Bogus ESBI charges on Embarq phone bill **SCAM**

[Fuhgettahbowdit]

Noticed a bogus charge for $13.86 on my Embarq phone bill this month. When I called ESBI to find out about it, they asked my name and other info. I told them I wouldn't give any info until they told me who they are and why they are on my bill. Then they hung up on me. It's a scam.

Embarq nicely charged the amount back to them and then put a block on my phone that they could not charge anything to my phone again.

Watch out. It's easy to spot on your bill as "third party providers". This was discussed in another forum, for AT&T I think. It's starting now with embarq.

[Shelia]

This ESBI is trying to get over on people. I first noticed it last year on my mother phone bill. Her sister had it put on her bill over the
internet. They gave my mother her sister name and when it was done.

On my bill this month August 2008 I found it on my phone bill some lady by the name of Tracey Fox had it put on my bill. I do not even know no Tracey Fox. Where is this privacy act that companies is talking about. NO Thing should be add to no ones phone bill without the customers approval. The phone company really needs to stop this from happening.

[JaneFarquer]

Shelia wrote:

This ESBI is trying to get over on people. I first noticed it last year on my mother phone bill. Her sister had it put on her bill over the
internet. They gave my mother her sister name and when it was done.
On my bill this month August 2008 I found it on my phone bill some lady by the name of Tracey Fox had it put on my bill. I do not even know no Tracey Fox. Where is this privacy act that companies is talking about. NO Thing should be add to no ones phone bill without the customers approval. The phone company really needs to stop this from happening.

I need an address for ESBI. They got us too.

[JaneFarquer]

Someone please help. We have a $61.41 charge on our phone bill from ESBI. I need an address.

[Fuhgettahbowdit]

I don't have an address for ESBI. You can call them at 1-888-300-3724, and try that first.
Then call your phone provider and tell them to cancel the ESBI charge and take it off your bill. Also, have them put a freeze on your phone account so no new charges can be applied.

ESBI is a third party provider selling services for Rocket Communication and others. You do not have to pay anything to them, but you have to get it officially removed; don't just "not pay it".

Good luck. Embarq was very good to me and everything is OK now.

[Telephone Bill Charges]

If you were charged on your local phone bill for third party services and subscriptions (i.e., voicemail, email, Internet access, web hosting, caller-id and other premium services, etc.) that you never authorized, share your story with other consumers:

http://classactionconnect.com/consumer-compla...

You can also contact class action lawyers who are investigating unauthorized telephone bill charges:

http://www.classactionconnect.com/...

[Catherine Stephenson]

I also was charged $13.45 by ESBI. When I called Embarq they said I had to cancel this by phone with ESBI. The phone number they gave me is a bogus number which gave me another number to a sex porn talk number. 1-888-300-3724.I have sent a letter to Embarq asking them to investigate this and make sure that they don't appear on their billing. My next move will be to complain to the better business bureau and lawyer. I am not paying their charges. This is Embarq's billing, they should see to this problem.

[Tammy L Cooper]

My lanlord had informed me that I WAS CHARGING DIFFERENT CHARGES ON MY LANDLINE WHICH IS INCLUDED IN OUR RENT. I DID NO SUCH APPROVALS I HAVE MY OWN PHONE LINE. SHE SAID ESBI ACCUSED ME OFF APPROVING THE CHARGES,. I WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT. AND WHY? WOULD I? I HAVE HAD MY OWN PERSONAL LINE AND COMP SINCE FEB 2008. I THINK THIS OUTRAGEOUS, THIS IS SLANDER ON ESBI PART TYRING TO RUIN MY NAME AND CHARGING INNOCENT PEOPLE OF CHARGES THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF. I NEED AN ADDRESS BUT THEIR IS # I FOUND ON THE NET 1-888-300-3724. I WILL ALSO BE CONTACTING VERIZON AND MAKING THEM AWARE OF WHATS GOING ON. ALSO CONTACTING FTC, ATT GENERAL AND COUNSUMER PORTECTION. LETS DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS OR THIS COULD HAPPEN TO U OR ME AN SOMEBODY ELSE MIGHT BE ACCUSED OF GIVING THE APPROVAL WHICH THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH.

[Jibril]

I noticed today that my phone/internet bill was twice the normal amount. I found out that ESBI is listed in my at&t bill and it says:
RESIDENTIAL EMAIL, LLC
For billing questions call 1-800-430-6314
3 -01 09-05 RESIDENTIAL EMAIL, LLC- MTHLY SVC FEE 14.95
Total for RESIDENTIAL EMAIL, LLC 14.95

[Barbara]

Please do not fall for this scam. I will call Embarq tomorrow (Monday) and tell them. I was charged $14.95. They at ESBI said I would be charged again this month and to just ignore it, but I won't do that. All of these phone companies should be alerted to this scam.

[Jim]

We too were scammed by Rocket Communications in July and August. ATT will not take the $25.90 off my bill and shows no credit from them. Rocket said on 10-13-08 the credit was issued to my ATT bill on 8-22-08, then today 10-14-08, said there was an error in billing and the credit was issued on 9-22-08. I'd bet the world that my bill on 10-22-08 will not see that refund. Funny these supposed credits are supposedly issued on my billing date, then when they don't show up, they say it will be on my next bill, all the while they hope that I'll forget about it when it doesn't show up on my bill the next month. I'm switching my land line and interet way from ATT to Comcast over this. Fed up with ATT and their "can't help you" stance. Rocket hasn't heard the last from me.

[Jim]

Wanted to add the number I used to contact Rocket was 1-888-288-3724. Not that it will do you any good.

[Tom]

I too have been scammed by this bogus company ESBI for something called, SoLoCommunications Voicemail MthlyFee -$12.95. I am so mad and after reading just a few of these other stories, I wondering how many more people are getting ripped off!

[Toni]

I just got my bill yesterday. Lo and behold there were these charges from ESBI!! I have called them and they seem clueless so I am on hold for Verizon. Hopefully they will be able to help me.

[Jim]

I guess I get to join this unfortunate club. ESBI showed up on the Oct phone bill for "Web Hosting" for $19.35. I have already called them, got it cancelled, and have notified Embarq about the situation. ESBI staed that we registered for this service in on Sept 5th. Of course no such thing happened.

[Carolyn]

I, too, received the same ESBI bogus charge on my Embarq phone bill. After calling embarq, who instructed me to call ESBI, I did, and supposedly cancelled. They had all of my info, including my mother's maiden name. They claimed I had fill out a form on the internet requesting their services. I asked them for the ISP address and they said they couldn't give me that info, that I would have to file a police report. I did, and when the police called them requesting the ISP address, they said the police would have to fax them a request on official letterhead. I have not heard back from this yet, but will continue to pursue it.

[Shedawn]

Let me add my story to the ESBI scam! I'm so frustrated with this company. I noticed it on my account, called and told them I didn't even know what it was and certainly had never signed up to receive it or had ever used it. They told me in September that they would remove it and credit my account. Got my October bill and there it is again. I called Verizon and of course they can't do anything about it. I told them that they should be more careful about who they let access their billing...and that I would be happy to pay Verizon, but I am not paying this ESBI charges. She said she couldn't do anything but she could connect me to ESBI. I said fine, just cancel my service that way I know I won't be billed by ESBI again. So...I probably bit off my nose to spite my face (oh well, we all have cell phones now) but when Verizon isn't able or willing to do anything - to heck with them!!
Somebody really needs to do something about this company!

[Beverley]

Fuhgettahbowdit wrote:

Noticed a bogus charge for $13.86 on my Embarq phone bill this month. When I called ESBI to find out about it, they asked my name and other info. I told them I wouldn't give any info until they told me who they are and why they are on my bill. Then they hung up on me. It's a scam.
Embarq nicely charged the amount back to them and then put a block on my phone that they could not charge anything to my phone again.
Watch out. It's easy to spot on your bill as "third party providers". This was discussed in another forum, for AT&T I think. It's starting now with embarq.

The number to call is 888-300-3724. This is the correct number. I had to do it this morning and it worked well.

[Beverley]

Jim wrote:

Wanted to add the number I used to contact Rocket was 1-888-288-3724. Not that it will do you any good.

The correct number is 888-300-3724. They remove the charge.

[Carolyn]

It seems I was signed up for a stadalone voicemail through Network Assurance. According to the IP address, it was done through the intranet of the company I work for. I have yet to figure out how it was done, since the website they said I used, www.usprizedraw.com is blocked on my computer at work. I submitted a complaint to the FBI Cybercrimes Division. don't know if that will help.