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I wrote to you about my phone bills from Verizon for August through February. I have an 800 number set up for use by my family, and they are the only ones who know my number. Or so I thought.
Each and every month I'm being charged for calls from an 825 exchange in the 646 area code. I do not know anyone who has this number and every time I try it - every day at all times of the day - I get a busy signal. I called Verizon and it couldn't tell me who that number is assigned to because of privacy laws. When I first called Verizon, I was told I should change my PIN, which I did. This did not resolve the problem. Since I live alone and there is no one else here to receive these calls, I asked if you could help.
In your response, you said that 646 was an area code added in Manhattan for land line and cell phone users due to an increase in demand. You pointed out that some of the calls lasted up to 20 minutes and asked whether I knew someone who might be calling from that number and just didn't recognize it.
I checked with everyone I know in New York to see if they have a cell phone or another land number with the area code of 646. My niece is the only one in Manhattan. Her area code is 212 and she does not have a cell phone. The rest of them have area codes 516 or 631.
Sorry, but the mystery is still not solved, although I really appreciate you handling this matter so quickly. Ethel Demarest
Response: We decided to dig a little deeper and gave Verizon a call on your behalf. What we can add to what we already told you is this: The 825 exchange within the 646 area code is used by a wireless carrier and Focal Communications Corp. The former uses the numbers ending in 0000 through 1999, the latter 2000 through 9999. The number in question falls within the range of Focal's customers. In other words, these calls are being made on a land line. One mystery solved.
We next looked up Focal on the Internet. According to its Web site (www.focal.com) "Focal is a national communications service provider with a unique blend of stellar service and creative voice and data solutions for enterprises, government entities, universities, carriers and value-added resellers." This suggests that the calls are being made not from a private line but from a large business, university, or other institution.
You said your niece is the only one residing in Manhattan. Is she in school there? Or does she work? We suspect the calls are being made by her but not from the phone number she would give to family and friends. Given that she can call you on your toll-free number without incurring charges, she can call you from any phone. Couple that with the fact that the calls continued even after you changed your PIN, and we're betting on your niece placing them. Only people who know the PIN can place calls on your toll-free number.
That you get a fast busy signal when you dial the number (we tried it as well with the same results) could mean that the calls are routed through a switchboard and the number is not good for incoming calls. This is not uncommon, we were told, for businesses or institutions with many phone numbers.
To test whether our theory is correct, we suggest you start logging the time and date of calls from your niece so you can compare them to your phone bills. Do let us know if we're right.
Refund grantedOn Aug. 2, I returned some booklets on getting grants to the National Auction Network in Goleta, Calif. They came with a money-back guarantee if I did not receive grant money. I contacted all companies that issue grants in Florida and I either did not receive a response or I was turned down.
I sent another letter Nov. 13. I finally received a refund check Dec. 9. The check bounced and I was debited $49 plus a $5 bank fee.
I wrote a letter Dec. 23 about the bounced check and received a phone call about a week later advising I would receive a new check by the middle of January. It is now the middle of February and I have not received the check. Please see what you can do to get me my $49 plus the $5 fee. Thank you for any help you might be able to provide. R. Piorunski
Response: We did not not hear from the company, so thanks for letting us know that you received your refund in the form of a money order that, as you said, cannot bounce.
We turned to the Web site for the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org for a report on this company. According to the bureau in Santa Barbara, Calif., Absolute Marketing LLC, which also does business as American Grant Services, American Grants, National Auction Network, National Auction Network/American Grant Services and Real Time Marketing LLC, offers informational packets on how to obtain cash grants. The bureau has received 10 complaints since it opened its file on the company in January 2003. All were resolved.
The report continues that "(t)his company is apparently running advertisements that state that a person is "qualified' for a grant to use however that person wishes. In order to get the information regarding how to obtain the grants, consumers are required to pay an up-front fee. Historically, the bureau has learned that after responding to these types of ads, consumers have found that their names and information never reach reputable foundations. Generally, obtaining a grant is a complicated process, requiring documentation and research. Although there may exist private foundations whose requirements are based on an individual's personal preference, the vast majority of grant-making foundations require that applicants for funds meet very specific guidelines that the foundation has established, and that the funds be used for specific projects that the foundation wishes to support."
To sum up, getting a grant is more complicated than simply contacting companies that issue them. We are not surprised you were unsuccessful but are happy you have your money back.
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