OAN Services - PrivaSafe ripoff, made charges on my Verizon bill that I never signed up for, $15.50 charged on my bill New York, New York
Today, I opened my Verizon bill and to my shock I found a charge that didn't make any sense. After much grumbling, (and after checking up on this site via google) I found this site Bad Business Bureau. Then I
discovered that this is a problem (and irritation) that a lot of people are suffering with.
OAN Services Inc., on behalf of Privasafe Email Svc, a company I have never heard of, nor signed up with appears on my December 10, 2004 Verizon phone bill with charges of $14.95 plus $.45 sales tax, equaling $15.40. Supposedly service was signed up on November 4, 2004. I called the numbers on my bill 1-800-892-8424 and 1-800-357-2532 but to no avail. No actual person came on just a voice recording saying that their mailbox is full.
Unfortunately, since Verizon is closed, I have to wait until Monday before I can call Verizon to let them know about this.
Karin
Pahala, Hawaii
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Anthony
Newtown,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
Not Verizon's fault, but they will fix it for you permanently
#2Consumer Suggestion
Sun, December 19, 2004
I wouldn't worry about it, Verizon will take it off your bill and notify the offending company that it is disputed. You'll never hear from them again. Oddly enough, this problem is not Verizon's fault. It is the result of laws and court rulings which require Verizon to bill for other company's services (it all started with the AT&T breakup and the then-new long distance competitors complaining that they were at a competitive disadvantage if they had to bill you separately). Perhaps a good rule in theory, but it has been abused by all kinds of dishonest companies. I was slammed and overcharged by MCI for some obscene amount (over $300) and on another occasion by some internet company I had never heard of. When I called Verizon they advised me I could put a "lock" on all my service choices and third-party billing (no third-party changes whatsoever would be made without Verizon calling me to confirm them) and the same would apply to such third party charges from companies I've never heard of. Never heard from MCI or that other comapny, and needless to say, never paid those charges on my Verizon bill (which Verizon had instantly removed). Verizon is happy to do this for you because they don't make a dime from this crap, but get blamed all the time because their name is on the envelope. Since then, no problems whatsoever on my Verizon bill.