Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!caen!uwm.edu!lll-winken!telecom-request From: locke@tree.uucp (Alan R. Gross (1-1-90)) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: A Mystery Refund From MCI Message-ID: Date: 5 May 91 00:40:02 GMT Sender: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Reply-To: locke@.PacBell.COM (Alan R. Gross (1-1-90)) Organization: TREE BBS (916)332-4930 Sacramento, CA Lines: 38 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 334, Message 9 of 11 In article herbison@ultra.enet.dec.com (B.J. 01-May-1991 1616) writes: X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 324, Message 10 of 10 >> Something interesting happened to me today ... this month's phone bill >> included a $10 credit from MCI! A quick check of my various phone >> lines indicates that I'm still with my chosen long distance carrier >> (which isn't MCI). I didn't call and ask about it (don't look a gift > This must be part of some judgment against MCI for slamming. In > punishment for changing the long distance carrier for random telephone > lines, someone is forcing them to give refunds to random telephone > lines. > [Moderator's Note: I don't really think this is the case. There may be > a class-action suit against MCI for slamming, but I have not heard of > it. I agree, even though it does look suspiciously like two pic switch fees. I haven't read anything on this either, but there are a couple of things it could be. Most LD carriers have mass billing error recovery programs in place that will automatically credit overcharges, once they find that the bill system isn't billing as tariffed. In these cases, you get the credit without an explanation, most of the time. If the person who had the credit recieved collect calls through MCI, or had MCI as a carrier in the past, this is a possibility. The other thing it could be is a simple bill error where you got someone else's credit -- possibly the LEC & MCI's bill software programs aren't communicating well. It could also be an MCI promotion, that has yet to be announced -- did you check the bill to make sure that the overall amount of your bill was reduced? If not, it could be a "try us" credit, which might sit there until used. Randall A. Gross csusac.ecs.csus.edu!tree!locke @ the UNIX Tree BBS, Sacramento, CA ucbvax!ucdavis!csusac!tree!locke Sprintmail: A.R.Gross DISCLAIMER: Ego loquito