I just opened my CenturyTel phone bill to find an $8 charge by The Billing Source for My TeleBill M. Their phone number is 888-296-8079, which leads you to be transferred to 866-474-1256, and listening to messages and making selections.

The heavily language accented person who answered informed me that we subscribed to unlimited long distance service through a pop-up ad. (?)

Number one, we already have unlimited long-distance with CenturyTel. Why would I pay for it again?

Secondly, we NEVER respond to pop-ups. Even if we inadvertantly hit the ad while trying to clear it, how did they get our phone number?!

The operator agreed to stop future billing for the service. It sounded like they would credit our account for the charge as well. I will be checking that out closely on the next billing cycle.

Meanwhile, CenturyTel says there is NOTHING they can do about 3rd party billings. It is up to you and the 3rd party to resolve. That's scary to me... What if the charge was for $8, 000 instead of $8?!

I elected to put a block on my CenturyTel account against any future 3rd party billing. This appears to be your only means of preventing such fraud.