hidden charges

[pianistimo]

just found out today while paying the phone bill that it is now legal in the state of pa to have a third party add a billing (via ESBI - which is enhanced services billing inc) to you personal phone bill.  BUT, you can circumvent this and force the third party to send you the bill separately.  call your phone company and ask for a 'miscellaneous charge block' and they will force the third party to bill you themselves.  then, you can closely watch the billing process and note any errors.  they will give you a confirmation #, too.

any other ideas to avoid hidden charges on anything?

[thalbergmad]

Thanks for that, i will keep a look out on my next bill.

Thal

[pianistimo]

not sure if this applies to your phone bills as i don't live in the uk.  all i know - is that i made one single phone call from the emergency room for 2 seconds (hello, son - we're at the emergency room) and they charged me $13.00 on my personal phone bill via this third party billing service.  if i'd have known that - i'd not have called.

my daughter got sick from a swimming pool.

[thalbergmad]

(hello, son - we're at the emergency room)

Making calls from an asylum normally costs more anyway.

Thal

[cmg]

any other ideas to avoid hidden charges on anything?

Asylum-originating phone calls can be rerouted to the Gravesend UK terminus and charged to anyone on your "Friends & Family" account.  I just signed Thal onto your account, pianistimo.

[pianistimo]

wow.  if only i could think of these things.  cmg, you're so smart.  wait a minute.  these are fraudulent charges here.  what will my friends and family think.  especially if they see how long they are.  typically they would be between thal and his mother, right?  'ok, i'll let you home now if you promise not to read another jack-the-ripper book.'  ok. mom - but, i have to tell you something....'

[thalbergmad]

'ok, i'll let you home now if you promise not to read another jack-the-ripper book.' 

Too late, read one this weekend.

Thal