I have a friend of a friend that has a $20000 chargeoff with SW Bell. He is claiming fraud. He says his ex roommate got the card out of the mail while he was in India and for a couple of months his ex was calling India, practically living on the phone. Now, a CA has the bill that started off at about 12k has gone to 20k. It's funny how people come out of the woodwork when they find out that you know a little about credit. I think that the fraud route is the only way. I told him that if he goes this route he better be telling the truth, and he says he is. Any opinions or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I just have a feeling that the CA isn't going to go away quietly. Thanks in advance for ya'lls help. Charlie
were any of the calling card calls going from his home or terminating to his home? Is the calling card through SW Bell or ATT, MCI, Sprint?
If fraud is the story, he needs to go to the police dept. and file a fraud complaint. Then, fax that to the CA and swbell. A great defense if it ever goes to court is, a police officer saying we investigated the complaint and have no reason to believe Mr.xxx is involved.
WHY DIDN'T THEY CUT THEM OFF AFTER $500 or $1,000??? It's called "MITIGATING DAMAGE"... Example...you have a broken pipe in the house...you are expected to shut off the water... If you don't and your house is damaged MORE than it was when you found the problem...they may LIMIT the coverage of repairs...BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T TRY TO LIMIT THE DAMAGE... YOU HAVE TO MAKE AN EFFORT...AS LONG AS YOUR LIFE IS NOT IN DANGER...
Probably because they might have had direct dialed calls coming from the house to India prior, providing history. You can rack up 12k in phone card charges in a day as well... who is the long distance through?? I have connections!!
I have NEVER called any foreign country, so I don't know what it costs... Before I got a cell phone I had ONE bill that was $80.00 +/- on MCI...
girl6- It caught me too when I saw the CA letter. I would go thru normal validationletters and estoppel, but I think that the CA would come loaded for bear. keepmine-I told him that the best way is to file a police report. The only thing is that it happened about a year ago. He says, he doesn't trust police to help him. I don't know, but remember he is from India. radiohead- The calls were made from various locations, THEIR apartment, THEIR work (they worked at the same place). The calls were made from a CC that he got along with the pin # from THEIR mailbox. Thanks Charlie
If there is not a specialized plan... 'India $7.95 a month, it is extremely expensive.. all calling card calls are a rip off really... I have seen 70k based on 10 calls made simultaneously for long durations. India isn't too bad... about $1.50 a minute for most long distance companies.. I wouldnt pay it though
Ok, since they were made from their apartment.. etc.. the only way to go is by getting a police report... because, the calls can be tied back to him. he needs to contact the original creditor.. SW Bell might be billing him, but it could be through AT&T, so he needs to go through the company the actual long distance goes through. Ok, so he needs the invoices... if he doesnt have these he can request them from customer service... he needs to mark all calls that he is disupting... get the police report against the person who stole the card... call back the original creditor... ATT etc.. and ask for the fraud credit department.. get the fax number.. fax the marked disputed invoices as well as the police report, and a letter explaining the situation. If this is all completed he should get credit for the calling card charges.. If there are calls made through his home phone, without the card... 011+ the number... these will most likely not be credited... but it sounds like these all are calling card charges. Forget the CA for now, they are useless, and SW bell is potentially useless, he must go to the long distance company that issued the card.
radiohead, I agree, but I think that maybe a C&D would hold the CA"S off. I really believe the guy. I told him to try and find his plane ticket stubs or passport stamps for proof that he wasn't in the country. Charlie
yeah... C&D them, they will be no help! just dont waste the time trying to work with them! It should all work out!
Can your friend prove he was in India at the time? Like plane ticket stubs, or an itinerary? Maybe CC receipts from a restaurant there? That may make the fraud claim more believable. Right now, as it stands, it's your friend's word against his former roommate's. If your friend has an alibi, so-to-speak, he may be ok. Just a thought.
