I've been hacked and scammed.

[Tyme2fish]

I just received my new phone bill and found unauthorized charges of $28.77.

When I called at&t they stated that "at&t cannot address these charges. This portion of your bill is provided as a service to the above company."

Whoa there at&t, I have not authorized you to provide any "service" except phone service so you can kindly credit my account for these unauthorized charges. Nope. No can do replies at&t.

I then had to call the companies that charged my at&t account and cancel services I never signed up for and play "Let my transfer you to a supervisor" and get put on hold for 45 minutes for each provider.

The companies involved were MYEMAILDEFENDER,INC-WEBMAIL STANDARD and MYIPRODUCT IMAIL VOICEMAIL

Someone had to access my AOL e-mail account and signed up for these "services". They had my phone number and address but posted an incorrect date of birth. &^*%$$#$ frapplewag scoundrels.

I changed my password on AOL and hopefully I am done with this problem.

I realize that $28.77 is not a vast fortune, but I'll be danged if I allow some company to charge me for "services" I have not myself signed up for or authorized.

Supposedly I will be credited these charges on my next at&t bill. Let the wait begin.

[bassin_bug]

I had a battle with Verizon Wireless today over the same thing. I received 4 text messages for which I was billed 60-cents and was billed $9.95 for ONE text that I sent. I called Verizon to disCUSS it and the man told me that an online game provider had somehow obtained my cell phone number and sent a text message that said, "To sign up for these games please reply to this message and you will be billed $9.95 per month." I didn't read their message but did open one so I could send them a STOP message. Being ignorant of their scheme and after having received 4 messages with the same title, within about 45 minutes, I sent a not so polite text saying remove me from your text message list." The man said my reply had authorized them to bill me $9.95 per month through Verizon to receive their games. I have absolutely no idea what they were. He wanted me to think Verizon could do nothing about it because I had authorized the charges. I told him I could and I would do something about it by canceling my contract with Verizon. He suddenly had a stroke of genius and removed the charges and placed a block on the company charging me for games.

[Tyme2fish]

Bassin_bug, I'm one of the "ancients". I want a cell PHONE

When I bought my last phone (about 6 years ago) I explained to the salesperson that I didn't need to text, e-mail,take pictures,access the Internet or any other dang thing. All I want is the ability to receive and transmit a PHONE call.

I realize I'm old fashioned and set in me ways, but I'm getting really fed up with this new fangled technology.

[bassin_bug]

You have just described me. My cell phone has all kinds of features, it will even access my computer and do too many other things. I bought a phone, I intend to use a phone, and although I have text messaging I don't waste my time with it. Why text when there is speed dial on the phone?

One of the silliest things I have heard about texting is that kids riding in the back seat of the car text their parents, who are sitting in the front seat, instead of just talking to each other.

[GeoFisher]

Bassin_bug, I'm one of the "ancients". I want a cell PHONE

When I bought my last phone (about 6 years ago) I explained to the salesperson that I didn't need to text, e-mail,take pictures,access the Internet or any other dang thing. All I want is the ability to receive and transmit a PHONE call.

I realize I'm old fashioned and set in me ways, but I'm getting really fed up with this new fangled technology.

Well...........they really don't make those any more...........maybe, but I doubt it.

I have ALL the features I don't want TURNED off..........call verizon, or your provider, and turn them off.

Internet......OFF
Texting........Off
Ringtones..........OFF


Later,

Geo

[HURRICANEBOB]

Isn't this a subtle form of "slamming"? You might want to hit the FCC page, the .gov type, and see if they have a complaint form there. Best case, the FCC will have fun with them. Worse case, is next time you call to complain to your phone provider you can mention you know how to contact the FCC and they have you on thier "returning customers list".

I used the same tactiv with stuff that showed up on my charge card after I cancelled the transaction with the vendor who decided he didn't want to give my money back, in that case I talked to my card company who was not help, then got my email pen out and hit the Federal Trade Commission. Nice, active, supportive poeple in that office. 2 weeks later the vendor sent me a letter of apology, and atttached a check to pay me back for the charges he failed to reverse.

Just a thought. Fold, spindle or mutilate.

[bassin_bug]

Well...........they really don't make those any more...........maybe, but I doubt it.

I have ALL the features I don't want TURNED off..........call verizon, or your provider, and turn them off.

Internet......OFF
Texting........Off
Ringtones..........OFF


Later,

Geo

My phone contract was originally through Alltel which was bought by Verizon Wireless. At the time I signed on with Alltel, about 15 years ago, all those features were included free. My bill is $31.23/month, every month, and it has been the same since I first signed the contract.

[jcb]

One of the silliest things I have heard about texting is that kids riding in the back seat of the car text their parents, who are sitting in the front seat, instead of just talking to each other.

I'm not a Bill Maher fan because he's a propagandist, but occasionally he has a point to make. He was talking about how everyone's buying these SUVs with display screens built into the headrests, so the kids in the back won't have to talk to the adults in the front. His point was "And Christians want to talk about the disintegration of the family," and I think he was right.

[DJD]

I'm not a Bill Maher fan because he's a propagandist, but occasionally he has a point to make. He was talking about how everyone's buying these SUVs with display screens built into the headrests, so the kids in the back won't have to talk to the adults in the front. His point was "And Christians want to talk about the disintegration of the family," and I think he was right.

I agree I'm not a fan of his at all!

I hope that loud mouth goober had more to say than that cause that's just plain silly. The lack of communicating with your kids in the car fails in comparison to the garbage coming out of liberals like him and the slanted junk from Hollywood.

I see many parents interacting with their kids in church through retreats, classes and social gatherings around here......I'm sure where he lives he sees the dredge of society. So it's a great place for him to stay!

[bassin_bug]

I'm not a Bill Maher fan because he's a propagandist, but occasionally he has a point to make. He was talking about how everyone's buying these SUVs with display screens built into the headrests, so the kids in the back won't have to talk to the adults in the front. His point was "And Christians want to talk about the disintegration of the family," and I think he was right.

I saw an extended cab truck with display screens on the back of the headrest. It looked like the kids were playing some type of video game during the ride. I doubt it was anything more than entertainment. Wouldn't parents watching TV at home be the same thing except a reversal from child to adult.

I don't think playing games or watching videos in a vehicle will cause disintegration of a family anymore than doing the same thing at home. Maher's opinion that children are watching the screens to AVOID talking while traveling is not even logical. If that's true, children and parents aren't talking at home either.

[CMorg]

I just received my new phone bill and found unauthorized charges of $28.77.

When I called at&t they stated that "at&t cannot address these charges. This portion of your bill is provided as a service to the above company."

Whoa there at&t, I have not authorized you to provide any "service" except phone service so you can kindly credit my account for these unauthorized charges. Nope. No can do replies at&t.

I then had to call the companies that charged my at&t account and cancel services I never signed up for and play "Let my transfer you to a supervisor" and get put on hold for 45 minutes for each provider.

The companies involved were MYEMAILDEFENDER,INC-WEBMAIL STANDARD and MYIPRODUCT IMAIL VOICEMAIL

Someone had to access my AOL e-mail account and signed up for these "services". They had my phone number and address but posted an incorrect date of birth. &^*%$$#$ frapplewag scoundrels.

I changed my password on AOL and hopefully I am done with this problem.

I realize that $28.77 is not a vast fortune, but I'll be danged if I allow some company to charge me for "services" I have not myself signed up for or authorized.

Supposedly I will be credited these charges on my next at&t bill. Let the wait begin.

If they dont credit your bill , sue them.

[CMorg]

I had a battle with Verizon Wireless today over the same thing. I received 4 text messages for which I was billed 60-cents and was billed $9.95 for ONE text that I sent. I called Verizon to disCUSS it and the man told me that an online game provider had somehow obtained my cell phone number and sent a text message that said, "To sign up for these games please reply to this message and you will be billed $9.95 per month." I didn't read their message but did open one so I could send them a STOP message. Being ignorant of their scheme and after having received 4 messages with the same title, within about 45 minutes, I sent a not so polite text saying remove me from your text message list." The man said my reply had authorized them to bill me $9.95 per month through Verizon to receive their games. I have absolutely no idea what they were. He wanted me to think Verizon could do nothing about it because I had authorized the charges. I told him I could and I would do something about it by canceling my contract with Verizon. He suddenly had a stroke of genius and removed the charges and placed a block on the company charging me for games.

This is just trickery. I would sue them !! Im sue happy tonite ...