Missouri's attorney general sues Indiana company over phone bills

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Attorney General Jay Nixon sued a phone company Thursday that he says put bogus charges on people's bills and then harassed them to collect the money.

Nixon said he filed suit in St. Clair County Circuit Court against One Call Internet of Carmel, Ind., accusing the company of violating state and federal consumer protection laws.

Nixon said about 50 people filed complaints with his office against the company over long-distance and collect-call charges -- with some bills as high as $537. Sometimes, he said, people were billed for calls made at times they weren't even home.

The lawsuit seeks refunds to customers who paid the bogus charges, $1,000 to the state per violation and reimbursement of the state's legal costs.

A message left with the company Thursday afternoon was not immediately returned.

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On the Net:

Attorney General: http://www.ago.mo.gov