Obvious Warning I know....

[Squinky]

I recently had my internet turned off. For about two days. I spent those two days unplugging and testing my modem and router in so many different positions it would have made Ron Jeremy proud. No go. See, I didn't know it had been turned off by my phone company, as my bill should have been current. Little did I know.

Heres where I am going with this. I called up the phone company (also my isp) and asked them for a breakdown of my charges. I found out that a company called "Integratel" had signed me up for residential voicemail, about six months ago.

I say to my phone company "I didn't sign up for this, and why the hell is it on my utility bill?!?" I am informed that any company like this can have their bill slapped onto your phone bill, something about it being allowed by the fcc. I have to call this integratel company myself and tell them I am contesting the charges and get a fancy number to give the phone company so they will take it off my bill.

So I call "Integratel". I am ready to chew some ass. I am a pretty mild mannered guy, but I did used to be a jail-house sergeant so I can do pissed off pretty good too. I flat out tell them who I am and that I will not pay any of their bullshit charges, and am told that my wife signed up for it by filling out a survey on the internet at a place called prizewatch.com and they tell me that is considered a valid electronic signature. The phone operator then told me that anyone who fills out a survey is considered to be 18 or over and should know to read the fine print.

Basically after I raised my blood pressure a bit I demanded a dispute number, which they werent going to give me and hung up on the integretal person after making sure she knew they were scam artists and that I would not pay them and would do my best to inform the better buisness burea of their covert tactics....

Heres a breakdown of my issues with this:

1.  Why the hell would my phone company allow anybody to use them as a billing company is beyond me. The fact that it is mixed in with my phone bill lends legitemacy to it and also lets it get missed by folks paying their bill. I think this is how companys like this get away with it. It also means your damn bill gets too high and you get shut off, and that when you dispute the charges you have to do it with tow companys now. The Phone company themselves felt the voicemail company was unethical and scammy, if they have to put it on my bill maybe make a big notice or even call me about it to verify it? Thats a perfect world I know...

2. Their business integratel ( I find so much irony in this name, integrety should have no part of it ) signed me up for voicemail, and never informed me of it, told me how to use it, or anything. What the hell is that?!?!

3. Their main way of getting people signed up to their service is thru a frigging survey website that makes no mention anywhere but in the fine print hidden away somewhere that you would sign up to their service, and they tried to act like this is okay, like they weren't scam artists.  10 points on the bullshit scale...

4. I can't even get voicemail in my area! It dosen't work out here! Blarghetty!

5. I got told about basic internet precautions against problems lke this about 5 times before I was done, even by the people at integretel. This made me feel like they were talking down to me, like I was some naive old granny that never knew what alt-f4 did....

So, this is to inform anyone that didn't know this: If you fill out a survey form on the internet, it can be considered an electronic signature and will allow your ass to be reamed...

[shbaz]

... Which is why I have never filled out dodgy internet surveys that ask for an overwhelming amount of personal information and offer a chance to win a free iPod or ten cents in return.

You should really be having this conversation with your wife.

[Eggie]

Holy crap!
That Alt-F4 feature is BRUTAL!

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

Moral of the story:

NEVER give out factual personal information about yourself online unless you have verified the location as secure and trustworthy. 

Now, fictional personal information can be fun for the whole family!

[ManicMatt]

*Closes the window down*

Ah, so that's what Alt-F4 does.

[RickJ]

Hey Squinky

This shit happened to me a couple of years ago but not with an internet survey.  They didn't even give a reason or justification.   After mucho complaining to the phone company it finally go taken off my bill.  Here are a couple of ideas for you to stew on, because I wouldn't be allowed to give up yet (Hmmmm, maybe my wife may have a future in law enforecement...).

1.  Small Claims Court is your friend.   First of all lawyers aren't allowed in.  Second of all the person you name in the suit has to show up, if not you win.  So you could sue the phone company for not providing the voicemail you have paid for or the other company for fraud (I think a number of conditions must be met for an electronic signature to be vailid, one of wich I suppose would be a clear indication that you are signing a legal document).  So what you would do is find out in which state the company is located, lookup their listing with the secretary of state of that state.  This listing will tell you where they can be served and who the officers are that you can name in the suit.  You can find most of these listings on teinternet.  Just Google for "state name" and "secretary of state".  If they don;t have a web searchable database you will have to call them to get the listing and will cost $5-$20.  Judges like helping the little guy when they are right.

2.  Can you get high speed wireless or cable internet?  If so consider changing over.   Also consider switching to Vonage or some other VOIP company.  If it works good enough call the phone co to come and take their frickin wirs off your house.   I haven't done this yet my self but I have a plan in the works for early next year.

3.  If you want to try the phone route once more you may have better luck talkling to the phone companies legal department.  Ask them the address where they can take legal service and the name of one of the principals.  Tell them you are going to small  claims court to settle an issue regarding charges on your bill for a service that was not authorized by you and that was not provided by them.   Ask if there is a way to resolve this without going to court.  If they can't give you satisfaction  then thank them and politely hangup and then take a trip to the courthouse and file.

[big brother]

One more quick tip - (you might know this one already)

The Staircase Approach (if the person at the company you're talking to isn't being helpful, ask to speak to their superior, repeat as necessary) Generally, you'll find that as you climb higher, the view of your problem gets better.

[Traveler]

Also, get a voice recorder for ~$40 and record every conversation that you have with them. Later on it may be very useful. That's what I'm doing when I call any customer service nowadays.

[InCreator]

"prizewatch.com"
Yeh, gives a new whole meaning for word "obivious".

[MrColossal]

I think "obivious" IS a whole new word.

[Gilbert]

Yes, obiviousily.