[saratogaman]

My new phone bill had a surprise for me -- on the last page there was a new category: "Third Party Providers." It was from ESBI for voicemail & E-faxing, provided through RocketCommunication, with a monthly fee of $12.95. I never heard of the outfit, don't need it and didn't order it. I called ESBI and told them so and told them to delete the billing. They gave me a cancel confirmation number and advised me to call Century Link.I told the phone company that I wanted the charge deleted and gave them the confirmation number.In addition to canceling the charge, the Century Link rep told me that they offer a free third-party block so that nothing like this will ever happen again from anyone. I took them up on that. Check your bill and alert your neighbors.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Good catch, saratoga. Wonder how many people just pay their bill without looking at it?

Thanks for the tip!

Bill

[kb8tpw]

This is one reason why I hate phone companies and their monopoly. I am now trying to figure out how to get an ISP and divorcing Centurylink. My land line is a real fiasco, too long of a story for here, but it is about to disappear as well. I didn't want a land line in the first place, but with all of the bundling, etc, etc I said oh well, I'll try it - mistake....

By the way, if you want to visit Centurylink don't go by the map they provide on their web site, it is wrong and they say they can't fix it - real customer service oriented.... (They are close to Mo's near Rolling Acres and 441.)

[Ohiogirl]

Centurylink told me last night that I won't save anything on my " basic" landline by eliminating voicemail (I have an answering machine I like better) as it is part of the package.

They also told me that even though I signed up for bundled billing (to include Direct TV) the companies are having problems getting that to work properly and mine will work "when they fix it" no timeline, and no promise of the $5 discount being retroactive. (I suppose that will involve another phone call).

Last time I had a problem/question (changing the bank for automatic billing) tried to eliminate the phone call by doing an online chat, and the person I got for the chat could not figure it out either, and finally advised me to call Customer Service.

This is not my favorite company, but I do like having a land line. At least I can (usually) find the phone

[cybermuda]

Since my computer is always on-line, I use MagicJack rather than a 'normal' phone service - works fine so far, and I can make cheap international calls as well - 2c per minute to UK

Re lack of CenturyLink-DirecTV discount - same here, so I called DirecTV and said I wanted to cancel (only two weeks into a two year contract) as they hadn't fulfilled their side of the deal. They immediately (well, after an hour on the phone) credited my account with $120 being $5 per month for 24 months

[gvsulakerfan]

just get a skype account or a gmail account and make calls for free... assuming your computers have speakers and a microphone...

[kb8tpw]

How is it that you get skype and gmail without an ISP? Anyone using the wireless USB devices for that? I had chalked that up as too expensive and not reliable, but I may re-visit.

[MikeH]

If you have high speed internet you may want to try Voice-Over-Internet-Protocal (VOIP). I'm using Packet, http://www.8x8.com/. Costs about $25/mo including all taxes, access fees, etc. Free long distance in US and Canada. All the extras are include: messageing, call waiting, three-way calling, caller ID, etc., etc. Put VOIP modem by your computer and use cordless phones throughout the house. There are many VOIP companies out there, just shop around. If I can help contact me: mrhetzel@comcast.net.

[whartonjelly]

I protested to our local phone service for un aurthorized extra charges. I told them I did not agree to this extra service. They recognized that I had the aurthority and was not going to pay a dime extra. This had been going on for months unnoticed. so for the next 6 months I did not pay any phone bill and they credited me pack all those fees.!! Not Bad. Apparently when someone used my computer a program allowed/agreed to the extras. NOT ME. It was by grown daughters name that was used but it did not matter. She did not know about it either.
Century Link.

[saratogaman]

http://www.complaintsboard.com/compl...s-c124819.html