ZPDI (Opticom) Long Distance Service - $ 43.19 for 8 minute collect call - Verizon removed charge

Complaints.com received the following consumer message on August 21, 2002:

From:

RE: ZPDI (Opticom) Long Distance Service - $ 43.19 for 8 minute collect call - Verizon removed charge

As my son was dialing a long distance collect call from International Falls, Mn to Oak Harbor, Wa. an operator interupted the call and asked him if he needed assistance. The operator then proceeded to connect him to our phone number.

When the telephone bill arrived we were charged a total of $43.19 for an 8 minute call which was ridiculous. A nine minute call using MCI collect was only $13.44. I called the ZPDI billing which handles the calls for a company called Opticom and asked them to explain the charges.

They said that there a lot of hidden charges and fees involved and that it was up to the customer to ask about these charges prior to letting the operator connect the call.

I told them that no operator was even asked for that the operator came on the line unannounced. I also told them I would be willing to pay a reasonable charge but not $43.19.

I told the service rep that I suspected this was some type of rip off or scam operation. At that point she quickly terminated the call. I next called my local phone company, Verizon, and explained the situation to them and they removed the charge from my billing letting ZPDI handle this situation with the customer direct.

Has anyone else received ridiculously high charges through this company and are they scamming people?

Comment On This

Yes! I was recently charged to my home phone by these scammers for a phone call made to Switzerland from Chicago. I live in Toronto. Bell says the charges were 'transferred' to my account by this ZPDI company.

I NEVER use operators and make all my calls direct. TOTAL SCAMMERS!!!

I await their ridiculously illegal invoice to wipe my morning ablutions with.

Comment On This

Yes, I received a bill from them for $102 for 3 phone calls that totaled 9 min. They charged $9.05 per min plus connection charges. I called my carrier Windstream and had no help from them. They were the ones billing me but were unwilling to help. I told them that they shouldn't do business with a company if they are such a rip off. The call came for WV and went to NC. I could have called China for less money. I did call ZPDI and told them that I was contesting the amount charged per minute and the amount of minutes. I told them that each call was for less than 1 minute, which they were. They took off $54 from the bill, plus tax. So they still charged me $9.05 per minute but for only 3 minutes. Still a lot of money! Of course, they said it will take 1 to 2 billing cycles to see my credit. We'll see if I get it. Totally disgusted and I will make a complaint to the FCC.