<p>We just got our home telephone bill. Usually always the same, we primarily use our cell phones for most long distance usage, etc. What a surprise!</p>
<p>Last month, H and D2 were in Peru. Their returning home happened to coincide both with 1) the earthquake (luckily they were far, far away when it actually occurred), but had to return to Lima to fly home AND 2) his mother had been rushed to the hospital here and was in serious condition in Intensive Care, with all of his siblings flying in from all over the country. We’d been talking via cell phone to resolve the emergency issues, but when he got to Lima, they still didn’t have cell phone coverage working(from the earthquake). He called me collect from the airport in Lima, and we talked about 2 minutes.</p>
<p>The phone bill, under a section for LD provider ILD TELESERVICES, is for a 5 minute phone call, totalling… $43.92! With taxes and a couple of additional bogus “fees”, the total for this little 2 minute chat was $51.74. He called these jokesters at this LD provider’s 800 number today–to be told that the minimum charge for any call was 5 minutes, and that the rate was “correct”, and was available to him “if he’d asked” before he made the call. He called our local provider, and they removed the charge, but said that the LD company would probably bill again through them; we’d need to call if it showed up again. The rep estimated that eventually they will bill us directly.</p>
<p>Is there any recourse for this? This is just plain wrong!</p>
<p>Overseas collect call? I don’t think they make rates higher than those kind of calls. The fact your local provider will take it off your bill is a good deal (if it sticks). I’d advise getting a calling card for your next trip as a backup when the cell phone breaks or walks away.</p>
<p>But don’t get me started on returning rental cars a day early and the rate doubling…</p>
<p>This is a wireless story with T-Mobile. We had 5 phones in our family, and our contract was up. I called up to see if they could offer me better phones, or rates to sign up for another year. After looking at their offers, I decided it just was not attractive enough for me to sign up with them. But while I was working with the rep, the rep said, “I notice you don’t use up many of your minutes, why don’t down grade to a lower plan to save some money while you are deciding.” I said sure. The rep was having some problem making the changes for us, so he said why don’t I just do that online later. I did exactly as the rep said - felt good about saving $20/mon. </p>
<p>I then started looking at other wireless providers, found a great deal with phones my kids loved. Before I actually switched to another provider, I called T-mobil again to ask them if I was still under contract with them. They told me no and was very sorry to hear I wanted to switch. I then switched all of our numbers to the new provider. A month later, I got my final bill from T-Mobile, “We regret to lose to you as a customer…Your final bill is $200…We welcome you to come back to us…” A few weeks when I was just about to pay for the final bill, I got another letter from T-Mobile to say I now owe them additional $1000 ($200/phone) for breaking my contract. They claimed when I changed my phone plan online, I agreed to extend my contract for another year!!! I clicked so fast, I didn’t even remember agreeding to anything. They also told me weeks after I changed my plan that I was not under contract with them any more. I have tried to talk and write to them, but they just say “So sorry.” I can’t believe they could make me pay $1000 for nothing.</p>
<p>It’s quite common for the LD carriers in tourist locations including hotels and apparently airports, especially in foreign countries, to really badly gouge on the LD rates. They basically figure they have suckers and stick them with a large bill and I’m not sure much can be done about it. I think the hotels, etc. get a kickback from it. I’ve seen articles covering this subject. My company’s issued warnings to employees about this. It could be called a scam but it’s quite legal. </p>
<p>One way around it other than using cell phones (which one must be careful of as well) is to use a telephone credit card that will work in the country.</p>
<p>All of the cell phone providers try to pull this one. If you make any change at all in your contract they’re liable to reset the clock on your contract - usually without informing you.</p>
<p>Definitely fight that bill. Don’t waste time with the phone answerers - you need to go higher up. Tell them that you confirmed at least twice with their reps that your contract wouldn’t be extended. If they don’t acquiesce inform them that you’re going to contact the utilities commision, the FCC, the local news station, etc. and that you’re not going to give in to extortion. </p>
<p>I’d play it light-handed and nice at first but be prepared to switch to heavy-handed later (but business-like).</p>
<p>Another thing I do when dealing with these people is to write down the date, time, and name of the ‘help’ desk person I’m speaking to and write down verbatim some quotes from them. They find it more difficult to argue when you have this data.</p>
<p>I’ve fought one very much like this and was able to get them to correct their error (or in their terms “make an adjustment”).</p>
<p>I have tried. I have told them to take me court because I just won’t pay. They have now send it to a collection agency. They call constantly. It’s at a point that we won’t pick up our phone now. If you know of an agency I could contact, please let me know.</p>
<p>I don’t know. I’d probably try calling them back at least a few more times before giving up that path. Make sure you ask to speak to a supervisor every time explaining that you’ve already had dialogue on the subject if they balk. Explain to the supervisor that their reps specifically told you that the contract term wouldn’t change and use the quote from the rep you indicated above. Tell them that you took their word in good faith and that now they’re extorting you and making your life miserable. If you don’t get anywhere wait a day or two and call again at a different time of day. There’s a good chance you’ll get a different supervisor each time and one of them might see it your way. If that doesn’t work out ask them what your recourse is within their company for pursuing this bogus charge. Speak nicely and appeal to them personally. Ask them what ‘they’ would do if this happened to them.</p>
<p>If all of that doesn’t work start with the letter writing to their consumer complaints division. If that doesn’t get you anywhere contact some consumer advocate organizations for further advice. </p>
<p>Also, use caller ID or something on your phone so you don’t have to talk to the collection agency. Get the type that doesn’t ring the phone unless they’re a known ‘friend’.</p>
<p>The question I’d ask is: at the time of the call, if someone had said “peace of mind will cost you $40, is that okay?” would you have paid it? If so, drop it.</p>
<p>There’s a step 2 to this: Wait a few weeks after you send the letter to the collection agency, and then request free credit reports from the major agencies. This way you will see if the claim is showing up. If so, write a letter to each credit agency saying that the debt is disputed and briefly state the facts (you were not under contract; that fact was confirmed twice, etc.). By law the credit agencies have to investigate and in the meantime include the notation of dispute & your statement with any credit report.</p>
<p>Oldfort, Calmom is 100% correct. The collection agency MUST stop calling you at your request. They do not have a choice. I didn’t think it was even necessary to give them any reason, but maybe it’s a state thing. Under no circumstances allow these creeps to keep you from answering your telephone. Then, if T-Mobile puts this on your credit report (it may take weeks or even months for it to show up, and they might put it on just one, or all three major bureaus) - file a dispute with the CRA(s). THEN, when you win the dispute, make sure it really, really does come off and STAY off of your credit report.</p>
<p>Whatever you do, don’t give in and pay them…</p>
<p>This is good info. I still haven’t paid for an erroneous charge from a cell phone company since 2002. They ignore letters, and keep switching collection agencies. When they call, I hang up. I will check my credit history.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t waste too much time and worry on a ~$50 long distance bill for a call from Peru. I’m curious how much you think it should have cost. Collect LD calls from a hotel are, as someone else said, probably the most expensive way you could possibly make a call! Many types of calls are ‘rounded up’ or given a minimum charge. It’s not unusual at all. As dmd said, you probably wouldn’t have balked, at the time, if you’d known, when it was important to ensure that your loved ones were safe and to communicate the information about your mother in law. Seems to me that this is a live and learn situation and that you’ll know to always, always have a calling card when travelling. :)</p>
<p>As for the cell provider contract situation, I’d fight that tooth and nail. Just be sure to do as calmom stated so that it isn’t affecting your credit.</p>
<p>well put, alwaysamom. Agree fully- there are 2 issues here. The collect long distance call is probably not worth getting too upset about. The cellphone contract thing, though, is another issue, and worth fighting.</p>
<p>oldfort, around here we have “consumer advocate” reporters on the local news stations. They love to tackle situations like yours. Is there someone like that you can contact? How about your state’s Office of Consumer Affairs? They can often help.</p>
<p>Thanks everybody. I will check my credit reports. That’s all I need to have negative credit over this. I still can’t believe they could get away with this.</p>
<p>Astrophysicsmom - Your long distance collect call from another country is actually pretty reasonable - especially since collect calls are billed in the US at a higher rate as well - and coming from another country - well…</p>
<p>Oldfort - Only comment I have is that - you did ‘‘sign’’ another contract when you went on line to change your service - so in many respects T-mobile has a valid expectation for what they have done - you changed your service ‘‘after’’ you entered into that valid contract with them - on-line. I think instead of being concerned with a bad credit rating coming out of all of this - which it will eventually do - I would re-negotiate with T-mobile - at the absolute lowest rate that they have - pay it thru the contracted time - a year?? - shut those phones off and be done with it - at the end of the year - yank the contract PDQ - it will cost you less than the $1000 fee that will continue to impose on you.</p>
<p>Been there - done this with T-mobile and ya can’t win :(</p>
<p>^^ I won a similar scenario with AT&T (before it became Cingular then AT&T again). After I won that one though I was more aware of the ‘game’ they play with resetting the clock with any changes at all in the contract and have been very careful. </p>
<p>I’m not big on government regulations but I think this particular cell phone company scam with their contracts needs more regulation. They shouldn’t be permitted to so casually reset the clock on the contract without an explicit approval to do so by the subscriber.</p>