- Report: #68667
Complaint Review: North American Telephone Network - Atlanta Georgia
-
Author Not Confirmed
Why?
North American Telephone Network
4151 Ashford Dunwoody Road Suite 675 Atlanta, 30319 Georgia, U.S.A.
Phone:
800-822-0019
Web:
N/A
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Business Rating:
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North American Telephone Network ripoff fraud harassment Atlanta Georgia
Hello, I am one of the apparently hundreds of people ripped off by the North American Telephone Network. I received a call, stating that to try their service, I could have 1,000 free long-distance minutes for a set-up fee of $9.95. I agreed and gave them my VISA information. They gave me an access number to use.
A few days later, I received a letter from them thanking me for signing up for their service and informing me that I would be chaged $27.+ TWICE a month, now had an 800 number, answering service, ec. They also informed me in this mail that toward the end of the month, I would be billed (against my VISA) over $50 for my "free trial" of TIME magazine! That was sure news to me!
I immediately called my VISA and had my card cancelled, but not before they had managed to charge my account $27.+ in addition to the $9.95 I had agreed to pay for the "free" 1,000 minutes.
In their letter, they stated that in order to cancel my account, it must be in writing, not over the phone to the Customer Service, so I immediately sent them snail mail to that effect. Within 24 hours my access number for the 1,000 "free" minute was no longer effective.
What followed was countless phone calls from these people, harassing and threatening me over this account. They called every day, at any time of the day, and often more than once a day. I told them I was not about to pay for their scam. I told them repeatedly, again and again, and even told them I was going to go to my attorney. Apparently they have been threatened by experts, as it did no good.
I finally went to the BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. I very quickly received a letter from them, with a copy of the letter they had received from the NATN, stating they was very sorry and would refund my money. They LIED to the BBB, telling them that I had agreed to sign up for all of their services.
I did not receive any more calls from the North Ameican Telephone Network until today, Oct. 9, 2003 - and the man told me they was about to turn my account over to COLLECTION! After they had told the BBB they had cancelled all of my "charges" and would refund my money.
What's with these people and what part don't they understand about the fact that consumers have rights, and there is an Attorney General who is about to receive copies of the complaints on the Internet along with mine?
Thanks for letting me vent, I am about to inform the entire Internet about this scam company.
Bonnie
Cave Junction, Oregon
U.S.A.
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on North American Telephone
STOP! ..before you think about using the Better Business Bureau (BBB)... CLICK HERE to see how other consumers were victimized by the BBB's false or misleading information. Don't be fooled! It has been reported, when there are thousands of complaints and other investigations underway by authorities, the BBB has no choice but to finally give an UNsatisfactory rating to a BBB member business that is paying the BBB big membership fees every year. When a business is reported that is NOT a BBB member, BBB files WILL more likely show an UNsatisfactory rating, then reportedly shake down that company to become a member of the BBB. One positive thing about the BBB is, either way, if a business has an unsatisfactory rating with the BBB, you can be sure, the business is bad. But what about all those BBB member businesses that had complaints filed against them? Consumers never get to hear about them. What about the BBB advertising to the public? Is this a false and misleading perception they are giving about consumer confidence when dealing with a business? Click here to understand more of what consumers and business alike are saying about the BBB. You decide. ..Remember. The BBB membership is not earned, it's paid for!
A few days later, I received a letter from them thanking me for signing up for their service and informing me that I would be chaged $27.+ TWICE a month, now had an 800 number, answering service, ec. They also informed me in this mail that toward the end of the month, I would be billed (against my VISA) over $50 for my "free trial" of TIME magazine! That was sure news to me!
I immediately called my VISA and had my card cancelled, but not before they had managed to charge my account $27.+ in addition to the $9.95 I had agreed to pay for the "free" 1,000 minutes.
In their letter, they stated that in order to cancel my account, it must be in writing, not over the phone to the Customer Service, so I immediately sent them snail mail to that effect. Within 24 hours my access number for the 1,000 "free" minute was no longer effective.
What followed was countless phone calls from these people, harassing and threatening me over this account. They called every day, at any time of the day, and often more than once a day. I told them I was not about to pay for their scam. I told them repeatedly, again and again, and even told them I was going to go to my attorney. Apparently they have been threatened by experts, as it did no good.
I finally went to the BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. I very quickly received a letter from them, with a copy of the letter they had received from the NATN, stating they was very sorry and would refund my money. They LIED to the BBB, telling them that I had agreed to sign up for all of their services.
I did not receive any more calls from the North Ameican Telephone Network until today, Oct. 9, 2003 - and the man told me they was about to turn my account over to COLLECTION! After they had told the BBB they had cancelled all of my "charges" and would refund my money.
What's with these people and what part don't they understand about the fact that consumers have rights, and there is an Attorney General who is about to receive copies of the complaints on the Internet along with mine?
Thanks for letting me vent, I am about to inform the entire Internet about this scam company.
Bonnie
Cave Junction, Oregon
U.S.A.
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on North American Telephone
STOP! ..before you think about using the Better Business Bureau (BBB)... CLICK HERE to see how other consumers were victimized by the BBB's false or misleading information. Don't be fooled! It has been reported, when there are thousands of complaints and other investigations underway by authorities, the BBB has no choice but to finally give an UNsatisfactory rating to a BBB member business that is paying the BBB big membership fees every year. When a business is reported that is NOT a BBB member, BBB files WILL more likely show an UNsatisfactory rating, then reportedly shake down that company to become a member of the BBB. One positive thing about the BBB is, either way, if a business has an unsatisfactory rating with the BBB, you can be sure, the business is bad. But what about all those BBB member businesses that had complaints filed against them? Consumers never get to hear about them. What about the BBB advertising to the public? Is this a false and misleading perception they are giving about consumer confidence when dealing with a business? Click here to understand more of what consumers and business alike are saying about the BBB. You decide. ..Remember. The BBB membership is not earned, it's paid for!
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Linda
San Diego,California,
U.S.A.
THEY INVADED YOUR LIFE
#2Consumer Comment
Fri, October 10, 2003
This is a classic example of why the average American can't, in all safety, answer the phone any more! Once you have a conversation with one of these scammers, as you found out, everything sways in their favor. My suggestion to you and everyone else is to get an answering machine. They are now so inexpensive to be within almost everyone's budget. Worried about missing an important call? Turn up the volume and go about your business. If it's a legitimate business, they'll leave a message and you can call them back. Worried about missing calls from your family? Train them to "talk to the machine", and inform them that you no longer will answer your phone directly. You'd be surprised how often a conversation is not required, but simply the exchange of information, and the machine does that quite well. Consumers need to remember that the telephone within the home belongs to the subscribers.....not the people calling. You would not invite a complete stranger into your home, so why would you allow someone via the phone? As you found out, they can rob you just as quickly as if they had walked in the front door armed.
