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From: van@ocsmd.ocs.com (Van Gale)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Theft of Phone Service
Message-ID: <15190@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 4 Dec 90 21:54:40 GMT
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Reply-To: Van Gale <van@ocsmd.ocs.com>
Organization: Online Computer Systems, Inc.
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 863, Message 3 of 9


I've just had a horrifying experience and need some advice.

Around September 21 my wife and I moved into our new house.  Since I
didn't want call waiting on the modem line, etc., I told her I would
take care of contacting C&P for the new service.  She then assumed I
would contact Contel to disconnect our previous service from the home
we were renting.  I assumed she would since she was disconnecting the
other services.

Well, last weekend we received a bill from Contel for several thousand
dollars!!!!!  Is this horrifying or what?

Apparently, someone knew the house was empty, entered the home with
their own phone and spent MANY hours calling some 900 date service.
My god.

What makes this (especially) surprising is that the house was on a
(very) remote farm where all the neighbors know each other.  In fact,
the entire year we lived there we never locked the door.

Anyway (aaargh), anybody have a good recommendation?  I've already
started talking to Contel and they are "investigating."

Has this kind of thing happened before?  Should I uncross my fingers
and head for the lawyers office?


Van Gale
van@ocsmd.ocs.com