One of the classic means by which unscrupulous business deceive consumers is by imposing unauthorized charges on phone bills. These types of scams have been going on for decades, and as a result, many states have specific statutes requiring explicit authorization and notice before a charge can be added to a consumer’s telephone bill by a third party. Unfortunately, not everyone gets the message.
One such company might be Member’s Edge, which provides voice mail and email related services. Member’s Edge charges $19.95 for monthly voice mail charges. It also sells email services marketed under the name “Family Discount Network,” with monthly charges of $14.95, with a $14.95 non-refundable set-up fee. According to the Vermont Attorney General in a recent lawsuit, Member’s Edge does not just rely on fair marketing to convince consumers that they should pay for their voice mail and email services; it also imposes unauthorized charges on phone bills. Many consumers who have identified charges by Member’s Edge complain that they never authorized any such charges. The Vermont Attorney General also claims that a similarly company, Residential Voice Mail, is guilty of imposing unauthorized charges on telephone customers.
If you or anyone you know has been the victim of unauthorized charges by Member’s Edge, Family Discount Network or Residential Voice Mail, please contact us to discuss your legal options.