I opened the nursery AT&T phone bill this week and saw that is was about $400. That’s what it normally is every month, give or take. I notice a charge for $4.52. It was in the Plans and Services section. It was to "Discount Directory Assist" .  I have never noticed this charge before and I haven’t talked to any solicitors about signing up for any new services. I called the phone number associated with this third party charge and a man answers the phone. He didn’t give a business name. I questioned him and he said he is an answering service for 4 or 5 businesses. I told him I was slammed and want all charges removed. He told me that the charges would be removed and a credit given. I did some research on this company and I am positive that the company is just a front to steal money by letting AT&T bill customers that will probably not realize that the fraudulent charge is on the bill. They will give a refund but you first have to spot it and then have to request the money back.  Many of AT&T customers will not spot it and some may not even dispute the small charge. $4 times 5,000-10,000 unsuspecting customers can be very profitable with little downside risk as long as you return money to customers that catch it.

I called AT&T and I got a Third Party Block so this can’t happen again. While the rep was helping me he noticed that the nursery can take advantage of 3 metro-line discounts. I got a retroactive $360 credit on my next bill and our phone bill will go down $60 per month over the next 12 months. Certainly worth an hour on the phone.

I suggest everyone review your phone bill to make sure you aren’t being taken advantage of. You also might consider that Third Party Block. I loathe thieves.