phone call harrassment

Complaint

0
Karen Inman
Country: United States
This scam has been operating here in Ohio for months.  They won't respond to the number on the web.  We are getting electronic messages 2 and 3 times a day.  How  may I get my phone number removed from these people? Karen Inman

Comments

  • 0
    tj
    | 24 replies
    Deceptive telemarketing pitch for "interest rate reduction", ignoring the Do Not Call list.  Probable scam.

    http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/12/16/im- ... older-services/

    According to this, they were already sited by FCC for violations.
    http://www.haloscan.com/comments/lincmad/6500520568862720776/
    "...
    Apparently you caught "Rachel" or "Michelle" or whoever, in an unusual moment of at least partial candor. The part about "working for a number of major credit card companies" is clearly an outright lie, but the part about getting your number from "generally available public records" is both true and an admission of breaking the law.

    The 954 number is somewhere in Broward County (Fort Lauderdale), Florida.

    I got another of these calls myself this morning, with no caller ID. I filed a complaint on the FCC website, Form 1088, which you can file online here. IF the call was identified as "Cardholder Services" (that exact name), be sure to reference FCC Order DA-07-977A1 (2007), which was the citation issued on 2007-03-02. Since they are continuing the illegal practices after being cited, they are liable for up to $11,000 per day in fines.
    ..."

    Here is a list of such citations:
    http://www.fcc.gov/Document_Indexes/Enforcement/2007_index_EB_Order.html

    Here is their citation in 2007:
    http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-977A1.pdf

    "
    FEDERALCOMMUNICATIONSCOMMISSION
    WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554

    March 2, 2007
    VIA CERTIFIED MAIL
    RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED

    Cardholder Services, Inc.
    Attn: Robert Pitsker, President
    20441 Kenworth Circle
    Huntington Beach, California 92646-5446

    RE: File No. EB-07-TC-604

    Dear Mr. Pitsker:

    This is an official CITATION, issued pursuant to section 503(b)(5) of the
    Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the Act), 47 U.S.C. § 503(b)(5), for violations of the Act and the Federal Communications Commission’s rules that govern telephone solicitations and unsolicited advertisements.1 As explained below, you may appeal this citation. In addition, future violations of the Act or Commission’s rules in this regard may subject you and your company to monetary forfeitures.

    Attached are consumer complaints regarding prerecorded messages that your company, acting under your direction, has delivered to a residential telephone line or lines. These complaints indicate that you and your company have violated section 227(b)(1)(B) of the Act and section 64.1200(a)(2) of the Commission’s rules. See 47 U.S.C. § 227(b)(1)(B); 47 C.F.R. §
    64.1200(a)(2).

    Under Section 227(b)(1)(B) of the Act and section 64.1200(a)(2) of the Commission’s rules, it is unlawful for any person within the United States, or any person outside the United States if the recipient is within the United States to initiate any telephone call to any residential telephone line using an artificial or prerecorded voice to deliver a message without the prior express consent of the called party, unless the call

    1 47 U.S.C. § 227; 47 C.F.R. § 64.1200. A copy of these provisions is enclosed for your convenience. Section 227 was added to the Communications Act by the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 and is most commonly known as the TCPA. The TCPA and the Commission’s parallel rules restrict a variety of practices that are associated with telephone solicitation and use of the telephone network to deliver unsolicited advertisements, including prerecorded messages to residential telephone lines. We refer in this citation to the Commission’s rules as they existed at the time of the violations in this matter. Revised rules in this area took effect on August 1, 2006.

    (i) Is made for emergency purposes,2
    (ii) Is not made for a commercial purpose,
    (iii) Is made for a commercial purpose but does not include or introduce an
    unsolicited advertisement3 or constitute a telephone solicitation,4
    (iv) Is made to any person with whom the caller has an established business
    relationship5 at the time the call is made, or
    (v) Is made by or on behalf of a tax-exempt nonprofit organization.
    Accordingly, it is generally unlawful to use an artificial or prerecorded voice to deliver an advertisement or telephone solicitation to a residential telephone line unless the call is made: (1) by or on behalf of a tax-exempt nonprofit organization; (2) with the prior express consent of the called party; or (3) to a person who has an established business relationship with the caller.

    2 The term “emergency purposes” means calls made necessary in any situation affecting the health and safety of consumers.” 47 C.F.R. § 64.1200(f)(2).
    3 The term “unsolicited advertisement” means “any material advertising the commercial availability or quality of any property, goods, or services which is transmitted to any person without that person’s prior express invitation or permission.” 47 U.S.C.§ 227(a)(4); 47 C.F.R. § 64.1200(f)(10).
    4 The term “telephone solicitation” means the initiation of a telephone call or message for the purpose of encouraging the purchase or rental of, or investment in, property, goods, or services, which is transmitted to any person, but such term does not include a call or message:
    (i) To any person with that person's prior express invitation or permission;
    (ii) To any person with whom the caller has an established business relationship; or
    (iii) By or on behalf of a tax-exempt nonprofit organization.
    47 U.S.C. § 227(a)(3); 47 C.F.R.§ 64.1200(f)(9).
    5 The term “established business relationship” means a prior or existing relationship formed by a voluntary two-way communication between a person or entity and a residential subscriber with or without an exchange of consideration, on the basis of the subscriber's purchase or transaction with the entity within the eighteen (18) months immediately preceding the date of the telephone call or on the basis of the subscriber's inquiry or application regarding products or services offered by the entity within the three months immediately preceding the date of the call, which relationship has not been previously terminated by either party.
    (i) The subscriber's seller-specific do-not-call request, as set forth in paragraph (d)(3) of this section, terminates an established business relationship for purposes of telemarketing and telephone solicitation even
    if the subscriber continues to do business with the seller.
    (ii) The subscriber's established business relationship with a particular business entity does not extend to affiliated entities unless the subscriber would reasonably expect them to be included given the nature and type of goods or services offered by the affiliate and the identity of the affiliate.
    47 C.F.R. § 64.1200(f)(3)

    The attached information indicates that your company, acting under your direction, delivered an unsolicited advertisement or telephone solicitation, through a prerecorded message, to one or more residential telephone subscribers who either (1) had not expressly invited or authorized the call(s) or (2) did not have an established business relationship with you or your company (a transaction within 18 months prior to the call(s), or an inquiry or application within 3 months prior to the call(s)). As explained above, this action violates section 227(b)(1)(B) of the Communications Act and section 64.1200(a)(2) of the Commission’s rules.

    If, after receipt of this citation, you or your company violate the Communications Act or the Commission’s rules in any manner described herein, the Commission may impose monetary forfeitures not to exceed $11,000 for each such violation or each day of a continuing violation.6

    You may respond to this citation within 30 days from the date of this letter either through (1) a personal interview at the Commission’s Field Office nearest to your place of business, or (2) a written statement. You may use this response to appeal this citation. For example, you may claim that you can document that you had an established business relationship with the called party at the time of the call or that you are a tax-exempt nonprofit organization. In addition, your response should specify the actions that you are taking to ensure that you do not violate the Commission’s rules governing prerecorded messages, as described above.

    You may schedule a personal interview at the nearest Commission field office. These offices are located in: Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Columbia, MD; Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Detroit, MI; Kansas City, MO; Los Angeles, CA; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA; and Tampa,  FL. Please call Al McCloud at 202-418-2499 if you wish to schedule a personal interview.  You should schedule any interview to take place within 30 days of the date of this letter.  You should send any written statement within 30 days of the date of this letter to:

    Kurt A. Schroeder
    Deputy Chief
    Telecommunications Consumers Division
    Enforcement Bureau
    Federal Communications Commission
    445-12th Street, S.W.
    Rm. 4-C222
    Washington, D.C. 20554

    Reference EB-07-TC-604 when corresponding with the Commission.
    ..."
    • 0
      Paula from Michigan replies to tj
      | 9 replies
      How many complaints do you need to shut down their operation, seems to me by the number of people making complaints from all over and how many states?  JUST SHUT THEM DOWN and give us a rest I am sick of being called seven days a weeks..
      • 0
        Gomes replies to Paula from Michigan
        Now those guys are in Massachusetts calling me all the time!!
      • 0
        Mark replies to Paula from Michigan
        Paula, I agree with you.  How many complaints about Rachel have to be made?  I have asked for managers, and have asked them to remove me from their call list and the response is the same.  They hang up on me.  And call me again two days later or the following week.  Whats the point of having a law that is not enforced.  The law states they are to remove my number at my request even if I'm not on the Do Not Call registry.  Yikes.  When is enough enough?
      • 0
        Dave replies to Paula from Michigan
        | 6 replies
        According to the FTC this company has made about 5 million call-a-day. If everyone could keep them on the line for three, four, or five minutes for no reason, not only will their telephone lines and people be tied up for about 250000 man-hours a-day, but they will be paying our massive amounts of money in payroll & telephone services.
        On many of these calls I have hit 3 to be supposedly removed from the calling list (big joke) only to have the recorded message start over. If I'm watching TV or doing something obscure I'll wait till the end of the message, hit three, and play the message over & over for as long as possible. It's less calls they can make to someone else.
        I have also hit 1 to speak with someone "regarding my credit card situation" using a fake name, list of creditors, balances, etc., using precious minutes of their time before I mentioned that I was on the Do Not Call Registry and wanted to be removed from their calling list.
        If 10,000 people a day would take a few minutes and do something similar thats 10,000 x 5 minutes= 833.3 hours-a-day (25,000 hours a month) they have to pay people to answer the phones with a $0 return.
        If the $11,000 dollars a day the FTC is fining them isn't enough to hurt them I'll bet this would! Don't wait for the government to stop them. Help run them out of business yourself.
        • 0
          Craig replies to Dave
          | 4 replies
          Go to the National "Do Not Call" page and register your number. Also file a complaint.
          https://www.donotcall.gov/
          • 0
            Gordon replies to Craig
            That does not help!!
          • 0
            Christie replies to Craig
            The Do Not CaLlDoesn'tWorkForThem.Its A Scam I Have Over Twenty Numbers This Company Had Called Me With And When I Call Back It Is Busy. I Will Gladly Give Out These Numbers To Anyone Who Wants Them. Message Me @ Creedfan016@Aol.com
          • 0
            heartstruth replies to Craig
            they dont do a damn thing.. ive reported these people for months... almost everyday and they keep calling.
          • 0
            rusty replies to Craig
            i've filed complaint after complaint, nothing- the do not call list is as big of a scam as the callers are! i filed a complaint one time and was told that the fcc does not have time to answer individual complaints!   WTF!!!
        • 0
          TiredOfRachel replies to Dave
          I just kept them on the phone for 6 minutes.  I said "how do you know I have any credit cards?"  The response was "why did you hit 1 then".  I was honest.... "Because I was bored and eating my lunch and thought I'd mess with you for a while and keep you on the phone".  He was shocked... he actually stuttered and said "WHAT??"  HA!
    • 0
      Paula from Michigan replies to tj
      | 4 replies
      How many complaints do you need to shut down their operation, seems to me by the number of people making complaints from all over and how many states?  JUST SHUT THEM DOWN and give us a rest I am sick of being called seven days a weeks..
      • 0
        Flgal replies to Paula from Michigan
        | 3 replies
        I am in FL and MI and constantly get the calls,have been for years.  I issued a formal complaint which did absolutely nothing.  How they can get away with this is beyond me. I aam sure that almost everyone is on the no call list. Apparently hanging up is the only thing we can do.
        • 0
          DeletedMedia replies to Flgal
          | 2 replies
          Try to keep a log of each call.
          Record the "reps' saying their BS, if you can.
          Tell them- they have been recorded, & for them to look forward to hearing their stupidity on youtube.
          This has gotten us the longest period of peace and quiet ever, since this crap began!!

          Also, The following has been reported here on complaintwire;

          Targeted Business Solutions
          Phone: 208-258-2255rsmg.net Ryan Michael Moses, Melissa Marlene Wilcox, Melissa Marlene Moses, G. Michael, Jack Lusk, Targeted Business Solutions, Boise Urban Liaison Magazine, Riverside Media Group LLC, Timbercrest Vacation Exchange, Spectrum Commercial Funding, Credit Justice Services, Green Saver Enterprises, RPD Medical. Beware of these scumbags! Do not do business with these ex-cons. These people operate a telemarketing scam "Rachel from card holder services" that serves as an ID Theft Ring. Buyer beware!!! You will have credit cards issued in your name that they will use! Ryan, Mike, Melissa and Jack WILL steal from you and DESTROY your good name. If you care about your reputation, credit score and assets, avoid these people. They do business under aliases of Sean, Tyler, David, Michelle, Marcus, Marshall, Scott and just about every other name one can conceive. The telephone numbers are: (877)533-3727, (407)376-0799, (407)295-1238, (208)965-8191, (208)919-9765, (208)514-6765, (208)571-7554, (208)369-4829, (208)561-2269, (208)209-3427.Ryan is from Waterloo, Iowa but now operates out of Boise, Idaho. His various websites are: http://www.riversidemediagroup.net/, https://mobile.twitter.com/RiversideADTeam, http://www.facebook.com/rmmoses, http://www.linkedin.com/pub/melissa-wilcox/2a/2a7/472, http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ryan-moses/1a/521/979 Additional address is: 8566 W. Salt Creek CT., Boise, Idaho 83709AVOID GETTING RIPPED OFF by these scumbag con-artists!
          • 0
            Billy Goates replies to DeletedMedia
            | 1 reply
            Check your facts. The scammers used spoofed phone numbers that can belong to legitimate companies or individuals. Assuming the numbers that you see are the actual numbers can do more damage than good!!!
            Below is the reply that I made to Ryan Moses in another post:

            Mr Moses,
            I do not see you listed in my post and you didn't mention if you were connected with any of the companies listed.
            The list was obtained from BBB complaints, FTC complaints and website data from people that are researching this growing problem. It is entirely possible that incorrect data is included and I will be more than happy to remove any listings that are incorrect.
            Apparently the posting by the person calling themselves DeletedMedia listed your phone number.
            You are correct that you are NOT involved with these credit card scams. The robodialers spoofed your phone number and people automatically assumed it was a legitimate number. This is a major problem with the phone companies allowing spoofed numbers across their networks.
            I am sorry that this happened to you and hopefully the upcoming FTC actions will put a stop to a majority of these scammers.
    • 0
      Linda Boulis replies to tj
      | 2 replies
      I too am sick of these calls. They call my home several times a week, and also my cell phone! Both nunbers are on the "DO NOT CALL LIST'!!! I'm sure "Rachel" would not appreciate us calling "her" as much. What does it take for the rules  that were put in place for a reason, to be ENFORCED!  
      Reference Code DA-07-977A1
      • 0
        Brian replies to Linda Boulis
        | 1 reply
        Android has an app called 'Call Control' that has really reduced the number of these on my cell phone. Each time a call OR text comes in, I add their name/ number to my Black List which prevents the call from every even being noticed by me. I also submit the number to a Community List so that anyone else that has this program will be blocked too!
        • 0
          Jim replies to Brian
          Best I've seen for cell phones - which hasn't been a problem for me - but what about landlines?
          It seems truly wrong that so many have complained so long with so little results.
          Thanks.
    • 0
      sue flechner replies to tj
      Constant unwanted calls from cardholders services
      i support doing anything to stop harrasment...
    • 0
      Julienne Hughes replies to tj
      I get calls every day from these people that says there is nothing wrong with your card.  I guess not I do not have one nor do I want one and have ask them to stop calling me.  I am ill and will not get any better and I do not need this.  Please stop it.  Julienne Hugehs
    • 0
      Ann replies to tj
      I am getting CARDHOLDER SERVICES phone calls are least 3 times aday...Each telephone number appears on my TV and the 3 calls are all different numbers...I stay on the line and try to speak to a agent and I TELL THEM I HAVE NO CREDIT CARDS but they hang up on me. Ann in NY
    • 0
      Bodimovin replies to tj
      | 1 reply
      I FINALLY got one of those bast-rd reps not to hang up on me long enough to identify themselves as Cardholder Services. Generally if I ask right out they hang up, if I sound too enthusiastic or sarcastic trying to get past their greeting then they hang up. They hang up if my hello doesn't sound right. All the calls have phone#s from that come from all over the country and if you do call back go to the same recording about opting out or speaking to someone. I finally let one of them feel like they got an interested person-- I was building it up so I could finally tell him to remove me from the calling list and he still hung up on me because I didn't understand one of his questions. So, fi I started to sputter the words FCC to quote some law about illegally calling my house since i'm on a do not call list...I'm sure they'd be hung up and gone with a trail of smoke from the utterance of  the sound of the letter F. I'm confused how they benefit from calling me 7 times a week and hanging up instantly. I just hope the Fed bust the scam.
      • 0
        granny replies to Bodimovin
        I am on the do not call list and I also do not have any cards. I closed all my cards out 7 years ago. So why are they trying to help me.???? What a SCAMMMM.........
    • 0
      Richard LaRock replies to tj
      Why hasn’t  the us government shut them down for this practice? [***]!

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