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ZPDI: Zero Plus Dialing

ZPDI illustrates what happens when Congress is so busy trying to please warring lobbyists that it overlooks the consumer.

ZPDI • Feds Settle with BSG/ZPDI/Billing Concepts • Disputed Collect Calls • Expensive Collect Calls • Calling Card Calls • Hotel Room Calls • Scam Calls from Mexico • "Regular Carrier Unavailable" • Calls through Opticom --- • Congressional Action Needed to Stop ZPDI • You can fight back • ZPDI: What Can Consumers Do? • Consumer complaints about ZPDI and WXT Communications • Who's Behind ZPDI?

A little history: More than 70 years ago, Congress passed the Communications Act of 1934, which established a very orderly system that regulated telephone service, broadcasting and other public-service utilities. Everyone paid pretty much the same price and everyone got pretty much the same reliable, relatively inexpensive service.

It wasn't until 1996 that Congress once again stirred itself and, after decades of furious lobbying, passed the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which basically deregulated telephone service, cable TV and broadcasting as far as consumers are concerned, leaving in place just enough regulation to protect the big players who employ all those lobbyists.

ZPDI is a creature of the new "market-driven" telecom universe -- you know, the one that's brought you rising cable rates, bankrupt DSL providers and, oh yes, all the new local phone service competitors. (See ZPDI: Behind the Screen)

What can you do?

• Fight back. We have reports from consumers who've done it and won.
• Write your Congressional representatives. Unless you live in Washington, D.C., you are represented by two Senators and one Member of Congress. To get their addresses, type your Zip code in the box above. More on this topic.
• Complain loudly, publicly and bitterly to ZPDI's "partners." ZPDI is a billing agent for companies and institutions that own the telephones in hotels, hospitals and prisons and for payphones located in stores, airports, schools and on street corners. The owners of the phones are getting a big cut and you should let them know you don't like it.

Here are a few sample complaints. You'll find many more in the categories listed to the right.

ZPDI • Feds Settle with BSG/ZPDI/Billing Concepts • Disputed Collect Calls • Expensive Collect Calls • Calling Card Calls • Hotel Room Calls • Scam Calls from Mexico • "Regular Carrier Unavailable" • Calls through Opticom --- • Congressional Action Needed to Stop ZPDI • You can fight back • ZPDI: What Can Consumers Do? • Consumer complaints about ZPDI and WXT Communications • Who's Behind ZPDI?

Patricia of Wayne, MI November 29, 2008

Patricia of Wayne MI (11/29/08)
8.93 charge for NOTHING - no service, no call - NOTHING!

not giving extra money to AT&T

Carin of Chino, CA November 25, 2008

Carin of Chino CA (11/25/08)
I received a bill from Verizon that included a charge for 27.48 from ZPDI for a collect charge. I did accept a call from my sister (emergency situation) that lasted about 30 seconds. I was charged 5 per minute at 5 minutes minimum. I called, complained, and left a message for a supervisor. I paid my bill so I could maintain my good credit. I received another bill for ZPDI, this time with the same date, one hour later from a slightly different number. I called and they said that I did accept this collect call (which was impossible, because my sister was home by then!). They then offered to reverse the charge.

Janelle of Shreveport, LA November 18, 2008

Janelle of Shreveport LA (11/18/08)
6 phone calls have been made from 07-30-08 to 08-10-08 for the amount of 79.41 Billed on Behalf of AmericanRoamingNet. There was nobody home on the days and the hours of these phone calls that were made to the home phone #.

I have payed the bill and cannot get anyone from AT&T to stop the billing or the calls.

Dawn of Bedford, VA November 15, 2008

Dawn of Bedford VA (11/15/08)
I looked for a pay phone. I inquired from a worker if they had any pay phones. He pointed to a door nearby to a room that was filled with payphones.Jackpot!! I then proceeded to call my husband back collect, and finished telling him where I was enroute and when to expect me home.On my home to VA from MI,I was trying to make a call from my cell phone to my husband.It was around 11:00pm so I didn't want him to worry. Of course driving through the mountains, I got lost my connection.I thought, oh, great! now he's really going to worry because the call was cut off. So I stopped at the rest area in to call again. Even in the building my cell phone did not get a connection, so

One month later, I received a bill for about 30.00 for a 4 minute phone call.I called to complain, so Zeroplus reduced the amount by 12.00, the girl Vash said that was as low as they could go. I paid the amount assuming that I wouldn't get any further reductions. The next month they sent me another bill for a reassessment of my bill as well as taxes.I refuse to pay those.

Martha of Stevenson Ranch, CA November 3, 2008

Martha of Stevenson Ranch CA (11/03/08)
I received collect calls from this Company. Call was placed from a street corner and I do not know who this call is from? In addition, they keep charging me for additional regulatory fees and teleconnect collect call fee? on statements received after the charge? I called and they said I needed to speak with AT&T who was my primary phone company. AT&T tells me that I need to speak with ZeroPlus Dialing.

My phone bill is 41.00 higher that what it should be. I could use that money to pay other bills.

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