Talk America - Billing Disputes

I ordered Talk America phone service. Before they turned my service on, I called and cancelled because I found cheaper service. They turned their service on anyway. A week later, my service was switched to AT&T, which is what i wanted. I called Talk America to see what my bill would be for the week that I had their service. I was told they would prorate the bill and send it to me.

Eventually I started getting bills for over $200. I called them a couple of times and was told my service was stopped and they would send me a prorated bill. Last week I got a late notice for a bill over $200 again. They told me that AT&T never switched over my second line and they were still providing service to that line. They also told me that I get a $42 credit since they're only servicing one line.

I called AT&T who confirmed they switched both lines the same day and that they were servicing both lines. AT&T, Talk America and myself got on a three-way call where Talk America agreed to fix the problem. So far, the problem was not fixed. I refuse to pay $158 for a week's worth of service, when a whole month's service would have cost me $97 if I stayed with them. Nor would there be a problem if they never turned their service on like I asked.

We set up a new computer and it was dialing an 'out of area' number for online access. Typically my long distance bill is around $50. My bill this month is $1113.55. My computer has now been updated to no longer dial this number. My computer did not dial any special numbers, area code or calling card numbers. I was never given a warning or notice of the extreme amount of long distance charges I was accumulating.

I called numerous times to Talk America and they would not even acknowledge anything is wrong. I am willing to pay some extra for this (maybe $100 or $200, but not to the extreme case of $1113.55. I also never recieved my second two months of AOL free as I see many others have filed.

I received a call from a telemarketer asking for what I thought was long distance service only. I'm a little bit hearing impaired and couldn't understand everything being said. Apparently, I subscribed to their complete telephone service. I didn't realize this until I got a notice from Bell South thanking me for my business of many years and a check covering a deposit. I called Bell and found out who was taking over my service. I immediately reinstated service with Bell.

I called Talk America and after talking to a clerk, I talked to someone who came up with a recording of the conversation where I alledgely ordered their service. I found that I actually did agre to take their service but when asked (on the recording) if I understood, I said I wasn't sure. That is where the conversation ended. So, I said, O.K., I'll pay all charges up to date but discontinue as of NOW. Discontinuance should have been on Jan 2 and I had already paid in advance for the month of Jan. I asked for a refund but was told that I probably wouldn't get one but they would try. However, I was billed again in Feb, Mar, Apr. My CC automatically paid the bill. My CC Company sent the bills back and I gat a credit on my CC.

I received a bill for $155.00 on long distance charges. Knowing my bill is consistently under $30.00 a month I called Talk America and was told that the charges were for International calls. I don't make international calls and Talk America was uninterested in researching the problem for me. They told me point blank that it was my problem and if I didn't pay them, they'd put me in collection.

I've called their customer service department, written letters and even called their corporate office, only to be thrown into voice mail.

An unauthorized charge was made to my bank account from AOL TALK which became Talk America Holding Company which became Talk America. My bank has agreed the charge was unauthorized. I signed on my AOL account for AOL Talk advertised for 3 cents a minute in September 2001. During the next two months, $495 was billed to my account. I discovered that I was charged 99 cents for each connection and 24.9 cents a minute. That is not what I clicked to join.
I attempted to communicate online with AOL which was the method I used to BUY the service. It was not possible. A phone call was required. I phoned, was on hold and passed around for over 45 minutes. This is unconscionable since they ARE A PHONE COMPANY. When I finally reached the first person, Tera, she was extremely rude and would not cancel the service for me. She told me they were not affiliated with AOL, but that their new name was Talk America.

My complaint is (l) false advertising, (2) Failure to notify me of a bill, (3) unauthorized EFT activity on my bank account, (4) Failure ot provide service when I attempted to resolve the issue. Following that, they have ignored four letters, three emails, two phone calls and have installed a feature on my home phone that makes all my long distance calls go directly to their office. I have filed a complaint with my county District Attorney today.