Direct Long Distance Aka Direct One Communications ripoff unauthorized charge to my checking account for Long Distance Savings Plan Beverly Hills California
Upon reviewing my bank statement, I found a charge of $60.90 on July 28, 2003, by a company identified as D Long Distance, using my check card . The phone number listed was 650-426-8200. I called that number and got a recording saying the number was no longer in service. Neither my husband nor myself had ever heard of that company and we did not authorize such a charge.
I filed a dispute claim with my bank and they gave me a temporary credit back to my account and issued me a new check card.
On August 26th I received a letter from Direct Long Distance, welcoming me to their Long Distance Savings Plan. The letter said that they would charge my "credit card on file" $49.95 plus $4.95 service fee for a total of $54.90 plus tax each month.
I found two websites giving complaints against Direct One Communications. Even though the name was different, the phone number was the same and they had done the same thing to many other people. I believe that Direct Long Distance is the same company as Direct One Communications.
Dorothy
Sun City, California
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Jacqueline - Consumer Advocate Volunteer
Hammond,Indiana,
U.S.A.
They really are one in the same----the same THEIVES.
#2Consumer Suggestion
Mon, September 01, 2003
Seriously, they are one in the same using alias names, which is very common for corporations, whom repeatedly defraud innocent consumers. Here is a full list of aliases--"additional trade names" just for the sake of being thorough: Direct One Communications, Direct One Long Distance, ID Calling Plan, U S Telemarketers, LLC.
I pray that you and your husband have changed ALL ACCOUNT INFORMATION by now. This means credit cards, debit, ATM, checking and any others not mentioned. Now that they have your personal account information, you are vulnerable. It is very important that you determin how they acquired your account numbers.
Here is some contact information which might be of us to law enforcement or your bank. The address you have posted is probably a drop box, which might be a part of Mailboxes, Inc. They also have this Post Office box: P.O. Box 11968, Santa Ana, CA, 92705. Phone: 1-747-384-7800, fax: 1-714-384-7889, email: info@dirctoneusa.com, website: http://www.directoneusa.com.
The nature of their business is supposedly providing communciation services. Their business start date: January 1, 1997. People started complianing about them to the BBB 2 years later. The most recent report was on August 29, 2003.
The Principal Contact is Mr. Anthony Brown. "This Report was developed from various sources, including the business, governmental agencies, and the experience of the companies customers." For further information contact BBB of the Southland, Cotlon, CA--1-909-825-7280
Here is where they may have gotten a hold of your account information--"The company obtains customer card and personal information from unrelated companies selling other products sold through informercials or telemarketing sales for magazine subscribtions. The information is provided to Direct One without authorization by the card holders."
They will also just plain LIE AND SAY YOU AUTHORIZED the plan. They claim you provide your birth date as a confirmation of your approval. I'm just preparing you, because a refund may be difficult to receive. Please advice your bank to access the DirectOne BBB Report, as proof you never authorized this withdrawal. They have ten other numbers, and 3 or 4 other addresses. Usually it means they move from place to place to place.
This contact information is more refund-related. You can track them through their website:
Registrant:
DirectONE, Inc.(DIRECTONEUSA.COM)-their bold caps
Administrative Contact:
William Karlman
Direct One, Inc.
182 E 1st Street Ste 440
Santa Ana, CA, 92701-5311
Phone: 1-714-384-5295
email: bkarlmman@selecttel.com
Technical Contact:
Mr. Aaron Soto
DezTech Consulting LLC
6521 Peggy Circle
Huntington Beach, CA, 92647
Phone: 1-714-596-3929
Fax: 1-800-858-8910
email: soto@deztech.com
Record expires: Feb. 11, 2005
This information is provided by Network Solutions, who reserves the right to modify the information at any time. I have not tried this contact information. I have to say this for the record. I provided the Technical contact because if you have problems, with networking directly they may have other contact information, as business partners. They would have to give that informaton to law enforcement.
"This company's Principal Anthony Brown, previously operated a company called Direct American Marketers. This company was the subject of legal actions by 29 State Attorney Generals, and the FTC, charging the company with deceptive marketing practices." Access www.ftc.gov or call 1-877-382-4357. This is the Federal Trade Commission helpline. They should give you some good pointers, and let you know if there are any court cases pending. They also need to know about your situation.
Hope this helps, and that you have changed all account informaton. They bill on a monthly basis. You may also want to see if this came through a magazine you purchased through a telemarkerter or any other suspect businesses, which might have given this information out.
Please, really please get back to us on who gave your information out, so that we might warn others.