Collect call from Cuba

Posts: 14 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Aug 16, 2005 Posts: 14

Some distant relatives tried to call collect unsuccessfully 3 times in a row from Cuba. Then a bill for $27.50 arrived from a company called Canopco, claiming that it had handled the collect call. The Vonage records show 3 1' calls, the last one at the precise time this company claimed to have done its magic. It looks to me like the answering machine picked up, and Canopco decided that that was good enough to send a bill. Obviously, we'll tell them get lost... Anybody ever heard of these sharks? Eek

Posts: 19 · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2005 6:48 pm Post subject: Re: Collect call from Cuba

jmbergeal wrote:

Some distant relatives tried to call collect unsuccessfully 3 times in a row from Cuba. Then a bill for $27.50 arrived from a company called Canopco, claiming that it had handled the collect call. The Vonage records show 3 1' calls, the last one at the precise time this company claimed to have done its magic. It looks to me like the answering machine picked up, and Canopco decided that that was good enough to send a bill. Obviously, we'll tell them get lost... Anybody ever heard of these sharks? Eek

I dont see how this was achieved being that collect calls are not accepted on any of our services...? Confused

Posts: 1424 · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2005 8:42 pm Post subject: Re: Collect call from Cuba

jmbergeal wrote:

Some distant relatives tried to call collect unsuccessfully 3 times in a row from Cuba. Then a bill for $27.50 arrived from a company called Canopco, claiming that it had handled the collect call.

Anybody ever heard of these sharks? Eek

Canopco has a website, they handle international collect calls, typically from hotels and other institutions. They are a subsidiary of GlobalLive which is also based in Toronto, Canada.

If you want to contact them they can be reached at (416) 640-1088 or possibly 1-877-252-9222.

The worst case scenario here is that the company may try to put a mark on your credit report. You may want to file a complaint with the FCC.

jhall376 wrote:

I dont see how this was achieved being that collect calls are not accepted on any of our services...? Confused

Search the forum, you will find anecdotal evidence that this is untrue. Vonage may not have billing agreements with other carriers, but that does not stop them from putting through collect calls, just getting paid for them.

Posts: 292 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Oct 08, 2004 Posts: 292

scerruti wrote:

Search the forum, you will find anecdotal evidence that this is untrue. Vonage may not have billing agreements with other carriers, but that does not stop them from putting through collect calls, just getting paid for them.

Yep, very well put. Search it, it has happened.

Posts: 433 · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 12:49 am Post subject:

This may be a strange question, but where did the billing company get his address to send the bill?

Is the user is not listed in the telephone directory, then what database was used for billing?

Posts: 1424 · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 8:20 am Post subject:

houuser wrote:

This may be a strange question, but where did the billing company get his address to send the bill?

Is the user is not listed in the telephone directory, then what database was used for billing?

I thought about this too, and I surmised he must have ported a previously listed number. The phone company can just google the number to get name and address. (Though they probably have a more efficient method.)

Posts: 14 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Aug 16, 2005 Posts: 14

I have had the same number for many years and am listed everywhere. Interestingly, the bill was addressed to me and my ex. A listing that has to be >7 yrs old... jm

Posts: 14 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Aug 16, 2005 Posts: 14

Thanks to all. I did call Canopco and after stating they had handled the collect call (5' on their bill), I told them that Vonage does not handle these, that my own records showed only 1' (most likely the answering machine's pickup) and that nobody accepted a collect call here.

I'm not sure which of these arguments convinced them, but they credited my account on the spot. Rolling Eyes

Posts: 2251 · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 10:09 am Post subject:

houuser wrote:

This may be a strange question, but where did the billing company get his address to send the bill?

Is the user is not listed in the telephone directory, then what database was used for billing?

That info comes from the LIDB (Line Information Database)

It most likely cost them $.05 - $.10 to get your name with address info.

Posts: 1715 · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 10:44 am Post subject:

Just curious, does the Line Info Database have cell #'s as well? I'm porting a cell number over and keeping it unlisted, and would like to make sure this sort of thing doesn't happen to me.