So...

[carolyn]

If the phone company sends you a note thanking you for their service, asking you back, and asking why they havent gotten their final payment, yet you STILL have service, what do you do?

 

They were given my new address, yet I dont get anything directly - I get mail fwd weeks later and just received the letter today.

 

I know, honesty is the best policy. But the deep, dark side of me wonders - how long can I get away with service? And, how much will it cost me in the end?

[AlpineK]

I've been fighting a bit with the yellow pages over them demanding payments for services that I never signed a written request for.

 

All I can say is budget some time to call them repeatedly to say, "what the fuck?" Tell them you sent in a change of address (on the exact date) and question why they haven't actually changed your billing address.

 

The key is to be polite, take notes on what the conversation was about, write down the names and exact contact info for the people you talk to. Then don't be afraid to call the people you talked to initially back after they haven't called you back and repeat the same process.

 

Sometimes stuff like this takes several phone calls.

 

Yes it is bullshit and it does suck.

[ScottP]

Several years ago I subscribed to the Sunday edition of the Seattle Times. Not long afterward I got a phone call asking if I would like an 'introductory' 6 weeks of the daily paper for the Sunday rate. I told the person that I would give it a try. The paper bagan arriving on a daily basis. The next invoice from the Times billed me for the daily rate. I sent in the Sunday payment with a letter explaining that I had agreed to pay for Sunday papers and the daily paper delivery was an 'introductory' offering. Not long after I sent the bill with this letter, the daily delivery was stopped and I was again charged the Sunday rate. Soon after I was called by the Seattle Times with an 'introductory' offer. I agreed and was soon receiving the daily paper and an invoice for a daily paper. I sent them the Sunday payment with the same letter. Again they stopped the daily and billed me for the Sunday and again they called with 'The Offer' and again I agreed and again they billed me for the daily and again I sent in the payment I had originally agreed to. Several iterations later, they stopped with the calls, I continued paying the Sunday rate and to this day I receive the daily Seattle Times though I am still billed the daily rate and I still pay the Sunday rate.

 

The moral of this story is, if they can't get their collective shit together, it is their loss and my gain (though I have to admit I get a daily dose of worthless paper with an occasional worthwhile tidbit thrown in.)

[archenemy]

 

The key is to be polite, take notes on what the conversation was about, write down the names and exact contact info for the people you talk to. Then don't be afraid to call the people you talked to initially back after they haven't called you back and repeat the same process.

 

This is good advice. And people will not want to give you their last name; and contact info might change. However, employees are generally required to give thier employee number when asked directly for it. If you put on your business voice and just outright ask, they are usually so surprised that they'll give it to you no matter what.

[sk]

 

The key is to be polite, take notes on what the conversation was about, write down the names and exact contact info for the people you talk to. Then don't be afraid to call the people you talked to initially back after they haven't called you back and repeat the same process.

 

This is good advice. And people will not want to give you their last name; and contact info might change. However, employees are generally required to give thier employee number when asked directly for it. If you put on your business voice and just outright ask, they are usually so surprised that they'll give it to you no matter what.

 

this is true and if you are ubur polite and don't at any point lose your cool you will be ahead of the game. Just insist calmly you need to talk to a supervisor or that your situation needs to be escalated.