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On the website www.1010297.com, Vartec advertises long distance rates of 3 cents per minute, 39 cents per connection, no monthly access fee, pay only for the calls you make. What they _don't_ tell you is that there is a "minimum usage fee" of $7.50 per month; if your calls don't add up to that or more, you'll be charged the difference. I'd been using their [protected] for years, and at first it really was 3/39 as advertised, but I somehow must have "missed" the notice they claim they sent out regarding the minimum usage fee, and, because I was foolish enough not to scrutinize my phone bill with a magnifying glass, I've been paying this phantom chagre for months. No one I called at VarTec could explain why the charge isn't mentioned on the website, but then again, I didn't really expect them to say "this is a sneaky rip-off geared at dummies like you, ha ha!" Their advertising is misleading, big time.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Correct. And I shall contact the Better Business Bureau as this occured with me as well.
Correct. This is a rip off charge that they stuck me with as well. I am contacting the BBB
Yes, VarTec is how you spell "Scam".
Years ago, I started using their 1010811 access number or whatever it was. It was advertised as so many cents a minute with no monthly fees. And for years it was. But at one point, they started charging a monthly fee of $2.95 or thereabouts if I recall correctly, and so I (and lots of people) quit using them.
Shortly after that, I received a post card from them (which I still have, years later) that had a new 1010297 access number which says 3 cents a minute and 49 to connect, with no monthly access fee. And for years, that was true.
(I average a few long distance calls per year.)
So last month, I made a long distance call that cost $1.77 or so, and noticed an extra $5.73. I called them up (long wait on hold, got hung up on first time, called again, long wait on hold) they explained that they have a $7.50 minimum monthly fee for any month in which I use their service.
(Also, my dad told me that he had them as his regular long distance company rather then dialing the access code each time, and that they were charging him the $7.50 minimum every month.)
So I asked them to take the $5.73 charge off my bill, and the guy explained that he couldn't.
So then I explained that what they'd done was switch and bait, and that it was illegal, and that I would report it to the trade commission, and that I would never use vartec again, and without further prompting he said "Here's what I'll do. I'll issue you a one time refund of $5.75 for the trouble."
(Yes, I know I asked for just the $5.73 back, but $5.75 is what he said.)
I think the fellow tried to explain that I had received a notice, but I sure was not aware of receiving any such notice.
This all took place yesterday so I don't know if/when the refund will come..
Anyway, yes, VarTec is a repeat offender of switch and bait and the very definition of scam.
I should note that while the customer service rep did have a strong (probably Indian) accent, he was perfectly understandable, and very professional and polite through the whole thing, which I really appreciated.
-Jesse
I am in similar situation with [protected]. Until March 2009 I have been charged just for the calls, fees. Then my May phone bill listed many additional back-charges for January, February and March from Vartech. Of course - Vartech made this billing changes without notification. I stopped using their services immediately however back charges still be shoving on my recent phone bills, in July for May etc. Very unfair, and confusing, I believeconfusing on purpose.
I was using Their services for several years for long distance and for international calls as well and I was satisfied. Not any more...
Pavel
I've also been using them for years, only to have a one minute phone call I placed a few weeks ago cost me over $8! Ouch.
Very true, my parents got hit with this as well. ANd it doesn't work anymore or when it feels like working it does. And yes their customer service stinks. They cannot explain anything.
Today I got my phone bill. I had one call to Germany (1 min) for 42 cents plus $7.97 in extra charges. I will not use this company anymore.
Received my phone bill and had a one-min. phone call to Fla. for 42 cents plus $5.11 minimum usage fee, $1.97 carrier adm. fee and 73 cents universal fnd, a total of $7.81 for a 1-min. phone call! When I called Customer Service it took forever to get a service person who happened to be extremely uncooperative, telling me that if I made a call, I'd have to pay for the call! I told him I was willing to pay for the call, but not the usage fee, that I had never signed a contract for any kind of fee, he simply kept telling me that he would not issue any kind of credit! I told him I wasn't going to pay for the fee, no matter what. Then he told me that the FCC approved this sort of thing! Hard to believe! I assured him that I would never use his company again. S. Scheu
The charge of usage fees is very subtle, and easy to be missed.
It is buried in the fine print, and small print when they send you promo ads, saying lower rates.
and stated in minescule print that you need a magnifying glass to see.
Their argument; use our service a lot, and you won't be charged the minimum usage fee!
Whatever you do...AVOID using Vartec (and many of these dial around services). They add substantial hidden charges to your ATT bill, then ATT says they have no control over these charges and won't take them off. This goes on for months wasting your time and money. You are warned!
Yes, same thing here and tho they are trying to explain the $7.50 they are very confusing and vague. The person I spoke to said they were in Colombia S America. She suggesed I fax the bills to them to review...hah! Like that will help. I will find another carrier...I can't afford their $ saving schemes! BEWARE!
Correct on all counts, VarTec is a total "Scam". I contacted the FTC and put in a complaint. I have also written letters to Customer Relations, and Customer Relations, Presidents Office (which is "Excel"), after 2 calls to customer service, and 1 call to customer relations. I may post flyers around at many centers and will attempt to get this on the news station. This is definately a "bate and switch", and I only wish that I had checked the complaints against them, beforehand. I was charged $11.31, for a 2 minute domestic call ! I will fight to the end. CMackay
The above comment is right. Don't understand why there is a problem with the word "scam" or the bait and switch line. Should perhaps use scam without quotation marks? Beware of VarTec, they are out to get you. If enough people complain to the correct sources, they can be put out of business, so take the time to do this. carmac
Wake up AMERICA...this country is all about "SEX, THEFT, MURDER, GREED & DECEIT in that order.
Well, I do agree with it all! Now what can we do about Vartec! I tried different sources, without results. Does anyone know who we call all complain to, and get results? Yes they should be put out of business. carmac
I so agree with everything that is posted about Vartec Telecom. My mother passed away recently. Since I am executor of her estate, I inherited all of her records. I just received a statement from Vartec claiming she owed $8.30 for a 3-minute phone call. Perusing prior months, I noticed she had a $8.24 charge for a 1-minute phone call in September. Preceding months show much the same. I feel bad that I haven't gone through her phone records before and noticed this exorbitant charge on her statements. She lived on a fixed income. Though $8 a month may not be much to some people, it could have made a difference in whether or not she bought groceries or a medication she may have needed. When I called Vartec, I got the same run around as the rest of you seem to have gotten. Talking to a 'supervisor' gave the same result. To quote them: "The charges are valid and cannot be waived." What a ripoff!
I noticed recently that they now have a 62 cents connection fee. And that you get charged this fee if the person you are calling has Caller ID, even though you did not make a connection.