A "free" calling card?  Look out!  Shantez of Saratoga, CA, writes:

In late March early April of 1999, my wife and I went shopping at Frys. As soon as we walked into the store two women asked us if we would like to have a free 100-minute calling card and a five dollar gift certificate for Frys. 

We agreed. They told us that the card would be activated in two days after we filled out some paperwork. So we used the calling card, and expected it to be deactivated after the 100 minutes were used up. 

A month later, we received a bill from Z-Line communications for $45. I was not expecting a bill, the card was supposed to be free. 

As soon as I received this bill, my wife and I dialed the Z-line billing number and nobody answered. We called in the morning, all day and at night. Even my grandma could not get in touch with this company. So we gave up on trying to reach them, and then we threw away our calling cards and never used them again. 

A month later, they sent us more bills and raised the bill from $45 to $212. The bills that we received didn't have itemized calls on them, and we were left with being charged for something that we never even used.

This Z-Line company has destroyed our credit, and really ripped us off. The collection agency is after us for a supposedly free calling card. Please help us, or refer us to somebody that can.

We think Shantez should write to the collection agency and inform that he disputes the bill.  The letter should be sent certified mail, return receipt request.