madylarian
The curmudgeonly
Premium
join:2002-01-03
Parkville, MD
| Telemarketing: Die, Heather from Card Services, Die
I know this has been discussed before but I couldn't find the older threads. The infuriating robo calls from "Heather" in "Card Services" have started up again. They dies down for a while but have come back with a vengeance. Usually there is no number on caller ID, but the call that came this evening showed that it came from 1-208-803-3800. Does anyone remember where these came from and how to report them to the FCC?
mady
--
Honi soit qui mal y pense |
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Kibbles
Premium
join:1999-07-31
Mission Viejo, CA | What are they asking? |
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pleekmo
Triptoe Through The Tulips
Premium
join:2001-09-14
Manchester, CT
clubs:
 ·AT&T DSL Service
| reply to madylarian
FCC = Federal Communications Commission is primarily concerned with radio transmission and reception. I don't think they will help you much in this case.
I suggest contacting the FTC = Federal Trade Commission, instead.
If by "card services" they mean credit card services, then I would say they are a financial institution and may be also subject to SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) oversight, as well.
I'd say that the more three-letter agencies you can get involved in it, the better...
--
HCN: Because you deserve a rest!
Proud member of the Free Omelas Liberation Front. |
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K Patterson
Premium,MVM
join:2006-03-12
Columbus, OH
 ·RoadRunner Cable
edit:
March 4th, @07:40AM
| reply to madylarian
This is a con. I get the calls a couple of times a month, always from an impossible phone number (the exchange code starts with a zero)
If you respond the person makes a decision early on from the sound of your voice as to whether or not you can be had. They ask you for the bank's 800 number from the back of the card, and they use that to tell you the first four digits of your card. They are working to get your card number. I've never pursued the interview beyond that point. They hang up on you once they think you are gaming them.
They are not a financial institution, they are crooks.
If you are listed on the DNC list, they are violating those rules as well. Report them to the FTC and also to the FCC which enforces the no auto dialer rules. |
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Laurie
join:2007-07-08
Middle Village, NY
| reply to madylarian
"Heather" calls me several times a day. I've even tried answering the call and challenging the caller, letting them know in no uncertain terms that I know what they're up to. Nothing makes it stop. To make matters worse, I have two numbers.
I've also reported them (and all the other usual suspects) a thousand times for DNC violations in the last year or so, but still they call. I'm starting to think the DNC complaints process is just lip service. How many of these serial offenders have they stopped? Do they even bother? I doubt it. |
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K Patterson
Premium,MVM
join:2006-03-12
Columbus, OH
·RoadRunner Cable
| Actually, they do stop some. If you go to www.ftc.gov and look at "actions" you will see quite a few perps that have gotten nailed for DNC, fraud, you name it. Unfortunately, the FTC only pursues (is only allowed to pursue?) civil actions. Basically they take all the perp's money.
I have no idea what percentage of the bad guys they are getting. |
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DrStrange
Technically feasible
Premium
join:2001-07-23
West Hartford, CT | reply to madylarian
That number is spoofed. There's no NPA assignment for that block. |
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absoluteevel
Kitty is crazy
Premium
join:2002-03-17
Mesa, AZ
| reply to madylarian
You can dial *57, or 1157 from a rotary dial phone. That system does not use Caller ID to record the number and can't be spoofed as easily. Then tell whomever you contact about the call that you traced it. Give them your phone number and they can contact the phone company to get the real number. You can not.
Chris |
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MrSpock29
join:2008-02-09
Hammonton, NJ
edit:
March 5th, @10:25AM
| I like how they tell me it is my final notice. I've gotten about 50 of those. Every time I try to engage them (while trying to sound interested), they hang up on me. I would love to irritate them back in my own way, if I could. |
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Doctor Four
My other vehicle is a TARDIS
Premium
join:2000-09-05
Dallas, TX
 ·AT&T U-Verse
·RoadRunner Cable
·AT&T Yahoo
| reply to madylarian
In this situation, a whistle might come in handy. I would
suggest blowing it into the mouthpiece of the telephone
as loudly as you can. If done enough times, they'll never
call back again.
--
"The trouble with computers, of course, is that they are very sophisticated idiots." - Doctor Who (from Robot)
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DrStrange
Technically feasible
Premium
join:2001-07-23
West Hartford, CT | reply to madylarian
If it's continual, and you've actually gotten that many calls, then *57 would be a viable option. That volume of calling constitutes harassment. |
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Miller Kax
@adultxspace.com | reply to Doctor Four
Tried that.
They use a noise cancelling / time delay headset. They just make some wise ass remark then hang up on you. |
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amigo_boy
join:2005-07-22
Tempe, AZ
·Cox HSI
 ·magicjack.com
·EarthLink
| said by Miller Kax :
Tried that. They use a noise cancelling / time delay headset. They just make some wise ass remark then hang up on you.
I like to waste their time. I act very nieve and elderly. "What? You mean...? Oh, wait, Mr. Bigglesworth is on the china cabinet again. Ever since my wife passed away that darn cat has been a handful. Do you want a cat? You can have Mr. Bigglesworth. Ok, now, what were you saying?"
I'll string them along for 15 minutes. Even when it comes to an end I'll play them, like I'm almost ready to divulge the information they want, "but how can I be sure I'm supposed to do this?"
I noticed last year that they're not interested in removing you from their call list. As soon as the words "can you remove..." leave your mouth they hang up and move on to the next fish. The best revenge is to jack with them and make it less profitable.
Mark |
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amigo_boy
join:2005-07-22
Tempe, AZ
·Cox HSI
·magicjack.com
·EarthLink
edit:
March 5th, @01:49PM
| reply to K Patterson
said by K Patterson  :They ask you for the bank's 800 number from the back of the card, and they use that to tell you the first four digits of your card. They are working to get your card number. I never got that impression. It always seemed like they're sincerely in business to negotiate a lower interest rate with your credit card company *for a fee*.
The reason I say this is that the first time I began stringing them along I gave them too low of a rate when they asked what I'm currently paying. They hung up and moved on to the next fish. The interview didn't proceed until the next time when I answered with a high rate (22%).
If asking for the rate was just part of the confidence game to finally get your credit card number, I don't know why they'd abandon the call when the rate's too low (7%).
Mark |
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K Patterson
Premium,MVM
join:2006-03-12
Columbus, OH | If they are "sincerely in business" they would comply with the requirements of the DNC law. They would also disclose the name of their company rather than hanging up. |
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agravated
@verizon.net
| reply to madylarian
I receive these calls at least once a week, press 1 and you can talk to a live person. Ask them for an address or email or any return info and they hang up. I believe and have seen reports that this is a credit card scam trying to gain access to your credit card numbers. I have reported them to verizon security and the attorney generals office of my state. Anyone that gets these type of calls should do the same thing, try to get information from the live person and pass it on to the proper authorities. It is just a matter of time before these people are apprehended |
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Orman
join:2004-01-06
Evanston, IL
| reply to madylarian
"You can dial *57 . . . ." May not work. I have AT+T in Illinois and when I have gotten calls from this outfit and tried *57, I get the response that no further information is available. (I still get charged for the *57, though.) I would think that untraceable calls would be a significant law-enforcement problem. |
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FukBBReports
@charter.com
| reply to madylarian
Actually, the FCC IS the proper place to report these types of telemarketing violations. Go to
»www.fcc.gov/cgb/donotcall/
You will find a FAQ describing what calls are legal/illegal along with instructions for filing a complaint, either online or by mail.
"Heather" has been calling us for 6 months now -- the most brazen violation of the do-not-call regulations I have ever experienced. The operator I spoke to today actually spent 5 minutes taunting me after I voiced my concerns -- asking me to tell me their company name/number so she could "confirm" that I don't know who they are, "congratulating" me for filing a complaint, etc. At least I wasted five minutes of her time as well as my own.
We filed a complaint with the FCC about Heather&Co back in January, and I'm going to send in a follow-up today based on the more recent calls I received. I can guarantee you -- there is nothing at all legitimate about this organization, whoever they are. Hopefully enough of us can file complaints to at least get the FCC to pay attention... |
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Laurie
join:2007-07-08
Middle Village, NY
| I've been filing complaints for well over a year, maybe longer, now that I think about it. It does no good. "Heather" has a million different phone numbers.
And they call several times a day. Finally today I picked up the phone, pressed "1" and as soon as the scammer asked me if I pressed "1" to lower my rates, I shouted "STOP CALLING ME!!!" as loud as I possibly could into the mouthpiece.
I doubt it will have any effect, but it sure felt good. And I plan to do this every single time they call from now on. |
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Patches
@comcast.net
| reply to madylarian
I just recieved a call from "Heather". I was able to speak with a woman, and she asked if I had a Visa or Mastercard statement handy because they can help me lower my interest rate, as long as it is more than 12 percent. I said I did not have it available. She said that they can call back another time and speak with me. So I said I had a question. She asked what it was, and I said "I would appreciate it if you would stop calling. I recieve these calls from you every day, and if you don't stop calling, I will have to report you." and she stopped me and said "We don't call everyday. This is the first time we've called, and you can not report us because we work with the bank. Why did you lie, and say you wanted to lower your interest rate?" I said that "I didn't lie. I just don't want a call every day." So she said "Well, you could have easily asked us to put you on our Do Not Call list, instead of lying. You did not need to lie." and she wished me a good day and hung up.
This call came in with no number and "unavailable" on the caller ID. |
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