- In August of last year my AT&T long distance charge was $3,500 for that 30-day period.

- I called MSN (my Internet provider) and they explained that
they used a local number and not a long distance. I and over 20 neighbors have called AT&T asking if the number is local or long distance. Every response was that the number is local.

- I called AT&T and they confirmed that the number used was local, but they do not know why I'm being charged.

- Service discontinued for non-payment.

- Called AT&T and they said that the error is theirs and DO NOT pay the long distance portion of the bill.

- Service discontinued for non-payment.

- Process continued month after month; they advise me not to pay, and then discontinue service for non-payment. I call them and they say the're sorry and then restore service because it was actually a local number and not a long distance toll call.

- Last conversation with them is that it's out of their hands at this point because they do not know what the problem is (confirming the number was local).

- MSN instructed me to forward my AT&T statement for the $3,500 and that they'll pay it if the error is theirs... while explaining that they, too, have confirmed thru AT&T that the phone number is local and that I should continue to take it up with AT&T and not them because they did nothing wrong.

- AT&T still says it's not their problem.

- Not once (with over 55 communications w/ AT&T), has AT&T been willing to put any of this in writing; saying that the error is theirs or that I shouldn't pay the charges. Though they do confirm that all conversations are noted in their records; subject and times/dates of each conversation... and instructing me not to pay. They read it to me in plain English: "Customer advised not to pay...."

- I tried communicating with them by mail... Nothing. No response. Nothing...

- I'm expecting my service to be zapped in the morning (past due date).

JB