MSN Strikes again

06-17-2003, 12:28 PM

I received my Debit card statement in the mail yesterday only to find that the numbers didn't add up. After looking closer at each purchase, I found a nice little item entitle

MICROSOFT ONLINE SVCS BILL.MS.NET WA---------- 21.95

After calling around I finally got 1-800-386-5550 (MSN) 1-800-936-4900 (Microsoft) number to call them.

turns out that when I purchased my computer, MSN had a promotion. one yrs INTERNET access for free. This DOES NOT HAVE TO BE ACTIVATED!!!! YOU DONT HAVE THE INTERNET ACCESS UNTIL YOU ACTIVATE IT< BUT AFTER ONE YEAR YOU WILL BE CHARGED REGUARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU HAVE USED IT OR NOT. YOU HAVE TO CALL THEM TO TELL THEM NOT TO BILL YOU.
doesn't make much sense to me. but then when has Microsoft/msn ever made any sense?

Is it just me or does this sound like fraud? Just wanted to give you all a heads up! watch your credit card/checking account statements!!!

Long story short>>>>>> *feenies-wife tries to be nice, feenies-wife starts to argue, feenies-wife threatens to contact lawyer.................feenies-wife is credited $87.80

*

technobeast · 06-17-2003, 12:35 PM

ROFL. Congrats FW. You're now officially in the battle against M$. You even took money from them . Well Done.

cyberrico · 06-17-2003, 12:41 PM

It's fraud, but it's shrouded in its legitimacy by claiming that it was a simple billing error.

The phone companies do this for a living. This is especially true with the large carriers like Worldcom and AT&T. They are scrutinized for this on a regular basis. I worked for some of the large carriers and believe me, many of the billing errors (always too high) are the kinds of errors that don't occur as a result of simple clerical errors.

I have had customers for years who's bills were within a reasonable range every month and suddenly they start getting billed for services that are completely unrelated to what they have been using for years.

The same has been happening with residential services as well. PacBell has been doing it for decades and AT&T just got busted for it last year.

So it's natural to assume that this mentality occurs with simple online services as well. Back in the day, I used to have to aregue with AOL (shhh don't tell anyone) about my bill on a semi regular basis.

Most people don't count their change when they buy something in a retail store and this is even moreso true with credit card automatic purchases.

I'm glad you were able to resolve the problem.

Roadblock · 06-17-2003, 01:21 PM

The lesson here, and one I am quite sure that "Mr. Feenie" as well as the rest of us already know is, "Don't mess with Feenies-Wife!"

RipperRoo · 06-18-2003, 02:00 AM

i think ms just might regret it , check the home page news

LINK

~*LdY*LaFFs*~ · 06-18-2003, 02:08 AM

*applauds FW* WTG!!!

/me shooves my 'fight fraudulent bills' pile over to FW

06-20-2003, 02:04 AM

*takes bills and begins to think of arguments to help, not hurt LL chances of winning*

Drakin316 · 06-21-2003, 08:50 AM

Well I dealt with this same thing about a year ago. They would I asked them to get rid of that account and they said it was taken care of. So I did not even check my bill for there charges. About 3 months later I see that same charge on my card. I called them they told me that I had 2 accounts with them when I called the first time they got rid of the one I asked them to but still had the other. I never opend one account much less two.

06-17-2003, 12:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
feenies-wife Guest Posts: n/a	MSN Strikes again I received my Debit card statement in the mail yesterday only to find that the numbers didn't add up. After looking closer at each purchase, I found a nice little item entitle MICROSOFT ONLINE SVCS BILL.MS.NET WA---------- 21.95 After calling around I finally got 1-800-386-5550 (MSN) 1-800-936-4900 (Microsoft) number to call them. turns out that when I purchased my computer, MSN had a promotion. one yrs INTERNET access for free. This DOES NOT HAVE TO BE ACTIVATED!!!! YOU DONT HAVE THE INTERNET ACCESS UNTIL YOU ACTIVATE IT< BUT AFTER ONE YEAR YOU WILL BE CHARGED REGUARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU HAVE USED IT OR NOT. YOU HAVE TO CALL THEM TO TELL THEM NOT TO BILL YOU. doesn't make much sense to me. but then when has Microsoft/msn ever made any sense? Is it just me or does this sound like fraud? Just wanted to give you all a heads up! watch your credit card/checking account statements!!! Long story short>>>>>> feenies-wife tries to be nice, feenies-wife starts to argue, feenies-wife threatens to contact lawyer.................feenies-wife is credited $87.80

06-17-2003, 12:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
technobeast The Grim Reaper! Join Date: May 2002 Location: Bulgaria Posts: 2,387	ROFL. Congrats FW. You're now officially in the battle against M$. You even took money from them . Well Done. __________________ Liked this post and found it helpful? Click on the image under my avatar to add to my reputation

06-17-2003, 01:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
Roadblock Caped Spam Fighter Join Date: May 2002 Location: Roadblock Manor Posts: 1,558	The lesson here, and one I am quite sure that "Mr. Feenie" as well as the rest of us already know is, "Don't mess with Feenies-Wife!" __________________ P2P Consortium Administrator

06-18-2003, 02:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
RipperRoo AdMiN oF RoCk! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: uk Posts: 2,080	i think ms just might regret it , check the home page news LINK __________________ PcTechtalk.com Admin A7V8X xp2600 Barton SLK 97U, GeForce FX 5700, 1GB 2700DDR Ram Sony DVD -R/+R/RW, SB Live 5.1 Digital, 1 x 30gb 3 x 200GB 2x120GB 1 x 250GB HDD'S, 19" TFT Epson R265 HP NX6125 Laptop 1gb memory http://www.minotaur-computers.co.uk/

06-18-2003, 02:08 AM	#6 (permalink)
~LdYLaFFs*~ MIA Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: HeRe N TheRe Posts: 2,002	applauds FW WTG!!! /me shooves my 'fight fraudulent bills' pile over to FW __________________ When I've been asked why I like computers.. My answer has been, "Because it's potential is infinite." I must be wearing down 'cause now I seem to be counting the infinite headaches!

06-17-2003, 12:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
cyberrico Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 327	It's fraud, but it's shrouded in its legitimacy by claiming that it was a simple billing error. The phone companies do this for a living. This is especially true with the large carriers like Worldcom and AT&T. They are scrutinized for this on a regular basis. I worked for some of the large carriers and believe me, many of the billing errors (always too high) are the kinds of errors that don't occur as a result of simple clerical errors. I have had customers for years who's bills were within a reasonable range every month and suddenly they start getting billed for services that are completely unrelated to what they have been using for years. The same has been happening with residential services as well. PacBell has been doing it for decades and AT&T just got busted for it last year. So it's natural to assume that this mentality occurs with simple online services as well. Back in the day, I used to have to aregue with AOL (shhh don't tell anyone) about my bill on a semi regular basis. Most people don't count their change when they buy something in a retail store and this is even moreso true with credit card automatic purchases. I'm glad you were able to resolve the problem.

06-20-2003, 02:04 AM	#7 (permalink)
feenies-wife Guest Posts: n/a	takes bills and begins to think of arguments to help, not hurt LL chances of winning

06-21-2003, 08:50 AM	#8 (permalink)
Drakin316 Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: louisiana Posts: 185	Well I dealt with this same thing about a year ago. They would I asked them to get rid of that account and they said it was taken care of. So I did not even check my bill for there charges. About 3 months later I see that same charge on my card. I called them they told me that I had 2 accounts with them when I called the first time they got rid of the one I asked them to but still had the other. I never opend one account much less two.

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