If You Have A Family Plan Beware Of Social Beat App!!!!!!!!!

Question

We have a family plan with 5 phones. In January of 2011 after noticing some extra charges on our bill we went to the Verizon store to investigate. We found that these charges were from texting and accessing the internet. At that time, after talking with a sales rep we upgraded our plan with more voice minutes added texting plans and blocked (we thought) the internet and bought 5 new phones.
Last month we received bill for over $1100. So we immediately drove to the store to find out what was going on. The customer service rep brought up our bill on the internet and said that one of the lines had gone way over on there minutes. When we looked at the usage screen it showed hundreds of data airtime minutes used. When I asked what they were they said someone was accessing the internet. I told them that I had blocked the line from the internet. They said they could see it was blocked but somehow they were still accessing it. By that time there were several agents gathered around the computer and all had puzzled looks on there faces. They said they would have to dig further into this and call us sometime the following week. That was a Friday and I heard nothing for 9 days. So I returned to the store, all they could tell me then was that they found that the charges were legitimate and if had any other questions I would have to call the customer service line.
After calling the customer service line and getting no answers I went to a different Verizon store and found a very helpful sales rep who helped me dig further into this and was told by someone that the the line in question was using an app called social beat to access face book over the phone. I said that I had blocked the internet from this line. They said that this was different and that these were legitimate charges. Any way, I'm still trying to get an answer that I can understand.
But you should be aware that this app comes preloaded on certain phones and that anyone can sign up and start using it without the approval of the plan administrator.
We are still trying to get something done about this and I know Verizon doesn't care but I want them to know that I am logging complaints with the BBB, the FTC, and the FCC. It may not do any good but it will make me feel better.

Answer 1

I know exactly how you feel, i checked my account this month and I had overage charges and called to find out and was told it is Social Beat. I said but we blocked all MB usage charges and they told me the same thing. I see that it is blocked but social beat is something else. Well then why did my phone come with it and why are yall still charging me for MB when they are blocked? There is nothing they can or will do to fix it.  So now I had to upgrade to a smart phone and pay even more money per month. Its unreal at the charges Verizon can come up with.