How to report fraud, consumer?

[lintun]

Early June I went into a cell phone store and was looking at phones. I told the person I talked to my current phone wasnt up for another week, so I wasn't planning to make a purchase right then and there. The sales associate still managed to pressure me into running a credit check to see if I would need to make a deposit in order to enter into a 2yr contract. Needless to say, I didn't go back. Well today I got a bill, I'm past due $113 apparently. Can I press charges for fraud? Identity theft? Who would I contact? I've already drawn up a letter disputing the charge, but it just doesn't seem satisfactory enough. This girl crossed the line. How do I know it wasn't just a "paperwork" error and she's not using the line herself?

[nickson]

Well, it would certainly not be identity theft from what you have indicated. It could be fraud; you would contact the consumer protection department for your state for more information.

You could also contact customer service for that carrier first to get it resolved. They would have to have the number coded to a phone, and you are not in possession of that phone and did not purchase one, so it sounds like they would not have much to stand on with regard to a services contract.

But if you signed something you might have contractually agreed to something regardless of what was told to you orally.

[wardell]

if you signed anything, it's not fraud. if you didn't, it could be fraud, or it could just be a mistake. either way, you won't get far by reporting it to authorities. instead, report it to her boss...they will make sure she's not doing anything underhanded -- for if she's doing that on a regular basis, they won't be in business very long.