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  • Report:  #225664

Complaint Review: Optimum Voice Mail - Tarpon Springs Florida

Reported By:
- San Diego, California,
Submitted:
Updated:

Optimum Voice Mail
P.O. Box 357 Tarpon Springs, 34688 Florida, U.S.A.
Phone:
800-339-6340
Web:
N/A
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good? What's this?
I noticed an unfamiliar charge on my phone bill from Optimum Voice Mail for $15.74. Not recognizing the charge I called their 800# (1-800-339-6340)and spoke to the CSR. He told me that my roomate had ordered the service as part of signing up for a $1000 Grocery Giveaway contest. The CSR was able to produce a valid email address, Date of Birth, and Mother's Maiden name for my roommate.

But my roommate was adamant that he had not signed up for the contest or service. Growing a bit suspicious I asked that the CSR provide a Physical address (not just a PO Box) and a web address for the company. The CSR refused to do so. At that point I became very suspicious and I asked the CSR simply credit this charge and any subsequent charges that might be forthcoming. The CSR indicated that he could not waive the "Set Up" fee but would credit the subsequent monthly charge of $13.22 to my account.

Hearing this I asked to speak with his supervisor ("Crystal" ext.165). She explained that they had information indicating that my roommate had ordered the service. I told her this was not the case and I demanded a full refund. She told me that she had the IP address and the name of the ISP from where it had been ordered. I immediately knew that neither the IP address or the ISP matched my or my roomate's information. When I challeged the Supervisor on this point she agreed to credit my account for both charges.

There is no doubt in my mind that this company is using a SCAM and unethical tactics to steal people's money. This company needs to be prosecuted to the extreme. I'm sure that there are many people that will just give up and agree to pay that first fee of $15.74. However, I am not one of them.

Since this incidence I have contacted my local phone company and had them remove the charge from my phone bill. I have filed a complaint with the FTC and plan to file a complaint with the CPUC. I have also contacted the CEO of the ILD Teleservices Inc (third party billing company through which "Optimum Voice Mail" bills local phone companies?)and notified him of OVM's questionalble business practices and furthermore suggested that ILD's reputation may be damaged by associating with this apparent fraudulent company. I plan to contact my congressman and make them aware of the issue.

I'm considering taking this to the local news agencies to see if I can get them to do some investigative research on this ripoff. Who knows maybe Ellen or Oprah would be interested in doing a segment on scams.

Frankly it's time that consumers like you and I stand up and fight these scammers. Don't assume that the next person will do something about it. File a report with your local Public Utility Commission (PUC) and the FTC (www.ftc.gov consumers section). Don't let these people continue to get away with fraud.

Jet

San Diego, California
U.S.A.


4 Updates & Rebuttals

Linda

Tarponsprings,
Florida,
U.S.A.
i've been fired because I was on this site and blog

#2UPDATE EX-employee responds

Sat, February 17, 2007

The owner had to find something to fire me on so she went searching this site and on blog the reason is managemnt all knew that i had a very big issue with how they do there business and run the office Besides how the consumer is tricked into ordering the voice mail service the office in which they run out of had saftey issues and i turned them into OSHA which cause the company money because they had to go out and buy fire extingushers , had to post fire escape maps the fire department came in and the building was chaecked for air quality and mold. Now if they let me go because of that I would be able to sue them for retaliation; so now the witch hunt was on she claims i gave trade secrets out of how she earns her living and she didn't like how I informed people how business is done didnt make her look very good. The funny part is no one visted the blog except for her or who she paid to do the witch hunt on. They all knew I was afraid of them this was the first and last time Iwill ever work for a company like that back to the larger fortune companies and ones spoke about in Forbes magazine it was a big mistake to leave the large ethical company for a small one we all learn and live i must of hit a nerve with her had to of gotten something right human nature poeple only get upset of truths if you tell them an out right lie they usaully are fine with it Linda


Jet

San Diego,
California,
U.S.A.
Filed Complaint with California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)

#3Author of original report

Sun, February 04, 2007

Since filing my original report: * I have received credits from Optimum Voice Mail for the amounts they billed against my account. (Despite this I'm pursuing further action against Optimum.) * I've filed a formal complaint with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) against Optimum Voice Mail. The investigation is underway. I'm not sure where this will lead but at minimum I have * It's quite clear to me that Optimum Voice Mail is at mimimum a very UNETHICAL company. I'm sure that the company's ethics are only matched by those of their owner. It really is disgusting and shameful that such companies are in business. The owners should be ashamed. Laws need to be enacted to protect consumers from these type of companies. This is my pursuit now. * I also plan to submit my story to Bill O'Reilly and other news agencies to see if get some interest on these type of scam companies. Linda, thank you for the information you provided. I plan to contact the BBB in Boston and file a formal complaint against Optimum Voice Mail. These guys are lurking in the shadows. And I intend to shed some light on their sleazy behavior.


Linda

Tarponsprings,
Florida,
U.S.A.
insider information

#4UPDATE Employee

Tue, January 30, 2007

I do work there and I do know Crystal who is just a plain CSR and yes we are out of Tarpon Springs Fl with the owner out of Boston MA and she hate sher name to be given out but you can it it through the BBB. These companies are working within the legal premators but highly unethical and the local phone companies should be ashamed of themselves as well. Plain and simple fact the company Traffix inc who runs the websites where Nationwide VM and United VB etc. advertise on are hoping that people do not fully read what is on the internet. the Demographics that are targeted people who earn under 25000 a year and with barely a high school education because we are the ones struggling pay check to pay check and are looking for that extra help. IT's many websites from lottery games to computer games music down loads survey sites recipe site are all where advertised There are many things to protect ones self first is don't go on these sites remember nothing is free in life it all cost something period. But if you have fallen victim on this here is what you will want to do As soon as you see that first charge whether its 1295 or 1322 or 695 or 1723 call immediately to the company then be aware you also had at one time paid for some kind of setup fee either 1574 or 1883 have the customer service person email you what was supposely filled out and submitted for service it will have a date on it and in a lot of cases you will find out you hav ebeen paying for a couple of years They will only tell you of the most recent 3 charges, After over a year of working there managemnt has now come up with a few states regulations on third party billing it only the states giving them the biggest headaches. Get intouch with FCC, FTC, PUC, BBB, local investigative reports on scam for your area and get lawsuit against them as well I forget what time of suit it would be called and write to the Bill O'Reilly's and the Geraldo'sand dateline who investiate reports of scams . I have a blog that may help you as well its called fraud on the internet , nationwide VM /ILD billing it should help you settle with refunds and show you the order forms. Truth be known the consumer isn't the only one being scammed she the owner even scams her employees over pay time off, evulations etc I know she will not be in business much longer, I HOPE THIS WILL HELP YOU IN THE FUTURE AND NOW TO GET YOUR MONEY BACK STAY SAFE AND WELL CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.


None

Tampa,
Florida,
U.S.A.
optimum voice mail

#5Consumer Suggestion

Thu, January 11, 2007

ellen and orpah could care less about scams bill oreilly would be the best for the story of scams on the net he gets things done

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