Jan of West Allis WI (8/12/03):
We incurred charges for almost three years for internet service we did not order or receive. We weren't the only ones they did this to. Anyway, they sent me a letter stating that we would receive a refund or credit of 1078.00, that was in May 2003. We have not as of yet received it.
Monte of Lakin KS (7/6/03):
They started charging me $29.95 on my phone bill using ILD Teleservices in March of this year. Not I, nor anyone else in our office authorized this. They flat out stole money from me. Theft is against the law the last time I checked. I lost $380.00 to them. This includes the fraudulent $209.00 they charged my phone bill and the 2 hours I spent trying to get my money back. I am a consultant and my time is billable @ $80.00/hour.
Donna of Robbinsville NC (7/10/03):
We have had charges on our Verizon phone bill since 5/02 from Mercury ILD Teleservices. We have a large phone bill (we are a home care agency) and didn't notice them until this month. When we called the phone number on our phone bill (888-948-1930) they said we had ordered a web site from them. We had not and the web site could never be accessed. (www.my14nation.com\sawyersstaff) It was bogus. When we called and told them this and cancelled, they became quite hostile. Since that time, they call us 10-15 times each day harassing us.
Damage: $424.45 plus our office is disrupted by their calls.
Tom of Star ID (7/9/03):
Another in the long line of ridiculous cramming by Mercury. We got the same telemarketer call and refused the service. We already have 1/2 T broadband via cable, why would we want dial-up? One month later we got the bill (and no information on this "desired service"). I called to complain and they gave me the runaround, finally cancelling my service and promising a refund. No refund and now the same billing is coming in under another ISP name called SBA for exactly the same price.
By the way, the "billing companies" involved in this scam are I4mation and Integretel, both clain no knowledge of each other. I've call ed the Public Utilities Commission, and they are already well aware of both Mercury and SBA for there illegal "cramming" practices. I use to be polite to telemarketeers and then hang-up, now I'm going be very rude and angry and slam the phone down...they are the blight on the face of this good earth and I will never let them even get into my house again.
Melanie of Millport NY (7/9/03):
Beginning in November of 2002, I began to receive charges on my business telephone account for an internet service that I never requested. My local telephone service and billing is through Verizon. Under Miscallaneous Charges and Credits I began to be billed for a monthly fee of $29.95 plus an additional 3% for Federal Tax.
The first request for payment was on my Dec 2002 Verizon account Under ESBI Enhanced Services Billing Inc. It claims that this service is being billed on behalf of Mercury Internet Services. From January up until the present month, I am being billed under ILD Teleservices Inc, which also states that this service is being billed on behalf of Mercury Internet Services. I have never requested or acquired any information or services from Mercury Internet. In fact, I never even heard of this service.
I have been paying the bill each month. I figured that if Verizon was billing me then somehow it must be legitimate. I just recently decided to further investigate.
Linda of Williamstown NY (7/1/03):
They put a charge on my Verizon bill at the company that I work for. We do not have a computer at that company and there is only one person that answers the phone and that would be me. I am mad to think I have to go and call write letters and spend a day to try and get someone to help me with this problem. Plus they say write to the attorney General. I don't think it's right that we have to prove our innocence and take time out of the day to stop a scam. After reading your articles on this company, WHY OH WHY hasn't Verizon done something about this.
Jennifer of Wall NJ (6/30/03):
In March 2003, I received our first business phone bill from Verizon. On it was a $29.99 charge plus tax for Mercury Internet Service. I called Mercury and asked them about this. They had my name down as the person who supposedly authorized this service. I know very well that I did no such thing and asked them to cancel my so-called internet package and take the charges off of my bill. Afterwards, I called Verizon and told them what happened. They put a hold on the charges so that I would not be responsible for paying it. I also checked on-line to find my alleged business web site, and of course found nothing!
Luckily, the next month's bill was credited the $29.99 plus tax! I feel very fortunate that I was able to straighten this out with nothing lost but a few minutes of my time. It is well worth looking at your bills closely and encourage everyone to do so, not just with business accounts but personal ones too - you never know what errors you will find!
Terry of Nebo NC (6/23/03):
For two months I was billed $32.65 for internet service I didnt order nor use. I requested both months for ILD to remove these charges each time they insisted they would this hasn't happened. My local telephone provider hasnt offered any assistance either.
This is causing inflated telephone bills that are annoying to pay. Even if my provider cannot disconnect for non-payment of these servcies there is a late fee assessed each month the bill isn't paid. This isn't fair.
A church in Sioux City IA (3/25/03):
This is the second time Mercury has tried to charge us and I am very suprised that it has showed up on our telephone bill again. November 2002, Mercury tried charging us $61.70 after two months billing using OAN Services, Inc. I was able to call an 800 number and get that taken care of. Now our April 2003 billing has a charge for Mercury Internet Services through 14Mation, Inc for $30.85 for services that were not authorized. I have been unable to contact them at this time. I also have another charge for Amerilinc, Inc through Integrel, Inc for $30.85 on this same bill. When I call the phone company I am told that these services have no connection with our regular phone service. But, yet we are responsible for the payment. It really irritates me that these people probably make a lot of money doing this.
A Church in Akron (3/22/03):
My church has been charged for 3 months now for internet services I did not order nor are we receiving in the sum of $29.99 a month. I never even heard of Mercury Internet Service until my Pastor brought this to my attention.
Nora of Arleta, CA, writes:
On my May 2000 phone bill there was a charge of $29.95 with a note "Billing on behalf of Mercury. I called and they informed me the charge was authorized by a Cathy Rogers. We have no one by that name and they said they would check and call me. They never called.
When I got my June bill there was another $29.95 charge so I called again. Joyce said she would cancel the charges but it would take 30 to 90 days to get it off the phone bill. I have called every month, May, June, July, Aug, Sept, Oct and now I have just received the Nov. phone bill and the charge is still there, along with late charges. The total amount is now $67.70.
I have also called Verizon, my phone company, and they tell me they can't do anything, that I must deal with Mercury. Where do I go from here? This a small business phone and I think they put these charges on the bill thinking no one will check and just pay the bill. So far the amount with charges and late fees is $67.70. Not really much money but how many other people are they doing this to?
Nora should send a certified letter, return receipt requested, to Verizon demanding that the charges be removed. If she can get Mercury's address, she should send a similar letter to them. If that doesn't work, she should write to her state's Attorney General and the Federal Communications Commission.
Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.
Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.
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