September 29, 2001
10:07 am PDT
MCI and I had an altercation last night.
MCI and I had an altercation last night.
Their security section called me up to verify that I was indeed making a lot of calls to Japan. I said, much appreciated for the checkup, and yes that’s me so no worries.
Then the man started talking about my need to establish a billing history or that my account will be frozen after three days.
“”How can I start a billing history when you haven’t sent me the first bill?”"
Billing was not his department, he said, but security was. Normally customers are happy to hear from them and know they are checking to make sure no dastardly people are using their phonecards.
“”Well hey, I appreciate that, too, but you have now switched to another topic. The topic is, you want me to establish a billing history before I get the first bill. And I need to call YOU back with my local phone company in the line to prove that I’m capable of paying my bills. In other words, you are implying I am not going to pay this bill which I have yet to receive.”"
Oh, no no no, no accusal. We just need to establish a billing history.
“”.. which from your definition means I call you back in three days, which means I only have one day since MOST local companies are not 24-7 and today is Friday EVENING, and have them prove I pay my bills.”"
Oh not just your bills… bills as high as what is currently in your balance.
“”Now how the hell does a local phone bill match a long distance one where numerous calls to Japan are made?”"
Ah, well then, the only option is to PAY THE BILL NOW.
And then I find out my bill was about 3 times bigger than it should be.
I signed up with MCI because:
a) AAdvantage airmiles
b) clear connection like ATT, PLUS
c) NO INTERNATIONAL MOBILE SURCHARGE
In the last year, the big phone companies have got it in their head to charge the consumer for the charges to connect to a mobile phone in another country. This charge is upwards of 30 cents per minute, making ANY call expensive. AT&T used to be cheap, but halfway through the month of March or so, they turned this surcharge on. I left and switched to Sprint… who did the same thing halfway through the first bill.. plus had crappy reception.
So I spent about three months using phonecards, which are 16 cents a minute to a mobile but sometimes hard to connect.
MCI offered a nice sign up deal, and when I specifically asked about the mobile surcharge, seeing as I have already been through this before with AT&T and Sprint, they said, no, there is none. Their website provides none. It looks fine.
But here I am, looking at what was supposed to be about an $80 phone bill but was now $200… because mobile surcharges cost a butt load of money.
So thank you MCI, for lying to me about the mobile surcharge. I go on record to state that all three long distance phone companies have officially shafted me this past year, enough that I will NEVER be their customer ever again. Ever.
It’s been a bad week.
March 5th, 2006 at 9:12 am
Hey there. I came across this entry when I googled “”MCI high toll department complaints”". Those assholes are still at it! This same thing happened to me last week. I signed up for the service because my son in studying abroad in Spain, so naturally I made some calls there.
Did you ever get any resolution? I wrote to them, and sent a complaint to my state’s Atty General’s Consumer Complaint Division.
Can you believe this shit!!!