Solo Communications Ripoff, dishonest, fraudulent Billing for Phone Services never ordered Clearwater Florida
Solo Communications, apparently a subsidiary of USBI, billed me for for three months for a service I never wanted, wouldn't use, and was completely unknown to me. They told me I had given them permission through CoolSavings.com a program which I dropped about two years ago and when I returned after being told this by Solo Communications that I used CoolSavings.com on January 10, 2007, which was a lie, my e-mail address was not registered with CoolSavings.com.
This all took place at the time SBC was merging into the new AT&T. I am certain that many of the elderly, retarded, dementia patients, etc. will continue to be be fraudulently charged for services they did not ask for, let alone those who do not read their statements carefully since they go directly to a credit card.
They did say that in two billing cycles they would return my money to my credit card; but, I believe this is a systematic abuse of the citizens, clearly fraudulent, and not the only case.
I believe that all who participated knowingly in this fraud should be prosecuted and that actual and punitive damages should be awarded. In addition, they should be court ordered to contact all their so-called customers resulting from that merger and possibly the remainder to let them know exactly what services are being provided by Solo Communications and for what cost.
I was paying over $25 per month for voice mail through them. I have never wanted and, in fact, am opposed to voice mail through the phone company.
Norman C. XXXXXX, Ph.D. (REDACTED LAST NAME)
Norman
Oceano, California
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Norman
Oceano,California,
U.S.A.
Solo Communications, ESBI, Enhanced Billing, Fraudulent Credit Card Charges
#2Author of original report
Fri, March 30, 2007
When I contacted Solo Communications, I was told that I had ordered their VMail for about $14 per month through CoolSavings.com, a legitimate company. I used to belong many years ago. I checked with CoolSavings.com and found that as I requested I was no longer in their customer database. So, it would have been impossible for me to use them to authorize any payment to Solo Communications through my telephone service provider, AT&T.
I sent a letter to AT&T regarding this issue. I was told that the FCC required them to pass on second party billings from these "communications companies." AT&T said that they were taking this up with higher management and it was more than likely that they would investigate this thoroughly and look into accounts charged through Solo Communications. Since AT&T provides the same service for about $9.00, it would be ridiculous to believe anyone would pay more through some unknown company in Florida.
I believe that AT&T will act on my recomendations to pull up all records of such billings and find out from customers if they ever ordered anything from Solo Communications. I also sent a copy of my letter to the Director of FCC and three members of the U.S. Congress.
While this small amount is insignificant to me, I was concerned about seniors, dementia patients, and anyone who does not carefully read their telephone bill. In the case of Solo Communications, their billing statement visually appears far below any of the other charges and unless you read or scroll down to the very end of the report, you wouldn't know what is happening.
It could be that Solo Communications does not even provide the service to those accounts they are taking money from through AT&T billing. AT&T was extremely cooperative.
It is even possible, since Solo Communications does not have information from AT&T on those with internet accounts, that Solo Communications is even charging some customers who do not have an internet to cover their tracks.
Unfortunately according to AT&T this is not the first time scammers have charged through their billing for VMail that did not exist and was not requested. Maybe someone should apprise the FCC of a need for all primary providers to at least sample customers who have additional charges on their bills not coming from AT&T, particularly for VMail or other add on which cost less through the parent companies providing their main service.
When I talked with the Solo Communications representative, I was given the impression that others were also calling to have their monies returned for a service they never heard about.