Ameritech SBC rip-off slamming fraudulent charges refund denied Chicago Illinois
Ameritech aka. SBC is the ultimate is customer dis-satisfaction. They allow their phone users to be slammed (changing of long distance service providers without your permission) and will not refund the money. Our telephone bill averaged 35.00 - 40.00 a month. Then we noticed a 49.95 change one month. We called and they said call back in a month, as they had absolutely no contact information for that charge.
Another month passed, another bill, this time another charge for 49.95 as well as 4 other charges 39.95, 29.95 and serveral charges for changing long distance, even though we never did. Now mind you we were paying our basic monthly charges and keeping them current. To make a long story short they ending up telling us we were slammed.
We asked them how this could happen, they said we needed to fill out a form to keep from getting slammed. I asked them why this wasn't just part of their basic service, and why we had to fill out a form to do what is just the best thing anyway, they said "Most people don't mind or just don't care!" as if we were the ones with the problem.
So here we are, SBC shut off out phone, out bill reach 500.00+ dollars in slamming charges alone which we refuse to pay, and they refuse to remove! So we cannot get a phone here with SBC, this information has been put on our credit report, which we have spent months clearing out all inaccurate information, and our credit rating is again below the requirement to pretty much do anything, get an apartment, get a loan, a credit card, lease a car. Nothing! All of this because of SBC's practices! Stop this madness!
James
Columbus, Ohio
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Binary
Chicago,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Something I learned. it has saved many headaches and a lot of aggrivation
#3Consumer Suggestion
Thu, September 25, 2003
James,
Call SBC and have them remove the charges by saying you never agreed to let SBC bill you on any other companies behalf. They do this by default, but if you ask them they can remove the charges, and no longer allow another company to bill you through them.
I have had them do this for me, and it has saved many headaches and a lot of aggrivation. At worst you would be on record as disputing the charges (which I am sure you already are) and most likely you will get SBC to return your service and maybe offer you an incentive for your troubles (don't count on the incentive though).
I don't have long distance service, so when I got slammed I asked SBC to just include the name of the company they returned the bill to so I could deal with it. They were quite helpfull in this, and (the rep. I talked to at least) understood that I didn't want fraudulant charges making it look like I didn't pay the legit ones.
Liz
Cleveland,Ohio,
U.S.A.
Slamming Cant be Stopped
#3UPDATE Employee
Fri, July 25, 2003
I'm very sorry to hear your situation, and I know its very easy to blaim the phone company that you're with, but remember, SBC didnt slam you, some other company did.
Here's what happens. When someone slams you they do it one of two ways.
1: They hack into our computer systems and do it themselves (not even the federal goverment can stop this no matter secure their systems are
2: The slamming company contacts what we call the "middle man" which is usually a company hired by your local Public Utilities Commission, and they tell them that they got authorization from you to change to their company.
If #2 happens, there is seriously nothing that SBC can do (hands are tied). This is why: When the company requests the information, it goes through the middle man. The middle man doesnt ask questions, just processes the request to SBC. SBC is not allowed to contact you at all to verify if this is correct because that would be considered "unfair practices" since they have "inside information" and would be able to contact you to give you a better offer. This is illegal to do because it wouldnt give the other companies a chance ever to win your business.
So when SBC is told by the state appointed middle man to give up the lines, they have to, no questions asked. From that point in time, they must cease all conversations with you unless initiated by you.
Now as far as the charges that are coming up on your bill. The reason that they cannot credit the money is because they are not the ones asking for the money from you. Yes, it may be on your bill (because the slamming company is too lazy to print up their own bills so they have SBC do it) but when you pay it, they are not putting it in their pocket. They are simply collecting on the part of the other company because that is what the law tells them they have to do.
Its an unfortunate thing, but SBC's hands are really tied as far as these things are concerned. There is so much legal stuff they have to worry about, and they really dont have any say as to whats going on, but they are still required to be the ones with the LOGO on the bills even though its through another company (really sad).
I would really considering finding out who slammed you and making a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, the FCC, and with the PUCO (public utilities commission of OHIO). Then contact the company that slammed you and make them aware (like they didnt already know) that slamming is against the law and that you demand your money back. If they refuse, simply go back to the PUCO and they will make sure that your complaint is followed and taken care of (they'll probably fine that company hundreds of thousands of dollars as well!)