- Report: #158157
Complaint Review: Talk America - Florida
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Talk America
www.talk.com Florida, U.S.A.
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Talk America Brazen unethical and deceptive business practices to cheat you - unbelievable! RIPOFF Palm Harbor Florida
TALK AMERICA inserts multiple hidden administrative, billing, or connection fees into your long distance account over time. The only notification is a posting to their website. If you don't regularly visit their website (which they surely have a record of, making you a prime target) to see the exact details of your bill, you're screwed.
They will slowly escalate the fees, cheating you more and more each month.
The monthly charge shows up as "TALK AMERICA AOL LD" on your credit card to lend credibility. TALK AMERICA and AOL separated several years ago, yet for "legal reasons" they continue to bill using "AOL".
They cannot/will not explain the charges, and will offer customers a "better plan" that doesn't include these outrageous fees. Yeah right - after being cheated for over a year, like anyone would be willing to stay with them.
When it comes to the bottom line and service is cancelled, they demand you pay the bill or they will send your account to collections.
Incredibly, I have heard this is a common yet legal scam. Thankfully VISA is aware of it, and are willing to investigate (apparently due to other complaints) and will dispute up to 3 month's worth of charges.
Strangely, AOL seemed relatively unconcerned. Where is Oliver Stone when you need him!
Steve
Burbank, California
U.S.A.
They will slowly escalate the fees, cheating you more and more each month.
The monthly charge shows up as "TALK AMERICA AOL LD" on your credit card to lend credibility. TALK AMERICA and AOL separated several years ago, yet for "legal reasons" they continue to bill using "AOL".
They cannot/will not explain the charges, and will offer customers a "better plan" that doesn't include these outrageous fees. Yeah right - after being cheated for over a year, like anyone would be willing to stay with them.
When it comes to the bottom line and service is cancelled, they demand you pay the bill or they will send your account to collections.
Incredibly, I have heard this is a common yet legal scam. Thankfully VISA is aware of it, and are willing to investigate (apparently due to other complaints) and will dispute up to 3 month's worth of charges.
Strangely, AOL seemed relatively unconcerned. Where is Oliver Stone when you need him!
Steve
Burbank, California
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Steve
Burbank,California,
U.S.A.
TALK AMERICA continues to cheat its customers...
#2Author of original report
Sat, October 29, 2005
UPDATE: I rec'd a call from a TALK AMERICA rep in response to a complaint that I filed with the Better Business Bureau. Incredibly, the rep would not answer ANY questions but only repeated the exact same line each and every time: we posted to the website all fees and charges, and it is the customer's responsibility to access their account. NO explanation what any of the charges were, NO explanation how I had $2.75 in long-distance usage and $39 in TALK AMERICA administrative fees last month, NO answer to the question if they maintain records on which customers access their account and which don't, in other words NO help or integrity whatsoever. Basically, TALK AMERICA's philosophy is that they have a license to steal and there's nothing you can do about it. I have complaints still pending with FCC and VISA - unfortunately my attorney is battling prostrate cancer, but I do have some other professional contacts and am proceeding accordingly. TALK AMERICA is a major league ripoff company to be avoided at all costs (my cost is $454 lost to date)...
