Girard & Green Files Nationwide Class Action Lawsuit Against MCI/Worldcom for Allegedly Billing Customers After They Disconnected Service.

Business Editors & Legal Writers

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 4, 2000

The following statement was issued for immediate release by the law firm of Girard & Green, LLP:

Imagine getting billed for disconnected or transferred phone service. That's exactly what has been happening to Blandine Johnson when she was billed every month for MCI/Worldcom phone service that she had disconnected months ago. "MCI/Worldcom keeps billing me for disconnected service. It was like me telling them to go away, and MCI deciding to move in. MCI wouldn't leave me alone," says Ms. Johnson.

In response to Ms. Johnson's claim and countless others, a nation-wide class action lawsuit has been filed in the Central District Court of California (Los Angeles County), on behalf of all customers billed by MCI/Worldcom for disconnected or transferred phone service. The case covers nearly every aspect of MCI/Worldcom's services including: local, long-distance, international, and wireless phone service. The class action alleges that MCI/Worldcom's practice of billing customers after they've disconnected phone service violates federal telecommunications law.

The plaintiffs in the class action are seven individuals and small businesses located in California and Washington. Each plaintiff was billed by MCI/Worldcom for a variety of telephone services for months after they transferred their phone lines to another telephone company. Another plaintiff -- Carver Clinton, who runs a financial planning company called the "Financial Dream Team, USA" -- alleges that his business was first slammed by MCI and then billed repeatedly for service that they've never wanted and subsequently transferred to another company. "I've wasted countless hours trying to end this harassment that began with MCI slamming me, and then sending bills for service that they did not provide," said Clinton. "Phone billing records reveal that MCI told Clinton that the problem was fixed back in January 2000, but he continues to receive bills from MCI every month for service MCI is not providing," said Charles Carbone, consumer attorney at Girard & Green.

According to attorneys for the plaintiffs, Clinton's story is far from unique. MCI/Worldcom's billing errors are a nationwide problem. "We intend to recover the money which consumers paid in response to MCI's illegal billing scheme and stop consumers from being harassed by MCI," says Charles Carbone, attorney for the class plaintiffs who are represented by the San Francisco law firm of Girard & Green, LLP, which has extensive experience in prosecuting consumer class actions and complex telecommunications litigation.

If you are an MCI/Worldcom subscriber or customer who has been charged for phone lines no longer served by MCI/Worldcom, or have any questions concerning this case or your rights or interests, please contact plaintiffs' counsel Robert S. Green or Charles F. A. Carbone at [e-mail] or at 415/981-4800.