Scam: Rocket Communications and their Verizon connection:
For some reason, Verizon has allowed an outfit called Rocket Communications to add miscellaneous charges from unknown companies to their Verizon bill.
A specific example:
Strategy 1: "Make it complex; bury it; split it up; complicate the charge."
Upon reviewing my Verizon account bill, I noticed a charge for $13.89 from someone (or some thing) called ESBI. As I looked closer, I noticed that the ESBI charge of $13.89 was the continuation of a charge of $12.95 from Rocket Communications – plus state and city sales taxes (I wonder if a scam is taxable?).
Having never heard of either of these companies and knowing that I hadn't signed up for any of their services, I called the number given in the upper right hand corner for questions re: ESBI (1-888-295-3724).
Strategy 2: "Make it difficult to get any information."
After going through a seemingly endless list of "push ‘n’ for this question" prompts, I was eventually transferred to a representative and put on hold for a few minutes. The lady was pleasant and told me that the charge resulted from an advertisement on GOOGLE. Someone named "Huffington" had requested a product or service of some sort from the ad, giving my telephone number as his or her telephone number (Verizon then included the charge on the bill they sent me ).
Strategy 3: "Use an Unknown Company to send a bill from an unknown charger to Verizon.”
Scary! Sounds like they've figured a way to charge things to me just by having my telephone number. This is getting scarier by the minute.
I finally find that Rocket Communications is the billing agent for the company who charged me $13.89 (I was not told who the company was -- only that it was from a Google advertisement).
Strategy 4: “Bury the bogus charge deep inside the bill.”
For my convenience, Verizon includes the bogus charge in total on page 4 of the bill (many people don’t go through a bill – takes too much time).
When asked if I wanted to cancel the charge, I replied that not only did I want to cancel the charge, but I did not want to be connected with either the ESBI or Rocket Communications service. Planned silence and no response. I’m given a confirmation number and told that the charge would be cancelled.
Strategy 5: “Train representatives to handle customer with care. Don’t upset them. Make it sound like an honest mistake. Don’t dwell on it.”
The representative had obviously been trained to deal with this problem and gave me a confirmation number to "confirm" the cancellation, telling me that it might take two billing cycles to remove the charge.
Fact: In two months most people will forget about the charge. The amount is small enough to be an irritant but not large enough to burn up a week’s worth of effort to get it cancelled.
What I have to do:
I can’t pay the bogus charge on my Verizon bill. I didn’t sign up for it and I know that the charge is simply a scam ... aided by Verizon, who has approximately 83, 700, 000 customers. Once the money is gone, It’s highly unlikely that it will get refunded. Think of “mail-in rebates.” You might be able to get one back, but they’ll outlast you.
QUESTION: “WHY WOULD Verizon or Rocket Communications DO THIS?” Check the numbers below. You might want to get into this game too!
If only 10% of Verizon’s customers get scammed by this bogus charge of $13.89, you can see that's it's a VERY, VERY profitable business.
If 10% of Verizon's customers pay the charges, Rocket Communications will be raking in about $116, 259, 300.00 per month ... at that rate, it amounts to $1, 395, 111, 600.00 per year --nearly $1.4 billion folks! It wouldn't take long to approach the Barney Madoff numbers ... especially if you get the participation numbers up.
Not bad for doing something that Verizon customers did not ask for and get nothing from.
And . . . Verizon can legitimately say that they’re just the billing agent – even Rocket Communications says that. Verizon might be properly accused of being the "enabling" agent.
If you question the 10% number, question it on the low side. It’s more likely to be low than high. Pick any number, they all result in enormous profits.
My disappointment:
Frankly, I'm very disappointed that Verizon would allow a Company like Rocket Communications to attach a charge to their bill that is not related to Verizon's services.
For me, the practice outlined above brings up ethical issues. It sure doesn’t pass the smell test!
In my opinion, the practice should be challenged in court. We've got enough greed in this country now. This practice is akin the thievery.
One has to wonder WHY Verizon would allow this?
If you develop a causal chain for this practice you can only come to one conclusion:
Either Verizon, or someone employed by Verizon, is profiting from the Rocket Communications connection.
Customers sign up with Verizon to get communications services --not to have Verizon include charges from third parties. It makes no sense for the customer.
William K. Spence |
Date
368 days ago by George Bodnar 
52 days ago by 
