# Is this a scam?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/376644
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [October 16, 2006, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/376644 "2006-10-16T16:24:24Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2006, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/376644/1 "2006-10-16T16:24:24Z")
I occassionally get calls from “Sprint” at work where the rep calls and says she’s looking for the person who called about a credit adjustment or billing question. Now, there are a ka-billion phone lines in this building (a radio station) on top of god knows how many cell phone accounts.
If it ain’t something I personally called about it could be any number of people who called. Plus, why do they have my DID if I’m not the one who called them?
They can NEVER give me any info except somebody called about a billing issue and gave my direct line as the contact number.
WTF?
What is this? Is it a scam, is it some kind of pre-texting prevention thing? Or is Sprint just outrageously unorganized???
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### Author:  [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2006, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/376644/2 "2006-10-16T17:06:22Z")
[QUOTE=niblet\_head]
What is this? Is it a scam, is it some kind of pre-texting prevention thing? Or is Sprint just outrageously unorganized???
[/QUOTE]
A single digit typo on their end could easily account for this, esp if there are alot of sequential numbers in your office/building.
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### Author:  [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2006, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/376644/3 "2006-10-16T17:09:36Z")
I really have to wonder about a phone company getting a wrong number. It’s like a mechanic owning a car that won’t run.
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### Author:  [@Bag\_of\_Mostly\_Water](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bag_of_Mostly_Water)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2006, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/376644/4 "2006-10-16T17:38:33Z")
[QUOTE=niblet\_head]
What is this? Is it a scam, is it some kind of pre-texting prevention thing? Or is Sprint just outrageously unorganized???
[/QUOTE]
In my experience, Sprint billing is hopelessly disorganized. As one example, I had an account with them years ago which was cancelled. Every month I still get a bill in the mail for $0.00. I Hvae called them to straighten this out. They claim the account is closed and I’m not really getting any bills. The paper that arrives in my mail is my imagination. 😃
However, as a general rule, if you ask if something is a scam, it probably is. Better to be safe.
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### Author:  [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2006, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/376644/5 "2006-10-16T17:47:43Z")
[QUOTE=Ex\_Chemist]
In my experience, Sprint billing is hopelessly disorganized. As one example, I had an account with them years ago which was cancelled. Every month I still get a bill in the mail for $0.00. I Hvae called them to straighten this out. They claim the account is closed and I’m not really getting any bills. The paper that arrives in my mail is my imagination. 😃
[/QUOTE]
So, pay it. Send them a check for $0.00.
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### Author:  [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2006, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/376644/6 "2006-10-16T18:51:19Z")
[QUOTE=Ethilrist]
So, pay it. Send them a check for $0.00.
[/QUOTE]
Will most banks allow that?
At least Sprint hasn’t sold the bill to a nasty collection agency yet.
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### Author:  [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2006, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/376644/7 "2006-10-16T19:13:23Z")
[QUOTE=Ethilrist]
So, pay it. Send them a check for $0.00.
[/QUOTE]
Tongue-in-cheek aside, I would not recommend this. If their system is so hopeless screwed up as to send you such a monthly bill for $0.00, even after notifying them, don’t risk sending them anything with your financial details on it. Some resourceful ne’er-do-well at Sprint may attempt to process the check through the system. At best nothing damaging will occur. At worst, … wel do you really want to risk it in this day and age?
You could send them a monthly service fee bill to cover the cost and handling of you having to check your mailbox for the bill they don’t send you once a month. Now wouldn’t that be fun if they paid it!
😃
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### Author:  [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2006, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/376644/8 "2006-10-16T19:23:30Z")
[QUOTE=niblet\_head]
What is this? Is it a scam, is it some kind of pre-texting prevention thing? Or is Sprint just outrageously unorganized???
[/QUOTE]
Obviously a SCAM. Ask for their number so you can call them back. Then call Sprint on your cell phone and report the number to Sprint.
Sprint will call you on your cellphone if they have a question. Not on a business phone.
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### Author:  [@Cowgirl\_Jules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowgirl_Jules)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2006, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/376644/9 "2006-10-16T19:30:13Z")
My office’s long distance service is through Sprint. I work remotely from the main office, and once in a while, someone back there will change billing details with Sprint (like to change the charge number it’s assigned to or something.)
Sprint always calls the actual number that is affected first, it seems like. I always have to tell them that I don’t handle the billing. They have the office’s phone number too, but mine must be first on the list. It’s not a scam, not in my case. It’s just a little silly.
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### Author:  [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2006, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/376644/10 "2006-10-16T19:32:19Z")
Sorry if I didn’t make it clear, they are calling on my work number. These calls never come through the main line, they always come to my direct number.
Got another call again this morning, and I just told the lady that if she doesn’t have anymore information than “someone” called and used my work number as the reference, then I can’t help her. It’s the weirdest fucking thing. I just have no idea why any company would legitimately not have any records of anything except someone somewhere made some call sometime about some account and a billing issue.
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### Author:  [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2006, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/376644/11 "2006-10-16T19:41:49Z")
[QUOTE=Duckster]
Tongue-in-cheek aside, I would not recommend this. If their system is so hopeless screwed up as to send you such a monthly bill for $0.00, even after notifying them, don’t risk sending them anything with your financial details on it. Some resourceful ne’er-do-well at Sprint may attempt to process the check through the system. At best nothing damaging will occur. At worst, … wel do you really want to risk it in this day and age?
[/QUOTE]
So send a money order. 😉
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### Author:  [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)
#### Post date: [October 16, 2006, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam/376644/12 "2006-10-16T19:43:20Z")
[QUOTE=Balthisar]
So send a money order. 😉
[/QUOTE]
Hmmm… assuming someone will charge you the $0.50 and print a money order for $0.00.