Internet Long distance phone bill charges.

[golden4207]

I am in Oregon. Hello, Please help me on this issue. I know that Internet servers are not responsible for long distance charges but here is my situation:
I just got a computer and free year of internet access. All I got was a little CD with nothing else. I called to get a number from earthlink and told them that it had to be from albany OR. because I was in Lebanon and that would be the ONLY local place from where I was at. They gave me a number telling me it was Albany and NOT telling me to call and verify with my phone company that it was indeed local( I just found out that they are supposed to tell you this). I got my phone bill and it was $550 bucks. Turns out this so called Albany number wasn't Albany but Corvallis which IS long distance. So I called back and this time recorded the conversation and have everything recorded from them telling me that a Corvalis number WAS albany and NOT telling me to call and verify with the phone company. I have the recording and my phone bill. They mislead me. Is there anything I can do to make them pay? Please tell me if this is even worth paying the $100 bucks to even talk with an attorney. Thank-you for your help.

 

[djdj]

well when you hit the Earthlink sign on button did you notice if the phone # had a 1- before it dialed?

If not call your phone company and ask why that number is not a local call.

If the number that is dialed has a 1- before it....well you should have seen that at least once, in the last month. and knew it was a long distance call...

 

[golden4207]

Yes, I did notice that I was dialing a 1 before the call. I thought you just had to put the whole ten didgit number in with internet. I didn't realize it dialed just like your reg. phone. Like I said, I just got a computer and internet. I had no idea what I was doing. Besides the fact that I made a terribly big (and stupid) mistake, they still meslead me. Is there anything at all that I can do? With my phone company or earthlink?

 

[djdj]

Im not really sure since it was not to any porno places.

You might be able to work a deal with the phone company, maybe pay half....they might be able to help...look in the phone book the phone company has a dispute resolution # you can call.... but truthfully you saw the 1- and didnt realize it was long distance...

i know big expensive mistake....

 

[golden4207]

I just spoke with someone online on this site( the live chat thing) and he said that I can take them to small claims and win. He said that they mislead me my telling me that the number was in a city that it wasn't. And by forgeting to tell me to call my phone company to verify. I then spoke with another lawyer that I ran into at my job and he said that it would also be easy to take them to small claims and that I have a very good case to win. Can anyone answer people questions on this site or are you a lawyer or something? Just curious as to why you would act like there was nothing to do, and I have two attorneys telling me a complete different story. ?? I'm not saying your wrong (who am I to talk), just curious as to why I get these complete different answers to my question....and who's right. thanx.

 

[djdj]

I a not a lawyer, but i do work in a law office........

ANYONE can file in small claims court, its usually $10 to $35 for the fee, you have to fill out the forms then personally serve them with the complaint...

So its your right as an American to sue or be sued and defend yourself in a court of law...

This will be a great learning experience on how our judical system works

 

[lunchldyd]

It would seem to me that you would have reason to file small claims and win. With your recording and the phone bill itself, I think you should be able to win. But then again, small claims is an extremely time consuming and annoying ordeal...