I have been a subscriber to Virgin Mobile for a while now. Last August, 2008, I started to have my top-up amount being reduced by third party text-messaging providers to which I did not subscribe. So, at this point we have theft involved. So, I did what any person would do and called customer service.

Virgin Mobile’s customer service is not very helpful. Talking to a representative of Virgin Mobile, I was told there was nothing they could do to stop the fraudulent billing. However, they would provide me with a phone number to call to stop the service and recover my money. I also had them LOCK my text messaging ability.

I called the number Virgin Mobile provide for the fraudulent billing. To my surprise the third party company did not have my cell phone number on record. I ask myself this, “How are they able to place charges on my account for services they claim not to be providing?” The matter gets worse.

Remember earlier in this post when I mention that Virgin Mobile LOCKED my text-messaging on the accounts. Just this week I was slammed for another $20 from two text-messaging services I did not request. December I had $10 stolen from me from another third party provider. I called the phone numbers that Virgin Mobile provided and to my surprise they also did not have my phone number listed in their database.

How is it that I have to be an employee of an organization in order to get paid, but these third party companies just reach into an account and steal? At this point I will be stopping payment on my last top-up amount and cancelling my service with Virgin Mobile. I do not have any of these issues with TracFone.

A word to the wise, “Check your cellular phone bill.” Also, stay with a provider that has a customer service center that will be of some assistance and not be a part of fraudulent billing. The economy is tough enough without having your money stolen through fraudulent billing practices. Many of these companies reside in other countries, so good luck trying to be reimbursed for the money stolen from you.

Mike Kniaziewicz, MIS