Wrong Phone Number!!

I just need some opinions on this...

About 5 weeks ago I started getting weird calls on my cell phone. People were calling asking me if I could come and pick up animals and tend to the strays in the neighborhood and things like that. And I'd always say, "I'm sorry. You must have the wrong number." The calls kept coming.. about 15-20 of them a day! Finally, someone told me why people were calling my cell phone asking about animal rescues.

A local animal rescue agency had just put up a new web site. And their contact number is listed as MY cell phone number. Here's the thing though. My cell phone bill is up a good bit because of all of these calls. I realize this is probably a mistake, but it's been like this for over a month! I've even e-mailed them numerous times, and no one ever writes back, so my cell phone number is still listed there.

Should they be responsible for my HUGE cell phone bill, or at least a portion of it??

Should they be responsible: Yes

If I were in your situation I would call the person in charge and talk to them about this. Tell them you have sent numerous emails and nothing is being done. Tell them you think they should be responsible for part of this bill.

If they say no, there isnt all that much you can do. You could bring them to small claims court, but I doubt that it would be worth your while.

Most of these companies are non-profit, and you can't squeeze a rock.

The problem with actually calling them is that MY phone number is listed as their contact number. They don't have ANY other number listed on the website. And I can't even find them in the phone book. grr.. The only way for me to talk to them is to e-mail them.

If they are non-profit, incorporated, or a Limited Liability Company then the information for the resident agent for the company should be a matter of public record. In Maryland there is a government website where you can pull public records. I dont know about your state.

Maybe try calling the phone company and complaining?

Maybe the humane society has contact information for the rescues in the area? Or pet finder if they list there? I would think they would have to have a number other than yours somewhere.

Sorry, that sounds very frustrating. I would be extremely annoyed.

{{{{{MP}}}}}}

maybe where they are their internet access is not a long distance charge on the phone bill for example cable companies have internet access, as does eletric comapnies and so on, I know here both are available and they are on a flat rate not hourly or per minutes. Also some phone companies like mine do not charge for the use of the phone line for computers so I don't have to worry about long distance charges for computer. in fact I don't have long distance on my phone at all.

so maybe this company has such a set up so they are not thinking in the point of view of phone bills for their website.

I have a cell phone and have found it is much easier for me to just call the cell phone company. They either change my number free of charge for it is their mistake for give two customers the same number or they notify the other people they gave the same number to and change their number free of charge.

How about you call information and get the right number??

MP, just another thought.

Somewhere on the website should have the webmaster that is hosting the site. Maybe emailing that person would get some response?

I tried calling information. The number for this place isn't listed for some reason. The lady I talked to when I called information said that they might be listed under another name. But I don't know what that name would be. It's really aggravating!

MP, why dont you start to collect the animals and sell them to make money for christmas! Just a thought?!

(please tell me you know Im joking)

Haha! What a wonderful idea! heh Hearing a song in my head "How much is that doggy in the window.." lol

Gem!! I didn't even think of contacting the webmaster! Thank you! I'm gonna try that, too..

Well, I'd say they should be responsible for the phone calls but I have no idea how you would get a hold of them if they are not listed or anything...good luck!

Yea I liked that idea too when I mentioned it on another website it turned out that when the webmaster was notified of the problem the webmaster contacted the person running the site to see if they were aware of the problem (at that time the site was getting swamped by porn) the person running the website was aware of it and chose to let nature take it course so the webmaster could not do anything. The only action the webmaster could take was shutting down the whole site permanently and since the problem was being handled within the site the webmaster chose to not shut down the site causes the owners to relocate and open and notify their members of the move to another domain. Moving to new domains cost money on the person running the sites for they need to buy a domain site and then set it up. Neither the website runner nor the webmaster wanted to do that in that situation. but anyway I think its a great idea good luck.

Good luck Jen.

If all else fails, YOU could change your phone number before your bill gets so high you can't handle it. Then pursue finding out who these people are and dunn them for the bill.

I would be so p-o'd! How amazingly frustrating!

I hope you eventually find out who they are & find a way to contact them. If all else fails, go to either your area's business licensing bureau or maybe the zoning board & see if they have contact information on the shelter - if it even exists. All the business licensing information should be on public record.

There's another thing you can try. WHOIS the domain name, see what the information is on who owns it, and look for the contact information on the domain name. It might be a different address and phone number. Just go to www.whois.sc, click on the "Domain Explorer" tab, type in the domain name (without the "www."), and hit "Search" or your Enter (or whatever it is if you have a Mac) button. That should bring up the domain information.

Thanks, Maven! I looked there and there are 2 other numbers listed that I can call! Maybe now I get to the bottom of this. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

I agree with getting refunded, and your cell phone company should remove the charges also... first... upon your proving the problem. Otherwise, don't answer any number that isn't in your phone book? good wishes on this one! grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr