A few years ago (2006), I began receiving large bills for long distance =

calls. When I called Verizon, I was told that the calls came from my =

phone, and that I had to pay them. I reminded Verizon that all of the =

members of our household had cell phones and that I had a block on long =

distance calls because of that. I was told that the numbers that were =

called were "1010", and the carrier was Telecom USA. Therefore, I had =

to pay for the calls. I was further told that, if I wanted to block =

"1010" calls, I would have to specify that in my order. I explained =

that I ordered the blocked service and said that I want ALL long =

distance calls blocked. I stated that the specification of ALL covered =

ALL long distance, including Telecom USA, and any others.

After going around in circles with the Verizon Representative, he =

finally told me that the calls would be removed from my bill, and a =

credit would be issued. I never saw the calls again. Nor, did I =

receive anymore bils for the calls.

It is now 2008, and suddenly I am receiving phone calls from some =

collection agency called RPM that they are calling to collect for the =

phone calls. When I asked the called to be more specific, he didn't =

even realize that he was calling the phone number (my home) in question. =

He also referred to Bell Atlantic, when in fact in 2006, the company =

name was already changed to Verizon. He didn't give me the name of the =

long distance carrier. In fact, all he knew was that he was calling to =

collect some money. When I asked him the account number in question, he =

didn't know that either.

Finally, he told me to call the telephone company, and I did. It was =

only then, that I found out that there are still several hundred dollars =

in long distance calls appearing on my account and that they are for =

calls using "1010" or Telecom USA. I told the Verizon Representative my =

story. She told me that I am responsible for all calls from my home =

phone. I told her that I paid to have ALL long distance calls service =

blocked, and that I thought this matter was taken care of a few years =

ago. She, then explained that it was not. Instead, it had been removed =

from my regular bill so that I would not lose full service. I explained =

that, removing the amount from my bill only compounded the matter, =

because I was told that the charges were going to be removed and that I =

would not have to pay them since I had requested a complete block of =

long distance service be placed on my home phones. Removing them, made =

them invisible, and led me to believe that the problem was no longer =

present.=20

The Representative also told me to call Telecom USA and straighten it =

out with them. I tried that when the problem first arose. The first =

time, I got an agent. However, I was placed on hold for several minutes =

only to have no one return to the phone. The next several times that I =

tried calling, I would either be placed on hold like the first time, or =

I would never get through to anyone. I left my phone number once, =

before being placed on hold just in case I never got anyone back. =

However, I never received a return call, either.

Telecom USA is a big racket and they are a bunch of thieves. They =

should not be allowed to operate at all. They also should be made to =

credit back all the charges to all consumers that they have ripped off, =

and this includes the legitimate phone companies.

Instead, they removed the charges and sent them to Collections, who =

later sent them to outside collection agencies. It has taken 2 years to =

start this nightmare up. I am now retired, and on limited income. I =

don't need old bills popping out of the woodwork. I definitely do not =

need bills that should not have come to pass in the first place had the =

vendor done what he said he would do and that is "Block ALL long =

distance calling from my home phones."

How can I get these people off my back?