Last July, I had the good fortune to be with friends in Cabo
San Lucas on a fishing trip. I also had the good fortune to
catch a tuna substantially larger than those caught by my
friends. What I did not realize at the time, however, was that
while I was busy catching fish, I was being reeled in by a little-
known long distance telephone service. While I was using 50
pound test line, a long distance telephone provider was using
copper wire!
Upon my return to Los Angeles, my August telephone statement
reflected $155.10 in charges for five telephone calls from Mexico
to the Los Angeles area. At these prices, I could have purchased
a first-class ticket back to Los Angeles for my prize catch, a 75-
pound tuna!
The statement identifies the first call as having been
placed on July 19th, at 8:47 P.M., notes the duration of the call
to be three minutes, and reflects a charge of $24.30. Two
minutes later, at 8:49 P.M., according to my statement, I place
my second telephone call. I am again charged $24.30 for a call
of three minutes duration. I recall the first call lasted less
than 30 seconds, since no one was home. The second call lasted
perhaps 20 seconds. I attempted to reach my office voice mail,
but could not activate the access code since the telephone in
Mexico did not make the usual tones when pushing the buttons.
So I wondered what one of the Big Three of
telecommunications, AT&T, MCI and Sprint would have charged me
for all five telephone calls. AT&T advised me, for example, that
their bill for the calls would have been $59.61!
Have you examined your telephone statement lately? Your
statement from Pacific Bell or General Telephone will include
statements from other telephone providers or billing agents. My
statement from Pacific Bell included a statement from Zero Plus
Dialing, Inc. (Zero Plus). The statement indicated that the
charges of $155.10 were "Billed on Behalf of ATI". What is ATI?
I thought I asked for AT&T! ATI refers to American Telesource
International, Inc. dba ATI Communications. I obtained this
information from discussions with ATI's billing agent, Zero Plus.
My Zero Plus statement exclaims "Questions about your bill?
888-507-0734." After about a half-dozen unsuccessful attempts to
reach Zero Plus, and only reaching a busy signal, I sought help
from the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) (213) 897-2973. The
PUC provided me with another number, (800) 456-7587, apparently
known only to the PUC. I checked with Information and discovered
the 800 number is unlisted. With this new information, I reach
the folks at Zero Plus.
A representative advises me that there will be a 30-day
investigation and a response provided thereafter. I am advised
that ATI imposes a three-minute minimum on international calls,
regardless of the time spent on the call. At least now I know
why I am charged for a three-minute call commencing at 8:47 P.M.
and another three-minute call commencing at 8:49 P.M. The
representative refuses to provide me with the street address of
Zero Plus. I am provided only with the post office box. I
inquire as to whether the representative reports to work each
morning to a post office box. The representative, in an icy
voice, repeats the post office box address.
After I fail to receive a response within two months from
Zero Plus, I direct a letter to Zero Plus to their street address
in San Antonio, Texas. How did I acquire the street address of
Zero Plus, you ask? United States Postal regulations permits an
attorney to obtain the street address of a post office box holder
when the information is sought in contemplation of litigation and
service of process.
Shortly after my letter hits the front door of Zero Plus, I
receive attention. Or perhaps it was because the company
received a copy of my letter proposing to file a complaint
against Zero Plus and ATI which I directed to the Enforcement
Division, Common Carrier Bureau, Federal Communications
Commission, 2025 "M" Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554. Zero
Plus, as the billing agent, essentially refers me to the carrier,
ATI.
After an exchange of about eight letters and twelve
telephone calls, (mercifully, all were 800 numbers), I finally
negotiate a reduction of the bill with ATI from $155.10 to
$53.25, $6.36 less than the charges which would have been imposed
by AT&T! At last, victory!
Want to avoid all these problems? Make sure you place your
long distance calls through your preferred telephone company. To
place a credit card call through AT&T, access AT&T by dialing 1-
800-CALL-ATT. Access MCI by dialing 1-800-888-8000. For Sprint,
dial 1-800-877-8000. The moral of the story? Some long distance
telephone providers, eager to impose charges substantially higher
than the Big Three, are trolling the waters for unsuspecting
customers. Stay clear of their nets!
