Complaint Review: Zero Plus Dialing-One Call Communication-Opticom

In May, 2003, we were in Maine to spend a weekend at Camp Sunshine. Camp Sunshine is a camp for families who have children with cancer or other serious diseases. We were there for a bereavement camp. Our five year old son Seth passed away in November, 2002.

A day before we were to head back to Florida, we recieved word that my wife's father had passed away. Our cell phones did not work well in Maine, so I used 1-800-Call ATT to place calls. One call that went through AT&T cost us about $5 for 20 minutes. I placed another call but misdialed, instead of 1-800-225-5288, I accidentally dialed 1-800-255-5288. I did not know it, but this was Opticom's 800 number.

That call lasted about 20 minutes, but it cost me $62.00. This was for a call from Maine to Florida. My credit card company sent me a letter because they wanted to ask me about some "questionable" charges on my account. They told me about what Opticom had charged me for that one phone call.

My credit card company gave me the 800 number for Opticom's customer service (Opticom and customer service is an oxymoron). I spoke with several people at the Opticom who all told me that I was out of luck and they would not reimburse my credit card. They would not let me speak to a manager, they just hang up when they don't want to listen to you anymore.

Opticom needs to be put out of business. There should be laws to better protect the consumer against these rip-off artists. They say they work within the law, but what they do does not pass the smell test.

Scott
North Palm Beach, Florida
U.S.A.