Enhanced Services Billing Scam, rip-off with AT&T San Antonio Texas

I just noticed this charge (29 bucks, this month) on our AT&T phone bill. My wife usually pays the bills and she asked me what this "Enhanced Services Billing" charge was. We had no clue and when first calling the number for the company, they were closed. I called AT&T and the lady basically told me that I was at fault for not noticing the charges earlier! Nice! I searched online for past AT&T bills and found out that we were being charged 13.95 for the last 22 months for "Nationwide Assist Emercency VMail". Don't know what that is, but I DO know that I never ordered it.

AT&T were absolutely NO HELP! The lady on the phone wanted to argue with me about 3rd party billing and how I need to contact the FCC if I had a complaint. If I had a complaint? How about AT&T charging its customers, knowing that this 3rd party billing that they are surely getting paid to provide to Enhanced Services Billing, is basically a scam. She stated that I was stupid for not noticing these charges earlier. This isn't some fly by night outfit - this is AT&T!

I asked her to remove these charges and she refused, stating that I need to contact Enhanced Services Billing. I once again stated that I never ordered anything from them, but she let me know that AT&T wasn't going to help me and, get this, she HUNG UP ON ME! Once again, THIS IS AT&T! I didn't think that I would not be able to trust my phone company, but that day has arrived. My wife and I both have cell phones and now that we can get satellite internet where we live, I don't see a need to have a land line, so I'm gonna pull the plug on AT&T just for principal. Their service on this deal is a joke.

I did finally get in touch with someone at Enhanced Services Billing and was promised a credit of 284.00 for the 22 months of charges we incurred. We'll see if that actually happens. Was told that an authorization was made by my wife at a web site called "cool" something or other and my wife clicked on a box to agree to "terms and conditions". Since the phone is in my name from about a hundred years ago, she "legally" isn't authorized to make changes to my account. Maybe this makes a difference in whether you get a total refund or partial (2 months) like I have read on this site. I'll keep everyone posted as to whether I actually get this credit or not.

Good luck, all
This is so friggin illegal and what's worse is that AT&T is basically in on it, or at the very least, condoning it.

Scott
Sutter Creek, California
U.S.A.