I have 10 calls over my 2 residential auxiliarl lines for $569.98.  All calls made back-to-back while no one was home.

File a complaint with the FCC.  No one can explain how these charges get on your bill, they only insist you made them.  It is one big scam.  The FCC will acknowledge your complaint and go after MCI.  Get Verizon to reverse the charges and if they won't, report them also.  Get a 900 block put on your line which is no charge.  DO NOT pay the bogus charges.

i had call billed to my phone on oct.30 2008. it's only for 12.97 and was billed for 3 min. it was from mci i live in piscataquis county,maine

i had call billed to my phone on oct.30 2008. it's only for 12.97 and was billed for 3 min. it was from mci

Is anyone still having trouble having these fraudulent charges wiped off your bill (I'm writing on Friday, Sept. 19)? I'm the Bergen Record reporter who wrote the story about the arrest of Joseph Vaccarelli, the Verizon technician who was charged with making these calls. Drop me a line at lamb@northjersey.com or call me at 201-646-4440.
Thanks!
-Will Lamb

Hi. Are you or orhters still having trouble having these fraudulent charges wiped off your bill (I'm writing on Friday, Sept. 19)? I'm the Bergen Record reporter who wrote the story about the arrest of Joseph Vaccarelli, the Verizon technician who was charged with making these calls. Drop me a line at lamb@northjersey.com or call me at 201-646-4440.
Thanks!
-Will Lamb

does anyone have any technical explanations that can explain how these charges are billed from a land line that wasn't used?  help!
i'm in the same situation with verizon and mci and champion.

the cabin that we rented over the summer has been charged over 200 for 900 calls charged by verizon from a mci customer. has anyone found out how hackers can use these land line numbers without being at the phone location?

Tech tapped lines for phone sex, cops say
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Last updated: Tuesday September 9, 2008, EDT 8:45 PM
BY WILLIAM LAMB
STAFF WRITER
A former Verizon technician racked up $220,000 in calls to sex chat numbers by tapping into the land lines of nearly 950 customers, authorities said today.

Joseph R. Vaccarelli, 45, of Nutley, used customer accounts to make about 5,000 calls to sexually explicit 900 numbers lasting a combined 45,000 minutes, Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said in a press release.

The calls were placed over the last 10 months from residential and commercial accounts in about 30 Bergen County municipalities, authorities and Verizon officials said.

Vaccarelli worked for 10 years as a Verizon ?facilities technician,? installing telephone service and repairing damaged or faulty equipment, said Rich Young, a Verizon spokesman. Vaccarelli resigned last month after Verizon officials told him that he was the target of an internal investigation that began after several customers complained about unauthorized charges, Young said.

Bergen County authorities began a criminal investigation after they were contacted by Verizon?s security department.

?We?re saddened and, frankly, stunned that any Verizon employee would allegedly engage in this sort of behavior,? Young said. Verizon is working with the affected customers to resolve any fraudulent or disputed charges, he said.

?We believe this was a highly isolated incident by an errant individual,? Young said. ?It should not reflect on the overwhelming majority of our workforce, who bring pride and respect to their jobs every day.?

Vaccarelli was charged with theft by deception and theft of services, both second-degree crimes. He is due to be arraigned Wednesday in central municipal court in Hackensack.

I ALSO EXPERIENCE SAME PHONE CHARGE.  14 CALLS OVER ONE HOUR SUPPOSEDLY
FROM MY PHONE LINE CHARGE OF $262.00. EXCEPT I WAS AWAY ON VACATION FOR TWO WEEKS WITH NOONE HAVING ACCESS TO MY HOUSE AND FROM A PHONE LINE THAT IS CONNECTED TO A FAX MACHINE WITH NO AUDIO PHONE ATTACHMENT. I CALLED CHAMPION TWICE ASKING FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE 561-272-5667, LEAVING TWO MESSAGES WITH DENISE, NEVER GOT A RESPONSSE.
I CONTACTED FORT LEE, NEW JERSEY POLICE DEPT OFF THE INFORMATION ON THIS WEB PAGE, AND WAS ADVISE TO CONTACT MY LOCAL POLICE DEPT. TO FILE A COMPLAINT OF THEFT OF SERVICES BY CHAMPION, MCI AND VERIZON. THERE IS AN EXISTING INVESTIGATION BY THE BERGEN COUNTY PROSECUTORS OFFICE, NEW JERSEY

yes they billed me also last month for 112.72 i wasn't even at home and also this month for 13.78. This is crazy what time of phone service will allow a number to  call you even though you haven't anyone and then bill you this it very out of line. I'm glad i found this website because i thought i was the only one with this problem but i guess that im not

If you have seen this number appear on your phone bill and are certain that you have not called it, you may be the victim of a theft of services. I suggest you report it to your local police. If you live in Bergen County NJ,  I strongly recommend that you contact the Fort Lee Police Department for further assistance, ask for the detective investigating the 900 #'s

I have gotten in touch with the parent company who owns the phone # and leases it out. Champion Communications is the name of the company out of florida. I cannot post further info until the investigation concludes.

Bergen County

Any one else from bergen county?

My aunt just called me to help her with this problem.  No one was home at the time the calls were (supposedly) made and no one ever dialed that telephone number (900-950-1000).  Total charges came out to $280.73.  Thanks to everyone who previously posted information regarding this problem.  I couldn't reach a Verizon customer service rep (office hours closed), but will certainly act accordingly with the information provided.  By the way, they do live in Bergen County, NJ.

Are all of these calls with in New Jerseay?

I am currently investigating a Theft of Service complaint regarding this 900 #. i will post any further information i obtain.

I was successful in filing a complaint with the NJ Board of Public Utilities.  They forwarded my complaint to Verizon and they eventually agreed to a credit.  If you file a BPU complaint include all of the facts and don't get emotional.

Kevin

I just spoke to a Verizon representative and she was able to Google this number

I received a bill from this number for over $300.00 - Verizon is not very helpful- we need to find a way to resolve this since Verizon is extremely uncooperative

I received a message from Champion - they only sell the 900#'s- I was directed back to Verizon

My Alzheimer father was scammed in the same manner.  3 calls in a row for over an hour on the same day to this 900#.  Verizon told me they have a policy that they do not credit back charges from 900#'s.  They suggested I write a letter requesting a formal investigation.

4 calls to this number,4/28/08,totaling 73mins.calls on my current bill.verizon says calls made from my number...no one home at time calls made...this is some scam

The local# for Champion is no longer working (shock) - the correct # is 561 272 5667. That # gets you to the executive offices (an oxymoron, if there ever was one).

I've been on the phone this AM between Verizon (clueless) and MCI (worthless).

A gross waste of time.

This number is owned by Champion Communications 1801 South Federal Highway Delray Beach, FL  33481.  The number listed is 561-272-0728.

Kevin

I just filed a complaint with NJ Public Board of Utilities on line.  Here's the text of the complaint (x'ed out private info.):

Subject: Verizon's Failure to Police Fraudulent Billing by a 1-900 number merchant (1-900-950-1000)

Dear Sir/Madam:

I disconnected my land line (xxx-xxx-xxxx) with Verizon on March 12, 2008 since I no longer needed it.  The line was used as a fax line and was seldom used.  My primary line is with my cable company.

The final Verizon bill included MCI Worldcom charges for seven phone calls to 1-900-950-1000.  The total charge for those calls including tax came out to be $314.88.  Having verified that no one from my house made those calls -- no one was home at the time the calls were alleged made on March 3, 2008 from 9:08 AM to 10:12 AM, I called Verizon, which now owns MCI Worldcom, to dispute the charges.

All Verizon/MCI Worldcom offered was a line test to confirm that lines weren't crossed.  That's the extent of help they provided.  They didn't have any dispute resolution procedure.  They stated they were sure those calls came from my number, and they couldn't adjust my bill.

I asked who the 1-900 merchant was.  Verizon didn't know who it was.  The Verizon rep even called the number to no avail.  Verizon was, in effect, trying to collect on behalf of a merchant they don't even know.  And, when I questioned the validity of those charges, the best they could do was to declare that the calls came from my line.  No proof.  No merchant name.  No complint form.  No investigation.

I googled the same 1-900 number, and found several incidents where other people were complaining about Verizon/MCI Worldcom/1-900-950-1000 under circumstances similar to mine. (http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-900-950-1000)  The charge amounts varied from $200 to $600.  I even suggested to Verizon to google the number suggesting that they investigate it.  The reply I got was they didn't have access to Google.

Obviously, Verizon doesn't have much interest in investigating customer disputes on toll call charges.  It will take the Board of Public Utilities to build fire under their feet.

Sincerely,

My Verizon bill shows charges for 7 calls to 900-950-1000 on March 3, 2008.  Back to back calls starting 9:08 AM.  The total charge is $314.88.  Coincidentally, I disconnected the line on March 12 because I didn't need the auxiliary line and my primary line is with my cable company.  I called Verizon, but they swear those calls came from my house.  I asked who the 1-900 number merchant was.  They didn't know.  Can you believe this?  They collect for someone they don't even know.  I am not going to pay for calls I didn't make.  The only leverage they have is to disconnect the line.  You know what?  It's already disconnected.

Have you been able to solve this issue and if so how?
Anybody else got any ideas asides from calling the phone company to block all outgoing 900 phone calls?

I also got a bill for $282.30
3 phone calls were made back to back through Verizon billing by MCI Worldcom.  This was charged to my home phone while I was working in the office