Telephone Service, AT&T : illegal billing

Complaints.com received the following e-message on June 29, 2001:

From: motherpepper [Email User] AT&T illegal billing

Acct# 954-748-1574 Dear Sir/Madam: I received my Bell South phone bill on 6/16/2001.I do not have a long distance carrier. Anyway, AT&T billed me for 2 third party calls from a payphone. Calls: Atlanta,GA 404-799-5073 for 30 mins for $36.99 and Philadelphia, PA 215-335-1185 for 30 mins for $36.99,with taxes they totaled $78.15. Please bare in mind I do not know these phone numbers and I told the operator that I will not accept the charges. I called AT&T and explained to them that I remember rejecting the calls on May 10,2001 when their operator called my home. On 5/10/2001 I had also called their billing department after the fraud attempt and told them what had just happen. I spent 1 1/2 hrs speaking to 2 c/s reps, a fraud specialist, a supervisor and a manager named Jacqueline Joslin (S9N6616) on 6/16/2001 who stated they have no notes of me calling on 5/10/2001. I asked them if they had recording of the day the operator had call to get the calls billed to my home phone, which they replied they do not as AT&T does not record those call because their operator do not make mistakes. The agent there accused me of taking the calls and stated that the only way I would be billed is if someone at my home accepted those calls. I am home on maternity leave since 3/31/01 as you can understand I am the only one home as my husband work 7 days a week and have a cell phone with nationwide long distance. Miss Joslin told me that she would credit the calls and investigate further and send me a letter in the mail, which I still have not receive. I called AT&T 6/27/2001 and was told that they credit has been denied and they will not credit the charges as their company does not credit third party billing. I spoke to a supervisor, Mike (S9D5627) and a manager, Monica (S9HA627) who refused to give there last name because of security reasons. They insisted that someone at my home accepted the charges and that they have no recording of the incident. I asked to speak to an Operations Manager and requested the corporate address, which were both denied. I went online 6/27/2001 and email the chairman and officers on their website but I have gotten a reply yet. I called 6/28/2001 again to see what could be done I spoke the following agents: Heather Fisher, Marissa, Towanna and a Nicky who hung up on me after being very rude. Please help me Sir/Madam as I refuse to be cheated out of $78.15. AT&T has also refused conducting an investigation the call because they said that they do not consider this a fraud situation. I have written 7 letters to the “Voice of the People” in the: Chicago Tribune, New York Times, Washington Post, Sun Sentinel, Miami Herald AT&T Disputes (North Carolina) and AT&T Disputes (Miami Lakes). I have also sent email online to several other newspapers. I refuse to be cheated by AT&T and their rude customer service agents. Customer, Marsha Gordon