Gosh, I feel rotten right now

[always quiet]

I am both mad and sad at the same time. Don't know which emotion is going to win out in the long run either. I'll explain.

The phone package we had used to include 3 way calling. My oldest DD loved that feature. Well, over a month ago, I changed calling packages and I no longer had this feature included on my bill. When speaking with the verizon rep, I told her that I no longer wanted this service to be allowed on my phone. She told me she would be blocking this feature. I told my daughter that she could no longer 3 way call.

Fast forward to today....when my phone bill arrives and it is $50 higher than it should be! I called verizon and I am told it is due to the large number of 3 way calls. I am stumped. I explain to the woman that this service was to of been blocked when I changed packages. Turns out, the last customer service person I spoke to did not remove this service. I questioned my daughter (who is the only one in the house who knows how to use 3 way!) and ask her if she has been using it. She flat out denies it. I explain to her the additional $50 in charges and still, she says she didn't do it. I called the phone co back, hoping they could at least tell me what number was dialed. That would settle it once and for all. Unfortunately, all they can tell me is the date and time of the calls (about 2 or 3 per day!!). Each call was made in the evening, when she would be home. She is still looking at me, square in the face, denying that she made the calls.

I hate to think that my daughter is lying to me, but I honestly do not know what else to think. The phone company has a listing of all the calls. I don't know what to do........aside from paying out $50 that I really don't want to!!!

 

[doxdogy]

We had the same problem with *69. DD denied it at first, then when it was done at times that DH and I would have been at work, she came clean. She racked up 75 bucks in *69 charges. Sorry this has happened to you. I would ask the phone company to send you a list of all the calls that were made and show it to her when it comes in the mail. I would also dispute the charges with them. Especially, if you have the date you called and who you spoke with at Verizon.

 

[RitaZ.]

This reminds me of the time when my youngest brother was about 10 yrs. old and the phone bill showed about $40 worth of unfamiliar phone calls. My dad called the phone company and verified that this was a service that if you called, you could listen to your favorite song and then were charged a fee to your phone bill.

My dad asked all 3 of us if we had called, but we told him that we hadn't. It turns out that my youngest brother had made the calls, but he wouldn't fess up. My dad decided that it must have been the phone company's mistake and was going to call them to have the charges removed. That's when my brother broke down and admitted to making the calls. My DB was really convincing when he lied to my dad.

Kids will do these things, I'm not saying that it's acceptable. It's not a reflection of the trust/relationship between parent and child. Kids lie because they don't want to get in trouble, it's that simple.

Do you recognize the numbers that were called? If it turns out that your DD did make the calls, then choose an appropriate punishment.

BTW, my brother turned into a fine young man.

 

[always quiet]

Verizon said that they can not give me a list of who was called, just the date and time of the calls. I was hoping for something more "fool proof", shall we say. There would be no doubt if the calls are being made to her friends.

I only wish I had jotted down the name of the woman who I spoke to when I had this feature supposedly blocked. I never thought to double check that it wasn't still active on my line. I knew she was talking on the phone to more than 1 person at a time, but most, if not all, of her friends have 3 way calling so I never questioned her. I figured it was coming from our end since our phone 'couldn't' do it any longer. Surprise!!

The woman I spoke to today made a note to check the phone bill next month. Since they are now sure 3 way has been disabled, there should be no more calls. IF there is, they will know there is a problem on the line itself. I almost hope the calls DO appear again. That would mean it is their problem and my daughter isn't lying to me!

 

[cgcw]

Originally posted by always quiet
Verizon said that they can not give me a list of who was called, just the date and time of the calls. I was hoping for something more "fool proof", shall we say. There would be no doubt if the calls are being made to her friends.

I don't have Verizon so I can't say for certain but with my cell phone, I really needed to know the exact time a phone call had been made. It involved one of my daycare children being hurt and I needed to know exactly what time I placed a call to his Mom. I never had a need to know the outgoing/incoming calls from my cell phone. But, I really needed to know this information. So, I called and I was told it wasn't available. I very nicely asked if there was any possible way I could get the information. The rep transferred me to a supervisor who was more than willing and able to provide the information I needed. Now it's included every month with my bill.

It wouldn't hurt to call Verizon back and inquire again. After all, it wouldn't be the first time you received bad information from them.

And, if you had a listing, there would be no way your daughter couldn't admit the calls were hers. And, if those calls aren't yours to pay for and you end up shelling out $50, then just imagine trying to get your money back.

Good luck!

 

[buzzlady]

I don't have and never did have 3 way calling. On my last bill there is a charge for a 3 way call. My son's friend does have 3 way calling and while they were on the phone his friend did a 3 way call and I got charged. On the bill it does state 3 way call and my son's friend's phone #. So maybe it *technically* isn't your daughter dialing the 3 way call but her friends doing it from thier phone while talking to your daughter.

 

[always quiet]

I asked the Verizon rep about that. They told me that as long as the number being dialed out (the 3rd person) isn't being dialed from our end, we would not be charged....the friend making the call would be. I don't know what to think. I called and asked a different rep about getting the number dialed. They said since it is a local call, there is no record of the number being dialed. Only the date and time of the calls. If I even had one number that was dialed, I would know for sure....although if you were accidentially charged for a call, knowing the number might not help me. They are a very close, small group of friends. It wouldn't be unusual for another friend to be calling the same person.