| I
have been a regular customer with Qwest/MCI for several years
now and for the most part their service has been exemplary.
However, I feel that I have been the recent victim of long
distance price gouging courtesy of MCI. To begin, I normally
pay a monthly fee of $4.95/5.95 for the international calling
plan as made available by MCI. Unfortunately, I had to change
my phone number recently due to an overwhelming number of
prank calls being made to my home. I specifically asked Qwest
if I had to contact my long distance provider about my number
change to which they responded 'no'. I then received my new
phone # and phoned my mother overseas. Under my long distance
plan I would typically pay anywhere from $60-$70 for 1 hour
of long distance to Japan, but when I received my bill I
found that I was being charged 4 times the amount (about
$250). Upon receiving this bill I was extremely agitated
and called MCI right away to settle my bill. I spoke to a
gentleman about my situation and he told me that I was supposed
to contact MCI regarding my # change. I told him that I asked
Qwest about this and they told me I didn't have to. Perhaps
I misjudged the situation and should have taken better precautions
in the matter but I feel that as a consumer I will take any
information given to me by Qwest as the truth, after all,
they are business professionals right? The gentleman on the
phone then told me he would take care of the charges and
that they would not show up on my next bill. Sure enough,
two weeks later I got a threatening letter from MCI concerning
my $250 bill (which wasn't changed at all). Now, my phone
line has been blocked and they are threatening me with collections.
So, for
those of you who are using MCI as your long distance carrier,
be careful! If things get settled with MCI I plan on cancelling
my service with them and will be going with Working Assets
instead. Be warned.
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