ESBI Charges

[Amazon63]

Is anyone else getting charges on their landline for something from ESBI.  According to the statement it is for Billing of behalf of Conference call services and the plan is a 1 email a day monthly service fee.  This is ridiculous, all I want from my land line is local calling with caller ID and I can't even get them to do that right!  HELP!!!

[acraftylady]

Seems to be lots of complaints about this.  Hope you get it solved.  Had a similar problem once and what a pain.    Mary

[BMKM]

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@Amazon63 wrote:

Is anyone else getting charges on their landline for something from ESBI.  According to the statement it is for Billing of behalf of Conference call services and the plan is a 1 email a day monthly service fee.  This is ridiculous, all I want from my land line is local calling with caller ID and I can't even get them to do that right!  HELP!!!

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I did not get hit with any changes from ESBI, but got caught by another similar company (OAN) for V-mail services that I did not sign-up for.  I just read an article in the May/June AARP magazine and the practice is called Cramming, which means sneaking unauthorized charges on your phone bill. 

@First thing the AARP article recommended was to call Verizon (1-800-837-4966) and ask Verizon to put a block on all third-party charges.  This prevents unauthorized charges from being added to your bill from Third Parties.  This includes.all third-parties, ESBI, OAN and any others.  Verizon put the block on - no questions asked.  Also call ESBI and cancel the service and try to get some of your money refunded.  Within my on-line Verizon bill the number for OAN was included on my bill along with the number from the company providing the V-Mail service (Supreme Savings).   Last, I'm going to file a complaint with the FTC @ ftccomplaintassistant.gov. 

The Verizon rep also recommended not providing your phone number when signing-up for anything on the Web or via the mail as another precaution. 

Hope this helps and good luck !!

[Justin46]

Here is a link to an older thread here with more information on this problem:

http://forums.verizon.com/t5/Home-Phone-Landline-or-Digital/ESBI-Charges/m-p/8199

Buried several posts in is a link to a complaint form you can fill out and submit to the FTC. The links are still active so I presume the FTC still looks at this.

The advice previously given about putting a block on your phone is a very good one and should work. But we need to get these slimy companies put out of business.

__________________________________
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
QIP6416-P1, IMG 1.7.1, Build 09.97
Keller, TX 76248

[Cyberhez]

BMKM, Thanks for detailing what you did. Here's what I'm doing:

First, I called OAN's number on my bill right as soon as I saw the charge.  It connected me directly to a company that identified themselves as A Digital Village (but I think it's really deceptive that it's detailed on my bill as "GE Exchange").  A Digital Village disconnected me a few seconds later, but then I called the number on my bill for GE Exchange and got right through.  I spoke to a rep who said her name was Heather.  I told her that this was an unauthorized charge and she said they would remove it - I should see the credit on my June bill.

After reading your message and several others, I also plan to call Verizon and ask for a block on all third party billing.

I'm a thirtysomething and we're being told to go green and paperless and I am so happy I do my own thing.  Had I gone to e-billing, I would know I would have gotten lazy and stopped reading my billing emails - I'd have completely missed this!

Who knew AARP would come to the rescue of some Thirtysomethings, too!!  (I am so joining AARP when I am eligible.)