Integretel ripoff Nationwide
On the sprint phone bill for the home the bill had charges of $87.18 for Integretel Inc. We have never heard of them or have ever talked to them and want them to stop billing us of the phone bill. This company is in my mind ripping off people who never knew who they were or what they were about. I tried to call them several times to be cut off and there is no awnser. they need to be shut down. thanx
Randall
greencastle, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
6 Updates & Rebuttals
Paula
Calabasas,California,
U.S.A.
UPDATE: Complaining, getting some money back Pt 2
#7Consumer Suggestion
Tue, November 09, 2004
This is another update, again for others who find themselves in the same situation as I described regarding accepting collect calls. I have gotten money back so far utilizing the methods I'm posting.
ILD Teleservices / TeleMex has now issued a full refund for their $22.52 of charges. It's a pity I had to go through the BBB to get it -- what a pain!
That leaves Integretel / Sharenet who have not come through yet with a full refund yet. The brunt of the charges received were through Sharenet and their billing aggregator Integretel ($67.59 out of $107). Thus far I have instructed the BBB to add my complaint to their database in assessing whether Integretel gets an 'unsatisfactory' rating (as if this rating matters to the consumer, who will never have heard of these companies unless they got hit by their outrageous charges unawares, as I was!). The matter was also escalated to the FTC and Sharenet's Attorney General.
I will continue to post updates.
Paula
Calabasas,California,
U.S.A.
Complaining, getting some money back so far.
#7Consumer Suggestion
Sat, October 30, 2004
I'm posting this information for others who end up with outrageous charges on their phone bills courtesy of third party dialers. This is an update to my post above.
I found out that the companies listed on my phone bill are "billing aggregators" for "third party dialers". In ALL cases, the charges were removed from my phone bill by my phone company with the warning that the third party billers may pursue payment individually. I filed complaints about each with their local Better Business Bureaus, the FTC, and their state Attorney General's Office.
RESULTS SO FAR:
* Integretel, aggregator for Sharenet Communications
Spoke first to Integretel, who gave me a 25% one-time rebate. Integretel provided an address (no phone number) for taking up the matter with Sharenet, and I went directly through the BBB. Sharenet's response so far has been to offer an additional rebate, still leaving me with a bill of over $40 for about 15 minutes worth of calls. Unacceptable. Escalated to FTC and state's attorney general.
* Zero Plus Dialing (ZPDI), aggregator for Custom Teleconnect
ZPDI customer service rep argued (regarding rates: "You didn't ask!") but finally offered small rebate. Unacceptable. ZPDI gave phone # for Custom Teleconnect, whose phones never answered over many attempts to call during business hours. After my complaint to the BBB, I received a letter stating that I was given a 100% credit. Custom Teleconnect's letter also notes that "California does not require verbal rate quotes." I say: B.S.! California may not, but the FTC does. Also complained to FTC and state's attorney general.
* ILD Teleservices, aggregator for Telemex, Ltd.
ILD customer service cut me off several times before I got through to an operator who said she was "not authorized" to issue any credits but referred me to Telemex's website, where I got contact info. (Guess it's tough luck for those without Internet access!) No response whatsoever from Telemex so far. I've referred the matter to their local BBB, the FTC, and their state's attorney general.
SUMMARY: Of over $107 in (what I believe are fraudulent) charges for about 24 minutes worth of calls, I have so far received back $17.16.
I've seen tons of complaints about these companies around the Internet. We can thank the deregulatory Telecommunications Act of 1996 for opening up the loophole that allows these companies to charge outrageous rates, all approved by state Public Utilities Commissions. What IS illegal, according to the FTC, is withholding from the collect call recipient: a) the name of the third party dialer handling the call, and b) the rates to be charged UP FRONT. Recipients of such collect calls naturally believe, as I did, that the call is being handled by the same old company that handled the call in the past and charged reasonable rates, so the call is accepted without any clue of the problems to come. These companies know this and prey on our ignorance of this loophole.
In addition, I've seen complaints about calls placed through a caller's normal carrier ending up being charged to these companies. This is yet another fraudulent practice these companies have figured out called "fat finger dialing", whereby they use phone numbers that are one off from major carrier numbers (ex. 1-800-CALL-ATT would be spoofed as 1-800-CALL-LAT). An even cuter one prosecuted a while back involved a company that actually called itself "I Don't Care" so that when an operator asked the caller which carrier to use, the caller answered thus and ended up with a fat bill from "I Don't Care Corp" (or whatever the actual name was, just get the gist). In some cases, I've read that third party dialers ignore a caller's request to allow the call through another carrier altogether without informing the caller of that fact. Complaining isn't easy; these companies tend to make themselves difficult or impossible to reach, and even if you can contact them, they attempt to placate you with a small "rebate" to get you to go away and not escalate the matter.
If you get hit by any of these scams, understand your rights and COMPLAIN LOUDLY. Your phone company MUST bill on their behalf by law, but they also MUST remove those charges upon your request. Let the local BBB, PUC, and attorney general of the state in which the fraudulent company (NOT the aggregator) is located know about the company's fraudulent activity. Contact the FTC as well. All have websites with contact information. Get your money back, get these companies shut down, and help close the legal loophole that allows these companies to defraud consumers.
I'll post updates here as I get them.
Paula
Calabasas,California,
U.S.A.
Complaining, getting some money back so far.
#7Consumer Suggestion
Sat, October 30, 2004
I'm posting this information for others who end up with outrageous charges on their phone bills courtesy of third party dialers. This is an update to my post above.
I found out that the companies listed on my phone bill are "billing aggregators" for "third party dialers". In ALL cases, the charges were removed from my phone bill by my phone company with the warning that the third party billers may pursue payment individually. I filed complaints about each with their local Better Business Bureaus, the FTC, and their state Attorney General's Office.
RESULTS SO FAR:
* Integretel, aggregator for Sharenet Communications
Spoke first to Integretel, who gave me a 25% one-time rebate. Integretel provided an address (no phone number) for taking up the matter with Sharenet, and I went directly through the BBB. Sharenet's response so far has been to offer an additional rebate, still leaving me with a bill of over $40 for about 15 minutes worth of calls. Unacceptable. Escalated to FTC and state's attorney general.
* Zero Plus Dialing (ZPDI), aggregator for Custom Teleconnect
ZPDI customer service rep argued (regarding rates: "You didn't ask!") but finally offered small rebate. Unacceptable. ZPDI gave phone # for Custom Teleconnect, whose phones never answered over many attempts to call during business hours. After my complaint to the BBB, I received a letter stating that I was given a 100% credit. Custom Teleconnect's letter also notes that "California does not require verbal rate quotes." I say: B.S.! California may not, but the FTC does. Also complained to FTC and state's attorney general.
* ILD Teleservices, aggregator for Telemex, Ltd.
ILD customer service cut me off several times before I got through to an operator who said she was "not authorized" to issue any credits but referred me to Telemex's website, where I got contact info. (Guess it's tough luck for those without Internet access!) No response whatsoever from Telemex so far. I've referred the matter to their local BBB, the FTC, and their state's attorney general.
SUMMARY: Of over $107 in (what I believe are fraudulent) charges for about 24 minutes worth of calls, I have so far received back $17.16.
I've seen tons of complaints about these companies around the Internet. We can thank the deregulatory Telecommunications Act of 1996 for opening up the loophole that allows these companies to charge outrageous rates, all approved by state Public Utilities Commissions. What IS illegal, according to the FTC, is withholding from the collect call recipient: a) the name of the third party dialer handling the call, and b) the rates to be charged UP FRONT. Recipients of such collect calls naturally believe, as I did, that the call is being handled by the same old company that handled the call in the past and charged reasonable rates, so the call is accepted without any clue of the problems to come. These companies know this and prey on our ignorance of this loophole.
In addition, I've seen complaints about calls placed through a caller's normal carrier ending up being charged to these companies. This is yet another fraudulent practice these companies have figured out called "fat finger dialing", whereby they use phone numbers that are one off from major carrier numbers (ex. 1-800-CALL-ATT would be spoofed as 1-800-CALL-LAT). An even cuter one prosecuted a while back involved a company that actually called itself "I Don't Care" so that when an operator asked the caller which carrier to use, the caller answered thus and ended up with a fat bill from "I Don't Care Corp" (or whatever the actual name was, just get the gist). In some cases, I've read that third party dialers ignore a caller's request to allow the call through another carrier altogether without informing the caller of that fact. Complaining isn't easy; these companies tend to make themselves difficult or impossible to reach, and even if you can contact them, they attempt to placate you with a small "rebate" to get you to go away and not escalate the matter.
If you get hit by any of these scams, understand your rights and COMPLAIN LOUDLY. Your phone company MUST bill on their behalf by law, but they also MUST remove those charges upon your request. Let the local BBB, PUC, and attorney general of the state in which the fraudulent company (NOT the aggregator) is located know about the company's fraudulent activity. Contact the FTC as well. All have websites with contact information. Get your money back, get these companies shut down, and help close the legal loophole that allows these companies to defraud consumers.
I'll post updates here as I get them.
Paula
Calabasas,California,
U.S.A.
Complaining, getting some money back so far.
#7Consumer Suggestion
Sat, October 30, 2004
I'm posting this information for others who end up with outrageous charges on their phone bills courtesy of third party dialers. This is an update to my post above.
I found out that the companies listed on my phone bill are "billing aggregators" for "third party dialers". In ALL cases, the charges were removed from my phone bill by my phone company with the warning that the third party billers may pursue payment individually. I filed complaints about each with their local Better Business Bureaus, the FTC, and their state Attorney General's Office.
RESULTS SO FAR:
* Integretel, aggregator for Sharenet Communications
Spoke first to Integretel, who gave me a 25% one-time rebate. Integretel provided an address (no phone number) for taking up the matter with Sharenet, and I went directly through the BBB. Sharenet's response so far has been to offer an additional rebate, still leaving me with a bill of over $40 for about 15 minutes worth of calls. Unacceptable. Escalated to FTC and state's attorney general.
* Zero Plus Dialing (ZPDI), aggregator for Custom Teleconnect
ZPDI customer service rep argued (regarding rates: "You didn't ask!") but finally offered small rebate. Unacceptable. ZPDI gave phone # for Custom Teleconnect, whose phones never answered over many attempts to call during business hours. After my complaint to the BBB, I received a letter stating that I was given a 100% credit. Custom Teleconnect's letter also notes that "California does not require verbal rate quotes." I say: B.S.! California may not, but the FTC does. Also complained to FTC and state's attorney general.
* ILD Teleservices, aggregator for Telemex, Ltd.
ILD customer service cut me off several times before I got through to an operator who said she was "not authorized" to issue any credits but referred me to Telemex's website, where I got contact info. (Guess it's tough luck for those without Internet access!) No response whatsoever from Telemex so far. I've referred the matter to their local BBB, the FTC, and their state's attorney general.
SUMMARY: Of over $107 in (what I believe are fraudulent) charges for about 24 minutes worth of calls, I have so far received back $17.16.
I've seen tons of complaints about these companies around the Internet. We can thank the deregulatory Telecommunications Act of 1996 for opening up the loophole that allows these companies to charge outrageous rates, all approved by state Public Utilities Commissions. What IS illegal, according to the FTC, is withholding from the collect call recipient: a) the name of the third party dialer handling the call, and b) the rates to be charged UP FRONT. Recipients of such collect calls naturally believe, as I did, that the call is being handled by the same old company that handled the call in the past and charged reasonable rates, so the call is accepted without any clue of the problems to come. These companies know this and prey on our ignorance of this loophole.
In addition, I've seen complaints about calls placed through a caller's normal carrier ending up being charged to these companies. This is yet another fraudulent practice these companies have figured out called "fat finger dialing", whereby they use phone numbers that are one off from major carrier numbers (ex. 1-800-CALL-ATT would be spoofed as 1-800-CALL-LAT). An even cuter one prosecuted a while back involved a company that actually called itself "I Don't Care" so that when an operator asked the caller which carrier to use, the caller answered thus and ended up with a fat bill from "I Don't Care Corp" (or whatever the actual name was, just get the gist). In some cases, I've read that third party dialers ignore a caller's request to allow the call through another carrier altogether without informing the caller of that fact. Complaining isn't easy; these companies tend to make themselves difficult or impossible to reach, and even if you can contact them, they attempt to placate you with a small "rebate" to get you to go away and not escalate the matter.
If you get hit by any of these scams, understand your rights and COMPLAIN LOUDLY. Your phone company MUST bill on their behalf by law, but they also MUST remove those charges upon your request. Let the local BBB, PUC, and attorney general of the state in which the fraudulent company (NOT the aggregator) is located know about the company's fraudulent activity. Contact the FTC as well. All have websites with contact information. Get your money back, get these companies shut down, and help close the legal loophole that allows these companies to defraud consumers.
I'll post updates here as I get them.
Paula
Calabasas,California,
U.S.A.
Complaining, getting some money back so far.
#7Consumer Suggestion
Sat, October 30, 2004
I'm posting this information for others who end up with outrageous charges on their phone bills courtesy of third party dialers. This is an update to my post above.
I found out that the companies listed on my phone bill are "billing aggregators" for "third party dialers". In ALL cases, the charges were removed from my phone bill by my phone company with the warning that the third party billers may pursue payment individually. I filed complaints about each with their local Better Business Bureaus, the FTC, and their state Attorney General's Office.
RESULTS SO FAR:
* Integretel, aggregator for Sharenet Communications
Spoke first to Integretel, who gave me a 25% one-time rebate. Integretel provided an address (no phone number) for taking up the matter with Sharenet, and I went directly through the BBB. Sharenet's response so far has been to offer an additional rebate, still leaving me with a bill of over $40 for about 15 minutes worth of calls. Unacceptable. Escalated to FTC and state's attorney general.
* Zero Plus Dialing (ZPDI), aggregator for Custom Teleconnect
ZPDI customer service rep argued (regarding rates: "You didn't ask!") but finally offered small rebate. Unacceptable. ZPDI gave phone # for Custom Teleconnect, whose phones never answered over many attempts to call during business hours. After my complaint to the BBB, I received a letter stating that I was given a 100% credit. Custom Teleconnect's letter also notes that "California does not require verbal rate quotes." I say: B.S.! California may not, but the FTC does. Also complained to FTC and state's attorney general.
* ILD Teleservices, aggregator for Telemex, Ltd.
ILD customer service cut me off several times before I got through to an operator who said she was "not authorized" to issue any credits but referred me to Telemex's website, where I got contact info. (Guess it's tough luck for those without Internet access!) No response whatsoever from Telemex so far. I've referred the matter to their local BBB, the FTC, and their state's attorney general.
SUMMARY: Of over $107 in (what I believe are fraudulent) charges for about 24 minutes worth of calls, I have so far received back $17.16.
I've seen tons of complaints about these companies around the Internet. We can thank the deregulatory Telecommunications Act of 1996 for opening up the loophole that allows these companies to charge outrageous rates, all approved by state Public Utilities Commissions. What IS illegal, according to the FTC, is withholding from the collect call recipient: a) the name of the third party dialer handling the call, and b) the rates to be charged UP FRONT. Recipients of such collect calls naturally believe, as I did, that the call is being handled by the same old company that handled the call in the past and charged reasonable rates, so the call is accepted without any clue of the problems to come. These companies know this and prey on our ignorance of this loophole.
In addition, I've seen complaints about calls placed through a caller's normal carrier ending up being charged to these companies. This is yet another fraudulent practice these companies have figured out called "fat finger dialing", whereby they use phone numbers that are one off from major carrier numbers (ex. 1-800-CALL-ATT would be spoofed as 1-800-CALL-LAT). An even cuter one prosecuted a while back involved a company that actually called itself "I Don't Care" so that when an operator asked the caller which carrier to use, the caller answered thus and ended up with a fat bill from "I Don't Care Corp" (or whatever the actual name was, just get the gist). In some cases, I've read that third party dialers ignore a caller's request to allow the call through another carrier altogether without informing the caller of that fact. Complaining isn't easy; these companies tend to make themselves difficult or impossible to reach, and even if you can contact them, they attempt to placate you with a small "rebate" to get you to go away and not escalate the matter.
If you get hit by any of these scams, understand your rights and COMPLAIN LOUDLY. Your phone company MUST bill on their behalf by law, but they also MUST remove those charges upon your request. Let the local BBB, PUC, and attorney general of the state in which the fraudulent company (NOT the aggregator) is located know about the company's fraudulent activity. Contact the FTC as well. All have websites with contact information. Get your money back, get these companies shut down, and help close the legal loophole that allows these companies to defraud consumers.
I'll post updates here as I get them.
Paula
Calabasas,California,
U.S.A.
You might as well never again accept a collect call!
#7Consumer Suggestion
Sat, September 18, 2004
My brother had no pocket change and made several collect calls to me from pay phones in the Los Angeles area. Each call lasted only a few minutes. When I received my phone bill, the following charges from the following companies were listed:
Integretel
8 minutes: $26.68
9 minutes: $24.93
Total with all surcharges/fees: $67.59
AVERAGE COST PER MINUTE: $3.98/MINUTE
ILD Teleservices
4 minutes: $19.91
Total with all surcharges/fees: $22.52
AVERAGE COST PER MINUTE: $5.63/MINUTE
Zero Plus Dialing
3 minutes: $15.17
Total with all surcharges/fees: $17.16
AVERAGE COST PER MINUTE: $5.72/MINUTE
GRAND TOTAL FOR 24 MINUTES WORTH OF COLLECT CALLS: $107.27 (argh!!!)
Just to compare, I can speak to my father in another state for 45 minutes for only $7.
All three companies listed above have numerous Rip-Off Reports filed on them. However, I had no way of knowing which companies would handle the collect calls. The recipient only discovers the hideously inflated charges after the fact; I NEVER would have accepted the calls had I had an inkling that the charges would be so over-inflated. I feel like I've been scammed. (Stranded without change? It's easy enough to get a calling card from your phone company so you may make calls without using change. My brother now knows this.)
IN SUMMARY, AVOID ACCEPTING ANY SORT OF LOCAL OR LONG DISTANCE COLLECT CALLS FROM PAY PHONES UNLESS YOU'RE PREPARED TO PAY RIDICULOUSLY INFLATED PRICES, COURTESY OF TELEPHONE COMPANIES LIKE INTEGRETEL, ILD TELESERVICES, AND ZERO PLUS DIALING!