What Kind Of Nonsense Is This?

@pyewacket (43903)

• United States

23 Jul 09

I pay my rent by money order and send it via snail mail but certified...that way I can track it on-line when my landlord gets it--and that way I have proof he got it

1 person likes this

@pyewacket (43903)

• United States

23 Jul 09

How come you don't pay your bills on-line? Since you have a checking account the bills would be deducted from your account. The only one I pay by snail mail is my CONEd bill...I once paid on-line and the jerks somehow mixed up the account number...don't ask how long it took me to get the money credited to the right account...sheesh..what can you expect from the electric company?

2 people like this

Opal26

@Opal26 (17679)

• United States

23 Jul 09

Con Ed and Cablevison are the only ones I don't trust to pay online! Those are the only two I pay by snail mail! Oh and my rent I drop off at the management office!

2 people like this

Lakota12

@Lakota12 (42600)

• United States

23 Jul 09

we keep getting 800 # that vcall us and say to call another no . But I dont if they want to talk to me the can very well call me back!

3 people like this

Lakota12

@Lakota12 (42600)

• United States

23 Jul 09

found that out a few years ago when they tried to charge me $2 to talk to a banker! I made them take it off and never called them again!

1 person likes this

@pyewacket (43903)

• United States

23 Jul 09

I'm just really surprised that a toll free number listed for my bank IS no longer toll free...

2 people like this

BarBaraPrz

@BarBaraPrz (47332)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

23 Jul 09

Doesn't sound right... not right at all. I wouldn't pay the $3.50 either. If it was important, they'd call back.

2 people like this

BarBaraPrz

@BarBaraPrz (47332)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

23 Jul 09

I hope you weren't victim of a scam (see http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/creditcard.asp).

2 people like this

@pyewacket (43903)

• United States

23 Jul 09

Nope I haven't been a victim. When I did call the 866 number of the fraud protection team, I didn't have to give any information...no card number, no security number, nada just a reference number...he rattled off some recent transactions and the amounts and they were ones I actually had done

2 people like this

scarlet_woman

@scarlet_woman (23463)

• United States

23 Jul 09

sounds like they got their own bailout going on the sly..

no,but i wish my mom would stop calling information instead of asking someone to find her a number.the cable company doesn't give you freebies like ma bell used to. it's $1 each question.she racked up like 15 last month and my bro went ape.

2 people like this

phone

scarlet_woman

@scarlet_woman (23463)

• United States

23 Jul 09

wouldn't doubt it. it's all about the dollar bill anymore.

1 person likes this

@pyewacket (43903)

• United States

23 Jul 09

I wonder if a lot of the toll free numbers for customer service is going to go the same way...$1.00 per question???

1 person likes this

underdogtoo

@underdogtoo (9579)

• Philippines

23 Jul 09

I think you are within your rights to expect free service from a toll-free number.

3 people like this

free service

@pyewacket (43903)

• United States

23 Jul 09

I did an email to my bank asking why their toll free number isn't "free" anymore--so far haven't heard anything back

2 people like this

celticeagle

@celticeagle (167015)

• Boise, Idaho

23 Jul 09

I have not had any incident like this to date. I am wondering if your phone service was going to be charging you for this call or if the bank was charging you. I am also wondering why you even called them. I would wait for them to call you back. Especially if I found this was the case and you were charged for the call. And, if I found that my bank was charging me I would find another bank! Why would a company get away from a toll free number? Another reason for me to think seriously of going to another bank.

2 people like this

@pyewacket (43903)

• United States

23 Jul 09

Before I did call that number I emailed my bank...they got back to me fairly quick and verified that yes their fraud protection team was trying to contact me. As for another bank...I've been with that bank for over twenty years and there aren't any other banks near me...there WAS one other...a washington mutual (Wa-Mu)--which of course is now out of business....now where the bank was is a sign "For rent"

2 people like this

celticeagle

@celticeagle (167015)

• Boise, Idaho

23 Jul 09

Time to move. Ya, we had the same thing happen to our Wa-Mu too. Not sure I understand what they are trying to do. It is like the banks used to be out to help us and had very good customer service and now it has all changed and they have this killer attitude. For Rent sign huh? Not good. We have a bank about every other block around here. One politician retired and opened one down the street. Makes ya want to just hide the $$ under your mattress.

1 person likes this

whiteheather39

@whiteheather39 (24403)

• United States

22 Jul 09

I agree with you. It just burns my a$$ that these days everytime you turn around someone is trying to get money out of you. I am really nit picky when it come to even a dime that I consider unfair charges. I refuse to pay it and I check every item on my grocery receipt for any mistakes or overcharged items. If I find anything I am straight back fighting over it at customer service.

2 people like this

@pyewacket (43903)

• United States

23 Jul 09

When you think of it $3.50 isn't that much, but how would I know they wouldn't make other charges to my phone bill? It's just the principle of the thing.

1 person likes this

mari61960

@mari61960 (4893)

• United States

22 Jul 09

Wow, I have yet to run into this type of call. If I did I would be just as outraged as you! That is just ridiculous. I try to do most of my things online but at times have had to call customer service. Sounds like someones lame idea to make more money... somehow. There are so many scams out there today, you never know if you are being taken or it's legitimate without first doing an investigation. Everything just seems to get more complicated and costly. Well I'm glad you found out what was going on and didn't end up paying for your call. Brightest Blessings, Mari

2 people like this

@pyewacket (43903)

• United States

22 Jul 09

I know there seem to be a lot of scams these days. I try to do a lot on-line as well, and even emailed my bank about it...got an answer back right away and said I needed to call the number...like why can't things be verified on-line?

1 person likes this

dloveli

@dloveli (4366)

• United States

22 Jul 09

I havent had this happen but I have heard about the charges. As It is supposed to be, they are supposed to tell you about the charge first and you are to say yes or no depending on if you accept the fee or not. NO government organization especially foodstamps should be charging you money for calling them. THere is supposedly a toll free number that you call. Most institutions have a list of toll free numbers. Ask specifically for them when you call information. I realize that you may have to wait a little longer but it will be free. They are supposed to let you know they have toll free numbers. If they dont, make sure you ask for them. With the economy being what it is the last thing we need is to be charged for something that could've otherwise been avoided. I just talked to my sister she works in a bank, manager of customer service. She said that banks usually have toll free numbers as a courtesy to their customers. THe numbers that charge are for non customers. Hope this helps. DL

2 people like this

@pyewacket (43903)

• United States

23 Jul 09

Yes there is a toll free phone number listed on back of my food stamp benefits card....when I called it one time not too long ago, that's when I got the representative directory phone number to call and be charged $3.50--so said the hell with it and never called that number

1 person likes this

joyceshookery

@joyceshookery (2057)

• United States

22 Jul 09

Money money money! It's just not right, Pye, and it's happening all over the place...less benefits/products/services for more money. Our pockets aren't getting any fuller to keep up with the rising costs. Will there be a peak? I sure hope so.

2 people like this

@pyewacket (43903)

• United States

23 Jul 09

I sure hope the economy changes for the better soon as well

1 person likes this

daeckardt

@daeckardt (6237)

• United States

22 Jul 09

If it was a fraud protection team, why wouldn't they call again? I think I would not return the call because, like you, I can make calls for free. Of course, I get a lot of calls from bill collectors and I never return those calls. I don't like calls that cost money and I don't think I would make a call that I know was going to cost me money. Have a great day!!!

2 people like this

@pyewacket (43903)

• United States

23 Jul 09

I had contacted my bank by email and they got back to me right away, verifying that the Bank Fraud Protection Team was trying to contact me

1 person likes this

kprofgames

@kprofgames (3091)

• United States

24 Jul 09

This doesn't surprise me a bit. This is why I check most companies online first and if they don't have a toll free number, I send an e-mail or write a frick'en letter!

1 person likes this

@pyewacket (43903)

• United States

24 Jul 09

Here's the kicker though...I did email the bank and they replied in a relatively short time back to me...it validated that they were trying to contact me and to call that 866 number, but then said as an alternative to use their toll free number...so I did...that's when I got the other number to call that would charge me. I just rattled off a snail mail letter to them complaining about this and make them aware that their toll free number isn't valid anymore

kprofgames

@kprofgames (3091)

• United States

24 Jul 09

Sad thing about that employees don't even know that half the time because it came down from corporate office. All they're given is a number to hand out - they don't have any idea it's not valid. You call a local bank, business and they have to transfer to you around until you get a person that really knows what's going on and they they get all disgusted because you never called the number to begin with. Yeah, did the sign say stupid across my forehead? Not even. So e-mail has worked for me and when I add a read receipt then I know when they've got it. Only one company was a really pain to me and honestly, I sent them registered letters with payments in them because they lost 3 checks of mine.

1 person likes this

olydove

@olydove (1209)

• United States

23 Jul 09

Oh I know exactly what you mean! Good thing you didn't call that rerouted number. Like you said to others here you just don't know what other surprises would show up on your phone bill, but actually I would bet that instead of being on your phone bill, it would probably be deducted from your bank account.

Don't quote me on that I could be wrong. Get this crapola. About 6 months or so ago I called Comcast to pay my bill over the phone. For months I had been doing it that way and talking to a representative to do it right? Well then all of the sudden the automated machine says " If you would like to pay your bill over the phone, you can use our automated system for free, however if you would like to pay your bill with the assistance of a representative there will be a service charge of $4.00, no fees will be charged for any other account assistance." WTF?????? So now if we don't want to deal with a stupid machine we gotta pay? I was so mad! I went to the representative, and I told her " First don't charge me for this, second I think it's absolutely ridiculous that Comcast is trying to charge us to talk to a human being when we want to pay our bill. I know it's not your fault but you guys get paid a pretty decent wage bye the hour plus commissions where applicable so please consider this my formal complaint that I hate machines but I hate paying to talk to a human even more" She said " I completely understand I will gladly assist you in paying your bill free of charge" ROFL! Since then I use the stupid automated thing but I hate it. I mean seriously as if we're not paying enough money everywhere else they gotta start charging us for petty crap too.

Ahh thank you I feel better now that I vented a bit LOL! What the heck since when do they charge for you to call and find out the balance on your FS card? That's bogus!

1 person likes this

@pyewacket (43903)

• United States

24 Jul 09

I hate that too about being charged if one wants to deal with a REAL person to pay bill rather than the automated thing,which is why I never pay any bills via phone...usually pay on-line now. Yeah have NO idea why one is now charged to find out FS balance

LOL--glad you were able to vent here

olydove

@olydove (1209)

• United States

24 Jul 09

Thanks LOL I sure needed that. You should really check into that whole thing about charging to check your FS balance that's ridiculous! They don't do that here in WA state anyhow. I do save my receipt though. I almost always ( sometimes I forget ) wrap the receipt from the last time I used my card around it when I go to put it back in my wallet. Well anyhow hopefully these guys will quit ripping us off. Give your kitties lots of love

I'm about to send mine to their beds if they don't stop fighting sheesh.

1 person likes this

olydove

@olydove (1209)

• United States

26 Jul 09

Thanks for the BR pye. I'm glad you liked my response. Have a great night and happy mylotting

1 person likes this

Link

@BambooPanda13 (867)

• United States

22 Jul 09

That is crazy! Maybe it is all a ploy. Maybe they just call everyone, or random people and most people won't answer a strange number or a 1800 so they know they will most likely be leaving a message. When YOU check the message they know you'll call the bank, who wants to risk having some sort of fraud on their account? Soooo, knowing you'll call them they set the number up to re-route you, knowing it will cost you $3.50, and by the time you talk to them and figure out nothing is wrong, all is well, you're so relieved, you (hopefully) won't be worried about the $3.50 and will think it was worth it as long as no one was using your account, which in my scenario no one actually was.

2 people like this

@pyewacket (43903)

• United States

23 Jul 09

Yeah I avoided calling that rerouted number, since how do I know besides the $3.50 I won't be charged even more on my phone bill?

1 person likes this

sedel1027

@sedel1027 (17846)

• Cupertino, California

23 Jul 09

I have never had that happen. If I had tried to call my bank directly and that did happen, I would march my butt down to the closest office and talk to a representative. There is no way you should ever be charged for a toll-free call. The point of having a toll free number is that the business pays for all incoming calls (they usually get charged per call received).

1 person likes this

sedel1027

@sedel1027 (17846)

• Cupertino, California

24 Jul 09

That doesn't really surprise me. Nowadays banks don't handle everything at a location. I have had car loans where I couldn't get service inside the bank, I had to call their 800 to change anything on the account. Even so, the bank SHOULD have been able to confirm if the fraud number was correct or not. I have gotten fraud calls from my bank before and they were always legit.

1 person likes this

@pyewacket (43903)

• United States

24 Jul 09

You want to hear something really insane. This once happened to me before where supposedly a bank fraud protection team called me...and I DID go to my bank...know what they said? They couldn't handle it, but had to call the number..like huh? However, at that time the toll free number did work

reinydawn

@reinydawn (11643)

• United States

25 Jul 09

WHOA! I've not had that happen yet, although I find there are less and less toll free numbers any more. Quite often I have to call long-distance (I don't have a plan on my land line) to reach a company that used to be toll free. I don't want to have to pay a flat fee to call someone though!

1 person likes this

@pyewacket (43903)

• United States

26 Jul 09

I'm beginning to wonder if toll-free service is going to become a thing of the past entirely

Eskimo

@Eskimo (2315)

•

24 Jul 09

That would annoy me as well, I think that $3.50 is a lot to pay for one phone call.

Here in the U.K. we have call numbers beginning 0845 and 0870 which are supposed to charge local rates or national rates, these have now become much dearer than they should have been, and also the companies themselves get part of the call charges. Why should we have to pay for customer service? (at one time these were all freephone calls). A lot of calls to ordinary landlines are now free (depending on tariff), so again why would anyone want to pay extra for calls which should be included. There is a website called 'Say No to 0870' which lists alternative landline numbers which can then be used for free.

1 person likes this

@pyewacket (43903)

• United States

26 Jul 09

Yeah, I can't figure out why I would have to pay for customer service via a so-called toll free number

nanajanet

@nanajanet (4436)

• United States

23 Jul 09

That is amazingly ridiculous!! I have never had that happen but you can bet your bottom dollar that if any company I deal with did that, I would no longer deal with them.

1 person likes this

@pyewacket (43903)

• United States

23 Jul 09

I wrote an email to the main branch of my bank to complain about this and ask about this new policy...so I'll see what the jerks say when they contact me--one here even suggested writing a snail mail letter as well to them

nanajanet

@nanajanet (4436)

• United States

23 Jul 09

Yes, a written letter is taken more seriously, still.

1 person likes this

paula27661

@paula27661 (15811)

• Australia

23 Jul 09

I have come across situations like that before. I had computer problems with a new laptop my husband bought me which was still under warranty and upon calling the toll free number of the help desk in regards to my concerns, I was instructed to call another number where they could help me; of course it was a regular ‘charge by the minute’ number in another state! Darn annoying! I like to use email for most things because it is cheaper than phone calls and everything is documented in writing.

1 person likes this

@pyewacket (43903)

• United States

23 Jul 09

I did email my bank about this...wonder if even they are aware of it? So far haven't heard back. If a company or organization though has a toll free number then it should be that...toll free

1 person likes this

paula27661

@paula27661 (15811)

• Australia

23 Jul 09

Exactly!!!

1 person likes this

catdla1

@catdla1 (6005)

• United States

23 Jul 09

I have not heard of a major bank charging to call a customer service respresentative...even if your call is directed out of the country. The banking call center I used to work for had some call centers in India, and were accessed from the same number that my center was. Incoming calls were directed by volume to one of a dozen or so centers. When you were talking to your bank, did the representative confirm that they now use numbers that are not toll free? Now I do have a story about those numbers printed on the back of the cards. Once the bank I was employed by issued cards that had a misprint in the number (it was one digit off). They, of course, mailed out replacements as soon as the error was found. However, in the meantime, anyone who called the number reached an adult entertainment line...and usually were directed to call a different number. Is it possible the number on your card is incorrect? You can request a new card if it is.

1 person likes this