- Q: I received a bill from Alyon Technologies for “Premium Web Content”. What is this?
A: Someone using your telephone line connected to Alyon’s telephonic gateway to access and view Internet content which is “pay-per-use” in nature. That is, there are charges for the time spent viewing or accessing the entertainment service or content. Prior to gaining access, that person had to first accept the Preamble, which discloses our Terms of Service. The Preamble specifies that this is a pay per call service, that the connection to your normal ISP will be terminated, and that your modem will then dial a domestic Long Distance call. In addition, it specifies the per-minute rate which will be charged as an entertainment fee, and any credits for domestic Long Distance charges which may be incurred. Only after agreeing to the Terms of Service, downloading the software, and verifying your identity can the connection be established. Charges relating to the entertainment service or content are billed to the party who incurred the charges.
- Q: Who is Alyon Technologies?
A: Alyon Technologies is a billing service company which handles the calculation and production of the bill you received. Alyon tracks the origination and destination of the call or connection, and applies the appropriate charges accordingly. Alyon does not own or control the website(s) related to the bill; it only provides a means to bill for the entertainment service/content. Also, all charges and payments are handled through Alyon.
- Q: How was the call made?
A: A computer at your location was logged onto the Internet. The computer user must have requested access to pay-per-use entertainment content and was presented with alternative methods of payment. They selected Alyon’s method and were presented with a Preamble disclosing Alyon’s terms and conditions. They affirmatively accepted those terms and conditions by clicking on two boxes. They were then presented with a security warning that they were about to agree to download dialer software. Once accepted and installed, this software disconnected the computer from any then-current Internet connection and dialed Alyon by use of a domestic Long Distance number. Once connected, the computer user entered the last 4 digits of their Social Security Number. Alyon then verified the accuracy of this information, and, because it was accurate, access to the entertainment service/content was granted. Alyon tracked the length of the call and a bill based on that length was issued.
- Q: The bill came to my residence, but no one used this service.
A: When a call connects to Alyon’s telephonic gateway, the originating telephone number, method & date of connection, as well as the time connected are logged. We also request the last four digits of the computer user’s social security number. Alyon will connect the call if the entered information matches a person over the age of 18 who resides at the address from which the call originated. This also allows Alyon to identify the specific person who requested the content/services. Alyon’s methods of user identification and call tracking use the latest telecommunications technology and are precise and accurate. No bill can be issued if a call was not made and the proper information was not provided. Moreover, prior to any connection, the cost of the content/service and the method of connection to the service/content are fully disclosed.
- Q: I see a Long Distance charge on my phone bill for a call to 201-553-####. This was the call to connect to Alyon. Am I being billed twice for the same call?
A: Your Long Distance provider has charged you for the domestic Long Distance call to Alyon’s telephonic gateway. Alyon only bills for Entertainment Service/Content. A credit of 10 cents per minute was given at the time of billing for domestic Long Distance charges you may have incurred. That credit is listed separately on the bill from Alyon. You are not billed twice for the same call.
- Q: What if I don’t even have a computer?
A: Alyon provides a computer telephonic gateway using modem technology. We can only connect calls that are placed by computer. Also, Alyon’s systems do not issue bills unless Alyon receives a call from the address to which the bill is issued. It is impossible for Alyon to issue a bill if no corresponding call was placed by a computer.
- Q: What if someone in my house accidentally dialed your Domestic Long Distance number?
A: If someone in your home dialed Alyon accidentally by picking up a telephone handset and dialing, they would have heard loud computer modem ”handshake” tones. Even if they did not hang up, the call would have been terminated by Alyon because the computer handshake could not be completed. If someone dialed Alyon with a computer, they would not have been connected to services/content through Alyon (and, therefore, billed for access) unless they affirmatively accepted Alyon’s terms and conditions, reside at the location where the call originated, and provided the last four digits of their social security number. If this information is not provided, the call is disconnected and no bill is issued.
- Q: What was the specific Entertainment Service/Content?
A: The type of Entertainment Service/Content is indicated in the Service Detail section of the bill. To obtain specific information on site(s) visited, click on the “My Bill” button to login. There is no charge to view this information. Your login ID is the account number listed on the bill (in red). Your password is the telephone number on which the bill is based. This is also listed at the top of the bill in red.
- Q: No one was home.
A: Our systems have verified, using the latest telecommunications hardware and software, that the phone number listed on the bill was used to make the connection to the Entertainment Service/Content. Moreover, no connection is possible unless someone sitting at the computer clicked twice to accept Alyon’s terms and conditions and then entered the last four digits of their social security number.
- Q: My husband and I live alone, we are X years old and do not even access these types of services.
A: Our systems have verified, using the latest telecommunications hardware and software, that the phone number listed on the bill was used to make the connection to the Entertainment Service/Content. Moreover, no connection is possible unless someone sitting at the computer clicked twice to accept Alyon’s terms and conditions and then entered the last four digits of their social security number.
- Q: Someone other than me (relative, friend or neighbor) was over and they must have accessed the service/content with my computer .
A: No connection to Alyon is possible unless the person sitting at the computer clicked twice to accept Alyon’s terms and conditions and then entered the last four digits of a social security number of a person over the age of 18 residing at the address from which the call originated. If you authorized someone to incur the charges on your behalf by giving this information to them, you are responsible for the charges. If you did not authorize that person to use your information, you may want to contact the appropriate law enforcement personnel as such unauthorized use may constitute identity theft.
- Q: My minor child obtained access to the site.
A: No connection to Alyon is possible unless the person sitting at the computer clicked twice to accept Alyon’s terms and conditions and then entered the last four digits of a social security number of a person over the age of 18 residing at the address from which the call originated. None of Alyon’s clients’ websites are designed to entice children. Alyon strongly supports the use of parental control software such as www.NetNanny.com , www.CyberPatrol.com and www.CyberSitter.com to protect children from receiving or having access to inappropriate Internet content. All of Alyon’s clients’ websites are registered with these services. If you do not intend to install parental control software, you can still block your phone number from additional purchases of Premium Web Content through Alyon through the Customer Support section at www.Alyon.net/cs. . If you wish to dispute the charges based on the claim of usage by a minor, you may do so. In order for Alyon Technologies Inc. to validate a dispute of usage by a minor, we require you mail in a signed Affidavit. Upon receipt of the Affidavit (PDF file), Alyon will investigate your dispute and within forty (40) days report the results to you.
- Q: How do I block my phone number?
A: Go to www.alyon.net/CustomerSupport, login using Account Number and Billing Telephone Number, and then follow the instructions.
- Q: With regards to "SPAMMING":
A: Alyon Technologies, Inc. is a billing service provider that does not produce, promote or distribute content. We do not participate nor encourage the sending of commercial, unsolicited email. In fact, we strongly suggest that you visit one of the following links to obtain an anti-spamming software program. For MSN/Hotmail users: McAfee.com SpamKiller, for AOL users go to Keyword and type "Scams & Spamms".
- Q: Is there any software Alyon can suggest to further protect me, my family and my computer?
A: Yes, please visit www.trueactive.com, to download software that can supply you with a log of all Internet sites which have been accessed from your computer. Alyon also suggests you visit www.webshots.com to utilize password protection capabilities for your computer. Alyon strongly suggests that you keep your computer and its contents guarded at all times.
- Q: What are the terms that I agreed to?
A: Click here to view the Preamble, Disclaimer (PDF file). Download Adobe Acrobat Reader Adobe Acrobat Reader.
- Q: What is Alyon's Dispute Resolution Process?
A: The procedures on this page apply only to those consumers who have received a bill for Videotext Service charges incurred on or before June 15, 2003, and who have NOT communicated with Alyon concerning this bill in the past. If you are such a consumer, you have an opportunity to dispute this bill pursuant to an agreed Order approved by the Federal Court for the Northern District of Georgia and the Federal Trade Commission.
If you believe you should not be required to pay the billed charges, you may follow the dispute procedures set forth below, which include fully completing and signing an affidavit (forms of which are furnished below). The facts and information you furnish in your affidavit are represented by you as being rue and correct to the best of your knowledge. Please understand that the law, a false statement by you may subject you to penalties for perjury, which may include a fine or imprisonment for up to five (5) years or both Moreover, in its agreed Order, Alyon has retained all of its legal rights to pursue appropriate legal action against any consumer who submits an untruthful affidavit. Therefore, you should carefully review the three affidavit forms provided below and, if applicable, complete and execute the appropriate one and return it by First Class Mail to the Company. The Company must receive your affidavit NO LATER THAN forty-five (45) days from the date contained on your billing statement.
You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view any PDF file listed in this FAQ. Click here to download the PDF Reader.Adobe Acrobat Reader. Once on the page, select Step 1, then Step 3. Click here to view A.) Minor Access Affidavit; Click here to view B.) No Authorization Affidavit; Click here to view C.) Wrong Number Affidavit. All Affidavits must be received no later than 45 days from the date of the last billing effort in order to be eligible for a credit. If the affidavit is not received within the specified time frame, you will be eligible for further collection activity.
You might be eligible for a credit if you are in the segment of consumers described in the definition established by the settlement agreement between Alyon and the Federal Trade Commission.
To obtain the definition and the associated affidavits, please click on the link below.
http://www.ftc.gov/os/2004/12/alyonfinalord.pdf
- Q: I can't view the Affidavit or the Disclaimer. What's wrong?
A: You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view any PDF file listed in this FAQ. Click here to download the PDF Reader. Adobe Acrobat Reader .Once on the page, select Step 1, then Step 3
- Q: How to uninstall the dialer software if downloaded prior to March 12, 2003?
A: To remove all files from your PC running WIN 95 or WIN 98 or WIN ME or WIN2000 or WIN XP downloaded prior to March 12, 2003 please use Dialer Removal Instruction form (PDF file), manual process or use Dialer Removal New Auto software, (software name DialpassUninstall.exe) please note ZIP software is required.
To download Adobe Acrobat Reader or WinZip.
- Q: How to uninstall the dialer software if downloaded after March 12, 2003?
A: To remove all files from your PC running WIN 95 or WIN 98 or WIN ME or WIN2000 or WIN XP downloaded after March 12, 2003 please use Dialer Removal Instruction New form (PDF file), manual process or use Dialer Removal New Auto software, (software name DialpassUninstall.exe) please note ZIP software is required. To download Adobe Acrobat Reader or WinZip.
- Q: Privacy Protection, nonpublic personal information ("NPI").
A: PRIVACY NOTICE AND TERMS
When you request services using Alyon Technologies, Inc. (“Alyon”), Alyon collects nonpublic personal information ("NPI") which you submit, such as your telephone number and the last four digits of your social security number. Alyon also receives NPI from third parties, such as your name, address, and telephone number, based on the information you provide to Alyon, as well as NPI about your transactions with Alyon, its affiliates, or others, such as purchase price and payment arrangements.
Alyon may disclose NPI to service providers or other financial institutions, such as solutions providers, performing on Alyon’s behalf and subject to a confidentiality agreement. Alyon may also disclose NPI, or parts of your NPI to third-parties as permitted by law. For example, Alyon may disclose NPI, including the last four digits of your social security number for purposes of maintaining or servicing your account, protecting against potential fraud, protecting against unauthorized transactions, or for resolving billing disputes.
Alyon maintains physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to help maintain the service and your NPI. Alyon will post any changes or updates to this Privacy Notice on its website, www.alyon.net. You agree to receive updates to Alyon’s Privacy Notice via posting on Alyon’s website. By clicking “Please Enter Now!” you will be providing your electronic signature, expressing your intent to accept the terms of the Preamble and this Privacy Notice and Terms. If you do not accept these terms and conditions of use, please close this window and do not click “Please Enter Now!”
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