United Online - Juno Netzero
I only used a Netzero trial access for this account two years ago for a month. The access numbers were terrible and had to be supplemented with a PeoplePC acct. My research showed that United Online, the parent company, was very problematic in billing and service. I thought I was safe enough to not subscribe.
So, right out of the blue, two years later, I get a $15 collections notice from United Online.
I tried to call Netzero directly and was disconnected from the voice menu when I chose billing questions. Further, I only get an automated response from the “United Online Collections Division” saying to send them payment or dispute; either way, you are not going to talk to a real person.
Don't believe they will simply go away when you pay the $15; its an amount that is small enough that most people will try to rationalize just paying it. Ask my friend about her final $25 AOL bill that she keeps paying (that's another story).
Marketing is lovely and the commercials would have you believe that its the 'new & improved' company. How about this service after trying 30 access numbers (most didn't work and when I did connect, I was bumped off within 10 minutes):
Dear Stephen,
Thanks for taking the time to write to NetZero email
support.
I understand your issue. Please follow the steps given in previous
mail to reslove your issue.
If you have any further questions, feel
free to reply to this message and either I or another support agent will try to
assist you.
Thanks for using NetZero!Sincerely,Smith George
NetZero
Customer Carehttp://www.netzero.net/support
[update] 7/3/07 I received another form letter from United Online after having sent my original dispute. Is there anything else that I can do to get their attention and stop the collections notices?
This is disrupting people from New Zealand to England. Here is a template dispute that you can print and send along in their postage paid envelope.
With enough interest this will turn into a class-action lawsuit. I would be happy to donate my $15 to the lawyer that fights this. It will be curious to discover how large the United Online illigitimate collections mailing is.
11 comments:
I recieved a letter today. I had a NetZero account about one year ago, basically signed up for trial and didn't care for product. I called within the alloted time and cancelled, no problems...now a year later they want $29.90. I too have tried the phone number provided and get the recorded message. No way am I sending my CC info into a black hole where no one will speak to me personally. I don't believe for one second that I legitamately owe this money. Everyone keep posting your results and let's track this situation.
what r u guys going to do? just ignore it? is it a phishing scheme?
i receved something in march and havent heard again!
I receive same letter from united online collections division as well early this morth. I call netzero to dispute since I did not use their service after I paid first month. I did not cancel my service but I don't think it's big deal just like other services, pay first and use late.
I don't want this to hurt my credit report but the phone # they gave 1866-210-1700 is robot answer machine and I think I can only talk to netzero customer agent to figure this out.
This is very upsetting! I too just received the same letter saying I owe $19.90. I canceled Netzero way over a year ago AND paid for the rest of my year contract of about $100. Why are they sending me this? I do not owe anything! I googled "United Online Collections Division" and did not find any helpful information. I'm filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau for a company with a similar address and name: unitedOnline - Netzero with the Woodland Hills, CA address. Here's the link to the Better Business Bureau http://www.santabarbara.bbb.org/BBBWeb/Forms/Business/CompanyReportPage_Expository.aspx?CompanyID=6000947
Netzero is the shadiest, unethical company I have ever used! :(
I received the same letter in September of 2007 and immediately tried to call. Of course, I got the automated message to send payment. I immediately sent the payment with credit card authorization, in September, and of course, they have never charged me to mediate their collection bill. I am waiting and waiting. It is 2008 and I don't know what to do.
My husband received the same collections letter April 30, 2008 and says it requires payment by May 23 to avoid collections. After looking up the company online and seeing people in the same situation, I went straight to the posted BBB link and filed a complaint. Hopefully we will hear back soon...
My brother used NetZero and since he didn't have a credit card, I let him charge the monthly fees to my credit card.
He quit using the account about 4 years ago and has lived in Canada now for 3 years. When he told me 3 years ago that he wasn't using it any more he couldn't even remember his user id.
I called to cancel and they wouldn't because I didn't have his user id and password. They said they couldn't look it up by his name, my name or the credit card number.
I was stupid and didn't call my credit card company to have them stop the charges.
Here it is 3 years later and we have changed credit cards - I did not transfer the automatic payment to netzero because it should be canceled - the credit card company told me that is the way I should do it after I explained what happened when I tried to cancel the servive previously.
Now I get a collections statement from United online collections division for $19.90. I called Netzero and they said to follow the instructions on the letter. They did confirm that the account has been closed now but that I have to take up the collection problem with the collections company.
I can't find a website for these people - when I googled them I found this website and decided to get this off my chest here (Hope that is ok).
I hate these people and I hope there is a class action suit against them - even if I don't qualify to be part of it.
Sincerely Sandy in Alabama
Thanks Sandy! I am sorry to hear that this is still happening. The informatics for this site reports that about 4 people per week are referred to this site with a complaint with "United Online collections."
I have sent the template mail respone in the link above, which has not received a response, but I have also not received another collection notice in 8 months or been reported to the credit bureau.
Best to you!
We received a collection notice for $29.90 for service from Juno.com which we did not order. Sent a dispute letter to the address listed but received no reply. About 2 months later received another collection notice. Called toll free number listed and it is a circular voice mail system where you cannot talk with a live person. Tried to find an email address or a non-toll free number to talk with a live person but it does not exist.
Reported company to Better Business Bureau in California. Within a few weeks received a response stating United On-line was "written off the debt since there was no usage on the account". The report from the BBB states there will be no indications of this situation on our credit report.
Anyone else being hassled by this company be sure to make the report to the BBB so they can gather more information and stop this scam.
Thanks so much for sharing the process to resolve this!
I received a $19.90 debt collection letter on a Juno account for my mother today. The account has been closed for 6 months as she passed away 7 months ago. Does this company have any sense of business ethics? Please contact the better business bureau and report this company. I have yet to receive a response, as I just submitted the claim, but everyone needs to team together and shut this company down.
Post a Comment