SBC, Ameritech, PacBell, BellSouth, Qwest, Alltel, etc.) are provided through the incumbent carriers facilities.
For example, If you are currently a Bell South customer in Miami and you've just placed an order with Z-Tel for them to take over your service, Z-Tel in turn has to talk to Bell South to have them bill Z-Tel for your service at reduced wholesale rates. Z-Tel then handles the billing of the unortunate end-user in Miami at marked-up prices to turn a profit on the service. The problem is this:
We all know how hard it is to get good customer with the local incumbent. Well, it's just as hard for the CLEC (Z-Tel in this example) to get customer service as well. They're the incumbent telco's competitor! And although the incumbents are required by law to provide non-discriminatory service to the CLECs, it's still a bunch of spoiled union reps taking the orders (though there are many good workers out there as well). Now, I have nothing against labor unions (I've been a CWA member in the past), but the fact that employees are so well protected by their unions makes it nearly impossible for them to be fired. They know they have a job for life, even if they misbehave to some extent. This serves as a disincentive to produce good results. They don't fear the possibility of losing their jobs and don't respect their management (not that management's perfect either).
Add to the mix the many new CLECs clamoring to be your local service provider. Many are young and unstable, with limited experience at running their businesses effectively. The bottom-line is that most CLECs don't even have any of their own facilities (and I'm just talking switching equipment here) and heve to rely almost exclusively on someone else for transport of their customers' traffic.
To close, I will say this. There are some tremendous deals out there to be had from the competing local carriers. You've go to do some research. In defense of Z-Tel, I've heard their service has improved significantly. In fact, MCIs 'The Neighborhood' plan (an excellent deal, by the way) is basically Z-Tel's service resold under MCI's new branding program. MCI has contracted Z-Tel to handle all of the back-end work for them. For MCI to entrust this huge undertaking should say something of Z-Tel's improved reputation.
I have been working in Verizon's Wholesale group for five years, and have seen many carriers come and go. The opinions stated here, though, are just that: my opinions. I hope I've shed some light on the subject. Again, as with anything, buyer beware. Check out anyone you intend to do business with, what ever it may be. Best of luck!

#4 Consumer Comment
POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE
AUTHOR: ANGELA - ()
SUBMITTED: Thursday, July 11, 2002
Every since i have had Z-Tel I have had nothing but problems and I only had Z-Tel for about 6 months.
My first problem was getting the service connected. They told me a week or so it would switch over. Weeks have passed and nothing happened. I had to keep calling back. I should have known then how great customer service was, but with the rates I decided to try it. To make it so bad I was nine months pregnant and my husband was in another state with the army. So he almost missed the birth because I wasnt able to call him.
Then I asked for a number change. They told me a few days. In a few days people started getting the operator saying my phone was disconnected. I was able to call out but not recieve incoming calls. So this happened for about a month and a half. After constantly calling them about a million times the supervisor finally checked it out. She said the the representative did not put it in the system as a number change but a second line. So they had to cancel the line and correct it. So it took almost two weeks to correct. And to make that so bad they tried to charge me for a second line that I never used because I never knew about.
Then finally I had a problem getting my phone cut on. They recieved my payment on July 1. July 2 they cut my phone on because thy say they havent recieved my payment. When I called they said that I was supposed to call and tell them to cut on my phone. So they promised me it would be on that friday, the 5th. Friday no phone. I called back they said Monday. Monday no phone. I called back and cussed them out and they said by midnight. Midnight no phone. I called back they said Tuesday. Tuesday no phone. I got tired of the run around and B.S. so I had my mother call and she snapped off. She had to threaten to sue them just to get it on. And their attitudes were so nasty as if it was her fault. So finally, a week and two days later the phone was on.

#3 Consumer Comment
POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE
AUTHOR: ANGELA - ()
SUBMITTED: Thursday, July 11, 2002
Every since i have had Z-Tel I have had nothing but problems and I only had Z-Tel for about 6 months.
My first problem was getting the service connected. They told me a week or so it would switch over. Weeks have passed and nothing happened. I had to keep calling back. I should have known then how great customer service was, but with the rates I decided to try it. To make it so bad I was nine months pregnant and my husband was in another state with the army. So he almost missed the birth because I wasnt able to call him.
Then I asked for a number change. They told me a few days. In a few days people started getting the operator saying my phone was disconnected. I was able to call out but not recieve incoming calls. So this happened for about a month and a half. After constantly calling them about a million times the supervisor finally checked it out. She said the the representative did not put it in the system as a number change but a second line. So they had to cancel the line and correct it. So it took almost two weeks to correct. And to make that so bad they tried to charge me for a second line that I never used because I never knew about.
Then finally I had a problem getting my phone cut on. They recieved my payment on July 1. July 2 they cut my phone on because thy say they havent recieved my payment. When I called they said that I was supposed to call and tell them to cut on my phone. So they promised me it would be on that friday, the 5th. Friday no phone. I called back they said Monday. Monday no phone. I called back and cussed them out and they said by midnight. Midnight no phone. I called back they said Tuesday. Tuesday no phone. I got tired of the run around and B.S. so I had my mother call and she snapped off. She had to threaten to sue them just to get it on. And their attitudes were so nasty as if it was her fault. So finally, a week and two days later the phone was on.

#2 Consumer Comment
POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE
AUTHOR: ANGELA - ()
SUBMITTED: Thursday, July 11, 2002
Every since i have had Z-Tel I have had nothing but problems and I only had Z-Tel for about 6 months.
My first problem was getting the service connected. They told me a week or so it would switch over. Weeks have passed and nothing happened. I had to keep calling back. I should have known then how great customer service was, but with the rates I decided to try it. To make it so bad I was nine months pregnant and my husband was in another state with the army. So he almost missed the birth because I wasnt able to call him.
Then I asked for a number change. They told me a few days. In a few days people started getting the operator saying my phone was disconnected. I was able to call out but not recieve incoming calls. So this happened for about a month and a half. After constantly calling them about a million times the supervisor finally checked it out. She said the the representative did not put it in the system as a number change but a second line. So they had to cancel the line and correct it. So it took almost two weeks to correct. And to make that so bad they tried to charge me for a second line that I never used because I never knew about.
Then finally I had a problem getting my phone cut on. They recieved my payment on July 1. July 2 they cut my phone on because thy say they havent recieved my payment. When I called they said that I was supposed to call and tell them to cut on my phone. So they promised me it would be on that friday, the 5th. Friday no phone. I called back they said Monday. Monday no phone. I called back and cussed them out and they said by midnight. Midnight no phone. I called back they said Tuesday. Tuesday no phone. I got tired of the run around and B.S. so I had my mother call and she snapped off. She had to threaten to sue them just to get it on. And their attitudes were so nasty as if it was her fault. So finally, a week and two days later the phone was on.

#1 Consumer Comment
POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE
AUTHOR: ANGELA - ()
SUBMITTED: Thursday, July 11, 2002
Every since i have had Z-Tel I have had nothing but problems and I only had Z-Tel for about 6 months.
My first problem was getting the service connected. They told me a week or so it would switch over. Weeks have passed and nothing happened. I had to keep calling back. I should have known then how great customer service was, but with the rates I decided to try it. To make it so bad I was nine months pregnant and my husband was in another state with the army. So he almost missed the birth because I wasnt able to call him.
Then I asked for a number change. They told me a few days. In a few days people started getting the operator saying my phone was disconnected. I was able to call out but not recieve incoming calls. So this happened for about a month and a half. After constantly calling them about a million times the supervisor finally checked it out. She said the the representative did not put it in the system as a number change but a second line. So they had to cancel the line and correct it. So it took almost two weeks to correct. And to make that so bad they tried to charge me for a second line that I never used because I never knew about.
Then finally I had a problem getting my phone cut on. They recieved my payment on July 1. July 2 they cut my phone on because thy say they havent recieved my payment. When I called they said that I was supposed to call and tell them to cut on my phone. So they promised me it would be on that friday, the 5th. Friday no phone. I called back they said Monday. Monday no phone. I called back and cussed them out and they said by midnight. Midnight no phone. I called back they said Tuesday. Tuesday no phone. I got tired of the run around and B.S. so I had my mother call and she snapped off. She had to threaten to sue them just to get it on. And their attitudes were so nasty as if it was her fault. So finally, a week and two days later the phone was on.


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