I aquired my 800 number in 1990 as part of this multi-level marketing effort I toyed with briefly. My 800 number was from a now no longer existing company called TelecomUSA. At this time there was not yet an 877 toll free area code.

Then in the 1990s MCI bought TelecomUSA.

By the mid 90s I was behind in the bills, plus I didn't really use it, so I called the number of my bill to disconnect it. This number took me to MCI customer service. Unfortunately, when I called MCI customer service, they could not locate any of my account information. The invoices I was receiving were a mystery to them. Essentially one hand of the company had no clue as to what the other was doing. I eventually just gave up.

I have not paid a bill in years. Every month, I get another bill and a threatening disconnect notice. However the years pass by, and the thing never gets turned off.

So I still have this de facto free 1 800 that goes into my apartment.

This is a good example of why not to buy MCI stock, and illustrates how the company could let its CEO and others rob them blind.

Steve