Complaint Review: Liberty Online Services / ILD Teleservices

When I received my recent phone bill, I had two charges listed, one each for January and February 2003, for something called "ILD Teleservices." Each month was billed to me in the amount of $29.95, plus federal and state tax. The subject line mentioned that these charges were for online services.

The problem is that I never authorized such service. My internet service provider is JUNO, not ILD Teleservices. I made a phone call to the ILD Teleservice number (1-800-433-4518) and was promised that these charges would be blocked on my phone bill in the future, and that my phone bill account would be credited--not only with these two months but also the next month that had been charged to me but not yet reflected in a bill.

I am satisfied with their response to me, but am troubled that the charges were levied against me in the first place, seeing as how I never authorized any such charges. I am curious what business transaction was implied by ILD Teleservices (who said they were merely the billing agent for a company called Liberty Online service).

What gives any company the write to assume they can just throw charges onto someone's phone bill without any warning or authorization?

Rev. Kevin
McKeesport, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.