Watchdog Makes Phone-Charge Connection ; Faded Parking Space Numbers Also Top List Of Reader Problems. That's The Ticket

Lancaster Lookout

The county's community watchdog

Chip Smedley

Staff Writer

csmedley@lnpnews.com

A potentially costly telephone billing problem and a questionabout unreadable parking space numbers in downtown Lancaster topthis week's Lookout.

First, the billing problem.

A reader called to report he checked his most recent telephonebill and found that he had been charged $13.73 for services providedby "Compufix," a company that offers anti-virus protection programsfor personal computers.

However, the reader said he had never signed up for the services,nor had he ever heard of the company.

A Google search for Compufix revealed a number of companies withthat name all over the country. At the top of the list was a Compu-Fix Inc. in West Mifflin, Pa.

But go to that company's home page and at the very top is an iconwhich reads, "Telephone Bill Charges." A click on the icon directsreaders to a page that states, "We have received a number of callsfrom people over the past few months about a $12.95 fee on theirhome phone bill. It shows up as "ILD billing for Compufix. Thesecharges are NOT from our company, Compu-fix Inc."

The site then provides the name, address and phone number of theother company, Compufix Inc., 11271 Ventura Blvd., Studio City,Calif., 91904 (888-736-3799).

Dave Babcock, a spokesman for the West Mifflin Compu-fix, saidhis company had to put the page up because, "At one point we weregetting eight to 10 to 12 calls a day from people all over thecountry asking us why we were charging them."

Some people, he said, hadn't checked their phone bills for monthsand only later found that they had been getting charged during thattime without knowing it.

Babcock, who said his firm is a small one that serves onlywestern Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, was the victim of a BetterBusiness Bureau complaint and a complaint to the New York stateattorney general.

"I have called that company to find out if they could stop thepractice or identify themselves and all I got was 'we'll take careof it.'"

The watchdog called Compu-fix and talked to a supervisor whowould only give his name as "James." He explained the companyadvertises widely on the Internet through e-mails and pop-up bannersand the $12.95 fee buys five hours of consulting time.

All that is required to sign up is a name and telephone number,since all charges are added directly onto the phone bill.

"It's very easy to sign up," he said.

He said a common situation they encounter is that someone in thehousehold, "like a son, who does have have a credit or debit card,"will experience computer problems, see the online banner, call Compu-fix, provide their parents' names and phone number, and get theirproblem solved.

"Then, the phone bill comes, the parent sees it, and says, 'Whoa,what is this?' " the supervisor said. "They call us, explain thesituation and we negate the charge at our loss, even though wealready rendered the service."

He encouraged anyone with questions to call the number listedabove and ask for customer service.

Similarly, a supervisor at ILD Billing, the licensed third-partyagency that bills for Compu-Fix, encouraged people with questionsabout Compu-Fix or other ILD Billing clients to call them at 800-453-4518 with questions. ILD will research the validity of theirbill.

Finally, consumers can also contact their telephone serviceprovider and request that a block be put on any third-party billsthat get attached to their number.

Given the ease of signup, though, it is possible that anyone whoknows someone else's phone number could conceivably call Compufix,provide that name and phone number and get "free" service.

Bottom line? Check your phone bill closely every month.

A reader who frequently parks downtown noticed that on manyspaces in the first block of South Duke Street, the numbers havebeen worn away to the point that they are almost unreadable. Thatmakes it difficult for parkers to identify their space at theparking kiosk when they pay for parking.

In other areas, spaces have been dug up for roadwork and thepatch material has obliterated the identifying number.

A spokesman at the city Parking Authority said the numbers can bewiped away by traffic or plowing and maintenance crews try to keep awatch on spaces whose numbers need to be repainted.

He added that each pay kiosk has a map that shows the spaces andtheir numbers. Even if the numbers are worn or covered by snow,parkers can determine what space to enter by consulting the map.