Complain about a product or service

MCI Billing Non-Customers

Alyssa of Spokane WA (3/15/05):
We have had an ongoing problem with MCI for over SIX YEARS, which is funny, since we never requested them to be our long distance carrier. They have chosen us TWICE by setting up an account that we never wanted, billing us, accruing basic service charges, blocking our line, threatening our credit, blaming us, blaming our local carrier, refusing to close accounts (because we didn't follow their procedure), etc.

MCI • Billing Non-Customers • Long-Distance • The Neighborhood • DSL • Wireless --- News • MCI Chairman Gets "Scrooge" Award • MCI Stockholders Approve Purchase By Verizon • Calif. Investigating MCI's Billing Non-Customers • MCI Reloaded

This is infuriating, but even more so because we have chosen for several years to not have long distance service on our land line. I have spent hours on the phone with useless customer service reps and have literally been "disconnected" when I asked to speak to a supervisor. I have written to them regarding these issues and they continue to bill us! I will be filing complaints now that I know they do this as a normal course of business. My question is, how much money to they line their pockets with in this underhanded way? How many people don't want their credit injured and send money just to right the matter? How much money must be fleeced from average folks before the big guys shut them down?

We have been unable, even when we wanted to, to have long distance service. Our local carrier couldn't remove the block MCI placed on our line without their permission. Seems we have no say in the matter. After spending nearly an hour on the phone with our local carrier cust. service rep., we found out some phantom account has been accruing monthly charges for years. My local carrier chose to absorb any disconnect fees, etc., we both contacted MCI to close the account and WE'RE STILL BEING BILLED! Plus, there's a 16.00 charge on our local bill in regards to this.

David of Seattle WA (3/1/05):
In October 2004, I changed my long distance carrier from MCI to Qwest. The next month, and every month since, I receive a bill from MCI, I call their customer service, re-cancel the service, they zero out my account, apologize, and the next month it starts all over again. What do I do to make it stop!

Donna of Louisville KY (12/29/04):
I cancelled my MCI residential long distance account in late July. I went ahead and made a payment August 30th just to make sure there were no additional debts incurred. My monthly payments averaged around $5 to $6. That amount was the charge for the plan and any additional taxes. I had not used my residential phone for long distance for quite some time. I use my cellular phone since long distance is included in my plan. I continued to receive bills from MCI. I wrote them in October again explaining that I had cancelled my account. I later received a credit equal to 2 months worth of service. I assume this covered September and October since my last payment on August 30th had cleared. Now if the payment is made for the month in advance, this would actually cover October and November. This would, of course, cause a refund to be due to me.

I have now received a collection warning that if I do not pay this $5.63 that I will be turned over to a collection agency. Collections, of course, will affect my credit rating. I know it is a minimal amount of money, but I can't believe they would actually do this. Besides, I shouldn't owe them anything. Regardless, if they will do this to me for an amount so small, I hope others will be aware before they even consider using MCI.

Sharon of Sarasota FL (12/6/04):
Today I took the time to evaluate my elderly Mother-In-Law's monthly phone bill for which I make the monthly pmt. I discovered that she is being billed by two long distance carriers; Verizon & MCI. The bill from MCI for 4 min. of long distance is $17.15. I called Verizon and asked that the line be designated to Verizon only. I have been unable to contact MCI to have the monthly recurring fee stopped. I was on hold to MCI cust svc # 800-517-2639 for 15 min no answer. I tried local (Sarasota) 941-954-8950, no answer. I tried contacting via MCI web site - continually get "error message". No mailing address at their website. This is an outrage.