Won't stop calling

Complaint

0
Debbie Gibbs
Country: United States
I would consider this phone harrassement.  Rachel from Cardholders Services has been calling for years everyday 2 or 3 times a day.  Today I took the option to let them know I am on the do not call list.  I said to them " hi my name is Debbie and I am on the do not call" and he just hung up on me.  I do believe they must have heard of the complaint before.  Please help us.

Thank you.

Comments

  • 0
    Had Enough
    | 3 replies
    Just got another call today. They seem to come from cell phone numbers, and from all over the country. I have tried calling them back, but a recording tsl02 saying my call cannot be completed as dialed. I AM on the no call list, but somehow they are not being prosecuted for doing this. I can only think that these calls are not coming from a call center, but from individuals hired to make these calls from their own phones, and then having some kind of a block for incoming calls. If someone wants to speak to a representative, then the call would be transferred to a call center, but the initial contact comes from a personal cell phone. Since the calls would be coming from private #'s, it is probably not considered a solicitation. They could just say they dialed a wrong number from their cell.
    • 0
      Victim replies to Had Enough
      | 2 replies
      The numbers that come up on your caller ID are false numbers that they program into their automatic caller. The number is either not in use or it belongs to someone that has no idea whats going on. I have been getting calls from people that have my number come up in the caller ID along with Lower your Intrest Rate and other titles. The number has no connection to these companies so it's a waste of time to call them or complain about them. I have tried warning people that these are SCAM operators trying to get information so they can rip them off. Most people understand. Don't answer calls that you don't recognize. If everyone ignored them they would be out of business and that would be the end of that.
      • 0
        Revenge is sweet replies to Victim
        I have also received numerous calls from Rachel. What I now do is press "1" to speak to a representative. I then start the runaround treatment i.e. I am working in my garage and do not have my credit cards with me or working garden ;my wife just left with the credit cards etc. etc. but I'm very interested and could they call back between say two or three o'clock.(pick any time). When they call back, come up with a new excuse. "My wallet is in the bedroom, my baby has been very sick and has just gone to sleep. I don't wish to go in and wake her up. Can you please call back later as I am very interested."
        I have been able to get them to call back as many as five times. I consider that to be a public service. Every minute spent with me is one less minute spent with another victim.
        Here is another thing to try. Ask the person to hold on for a minute as the baby is crying. At this point, I have them on a speakerphone and periodically I hear somebody saying "hello". Leaving them on the speakerphone asked him to wait while I get my wallet.
      • 0
        Jack replies to Victim
        I have been getting calls from Rachel for a long time. It is very annoying. Today was very interesting, as the name and number that came up on the caller ID was MINE!!! My first and last name AND my exact phone number. It was creepy!
  • 0
    FTC Copier
    | 5 replies
    For Release: 06/10/2010
    At FTC's Request, Court Halts Massive Robocall Operation
    Firm Delivered Tens of Millions of Prerecorded Calls and Used Offshore Shell Company
    The Federal Trade Commission’s work to stop deceptive pre-recorded “robocalls” took another step forward today as a federal court halted a major telemarketing operation that made millions of illegal phone calls pitching worthless extended auto warranties and credit card interest rate-reduction programs. At the request of the FTC, a federal court judge in Chicago has entered an order stopping the operation’s calls, temporarily freezing its assets, and appointing a receiver to take control of the operation.

    “Telemarketers need to understand that blasting consumers with ‘robocall’ pitches is no longer legal,” said FTC Midwest Region Director C. Steven Baker. “Unless you have someone’s consent up-front and in writing to receive a robocall, just don’t do it. The rules could not be simpler than that, and we will go after telemarketers who ignore them.”

    According to the FTC, SBN Peripherals, Inc., based near Los Angeles, allegedly made more than 370 million calls to consumers nationwide in the past year alone, prompting tens of thousands of complaints to the agency. One telephone service provider told the FTC that during a single day in April 2009 the defendants sent 2.4 million calls to consumers – more than 27 calls per second. The FTC charges the robocalls violated the agency’s Do Not Call Registry Rule.

    To make it difficult for consumers to identify the caller, the FTC alleges that SBN’s robocalls often transmitted caller ID information vaguely identifying the caller as “SALES DEPT” and displaying telephone numbers registered to an offshore company it controlled called Asia Pacific Telecom. Asia Pacific, a foreign shell company for SBN, made many of the calls and lists its addresses in locations as disparate as the Northern Mariana Islands, Hong Kong, and the Netherlands, the FTC’s complaint alleges.

    According to the FTC, three of Asia Pacific’s telemarketing numbers accounted for more than 25,000 consumer complaints to the agency in the past year. Two of those telephone numbers – 301-882-9986 and 757-990-8981 – generated more complaints to the FTC during the past year than any other robocall number. Many of the calls were made to cell phones, sticking consumers with additional charges.

    The operation allegedly used a technology known as “voice broadcasting” to deliver its fraudulent pitches. The FTC charges that the recordings falsely claimed that the caller had urgent information about the consumer’s auto warranty or credit card interest rate. Consumers who pressed “1” for more information were transferred to live telemarketers at a variety of different locations, who used fraudulent practices to sell inferior extended auto service contracts or worthless debt-reduction services.

    The company’s calls may be familiar to consumers who have answered the phone, only to be greeted by a recording from “Stacey at Account Holder Services” or “Rachel at Cardholder Services” pitching a purported service to lower their credit card interest rate.

    The FTC’s complaint alleges that defendants violated the FTC’s telemarketing rules by:

    using robocalls to contact consumers. Under the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule, since September 1, 2009, nearly all such pre-recorded calls have been illegal, unless the seller first obtains the consumer’s written permission;
    calling consumers whose telephone numbers are on the National Do Not Call Registry;
    “abandoning” pre-recorded calls (not connecting to a live person when a consumer answers) at a higher rate than permitted under law (three percent of all calls made); and
    repeatedly calling consumers who asked to be put on their company-specific do-not-call list.
    The FTC alleges SBN delivered robocalls on behalf of at least seven entities that the agency or state attorneys general previously sued for engaging in fraudulent sales practices. SBN also allegedly made illegal “extended auto warranty robocalls” on behalf of another company owned by Fereidoun “Fred” Khalilian, a repeat telemarketing offender against whom the FTC obtained a new court order last week (see press release at: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2010/06/dolcegroup.shtm).

    In addition to the temporary restraining order and asset freeze announced today, the FTC is seeking a court order permanently barring the allegedly illegal conduct and will seek consumer redress as appropriate.

    The Commission vote approving the complaint was 5-0. It was filed under seal on May 25, 2010 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division. The court issued a temporary restraining order against the defendants on May 26, 2010.

    The FTC filed the complaint announced today against Asia Pacific Telecom, Inc., doing business as (d/b/a) Asia Pacific Networks; Repo B.V.; SBN Peripherals, Inc., d/b/a SBN Dials; Johan Hendrik Smit Duyzentkunst; and Janneke Bakker-Smit Duyzentkunst.

    The Commission would like to acknowledge the assistance that telecommunications carriers AT&T and Verizon Wireless provided in the investigation of the case. The FTC reminds consumers that if they get a robocall they did not authorize, they can file a complaint by going to: www.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222. The FTC’s Do Not Call Registry for telemarketers accepts both land lines and cell phone numbers.

    NOTE: The Commission issues a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. The issuance of a complaint is not a finding or ruling that the defendants have violated the law.

    Copies of the complaint are available from the FTC’s Web site at http://www.ftc.gov and from the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, click: http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/complaint.shtm or call 1-877-382-4357. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,800 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. For free information on a variety of consumer topics, click http://ftc.gov/bcp/consumer.shtm.

    MEDIA CONTACT:
    Mitchell J. Katz
    Office of Public Affairs
    202-326-2161
    STAFF CONTACT:
    Steven M. Wernikoff or James H. Davis
    FTC’s Midwest Region, Chicago
    312-960-5634
    (FTC File No. 102-0360; Civ. No. 10 C 3168)
    (Asia Pacific.final.wpd)
    • 0
      Hans Smit replies to FTC Copier
      | 3 replies
      I highly respect you poor people getting calls from Rachel and being too stupid to actually read what it says on these forums and in teh pages it refers to.
      I have spoken to many of you, and most understand what is going on after a few minutes.

      Calling my wife  a [***] from a blocked caller id certainly takes courage!
      Or encouraging others in tehse forums to do something to my kids, that certainly shows you have high morals!
      Annonymous threats from blocked numbers show courage, I am sure you all feel proud after pulling that off!

      maybe i was not clear in previous posts..........

      We have been out of bizz  for 2 years compliments of your civil servants at the FTC, and we were not the ones calling you to begin with...

      so.....

      Call Steve Wernikoff, he knows more about Rachel than we do.  312-960-5630
      Or  Jim Davis  312-960-5611 or 5630
      • 0
        William replies to Hans Smit
        It's interesting you are writing under the name of a man who died on January 8, 2012.  I also find it interesting that you think people care about you or people you care about after operating a company that harassed thousands of people repeatedly.  People even tried changing their phone numbers to get away from you, but you are dastardly and devious.  Also if you are going to try and assume the name well-known name in International Arbitration, make sure they are still alive (although you probably picked him because he was dead so it makes it harder to end up in a libel suit) and make sure you spell, " THE" properly it blows your cover as a meticulous lawyer.
      • 0
        cochisejustice replies to Hans Smit
        Hey, Hans Smit! You seem to like to talk smack to the American Consumer.
        So, how do you like it now, scum-bag foreign loser!

        This bottom-feeder’s goes by Johan Hendrix Smit Duyzentkunst. And, if you think enough of a name, Corporate defendant, and director of Defendant Repo, B.V. (Dutch foreign for profit shell company) Janneke Bakker-Smit Duyzentkunst (“Bakker-Smit”).
        Geez, it’s no wonder an angry American Consumer cursed her! Two of the same kind of criminals.
        These two geniuses operated Asia Pacific Telecom, Asia Pacific Networks, Repo B.V., SBN Peripherals, Inc SBN Dials, and who knows what other fraudulent bullcrap.
        Here’s the 18 page FTC lawsuit.
        http://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/1023060/100610asiapacificcmpt.pdf

        Looks like their back at it again with PacTel, and KMC telecom running the “GE security solutions” scam. Once a Jerk@@f scammer always a jerk@@f scammer!
      • 0
        Anonym replies to Hans Smit
        I am glad you are getting a taste of your own medicine.  YOU SUCK
    • 0
      jwjohnso@att.net replies to FTC Copier
      Blah blah blah
      You are WORTHLESS against the Cardholder Services scum. They call repeatedly and many times are profane. Admit it..you can't do a damn thing about tis.
  • 0
    gettin tired of this crap
    they have been harassing me also from these numbers.803 307-7391 and 347 260-1495 i reported the 803 number to the ftc and had verizon block the other as they are calling my cell phone.
  • 0
    janet
    I too have been harassed by these calls. I have relisted my do-not-call request several times in case my request has been "lost". Their pitch has been that they will lower the interest rate on my credit cards. The wierd thing is I don't have any credit cards except one debit card. This nuisance has been going on for months two/three times a day. I'm reluctant to ignore the calls for fear this may be a gimmick to find houses where no one is home so they can be burglarized. The phone company will do nothing and told me to report the problem to the police. They told me to let everything go to voice mail and then return the calls I wanted. It's  not a perfect solution but until the Feds do something I guess it's better than nothing. (I've recorded 16 calls in the last 10 days and that's only a partial.)
  • 0
    Ben
    Everyone is Bitching but no one is getting results ..........  I am sick and tired of these irritating calls both at home and on my cell.  They are on the Do Not Call List.  Who in the @#$% do you have to call to get this taken care of????????????
  • 0
    wincltnc
    I just received a call from card holder services but did not hit #9 as instructed by "Rachel".  I have documented this and am calling on a friend who works in congress to see what can be done.  Obviously, this is completey intrusive in our lives.  From what I have read, the National Do Not Call registry does not apply to credit card companies, non-profits, politicians and a few more.

    We - the consumers - need to stand untied against this harrassment!!  We all need to contact our congressmen and complain.  My number(s) are private and they need to stay that way. Radomly generated calls to me should be against the law.  

    Call your elected officials and complain!!
  • 0
    Hans Smit
    Hello all!

    The Feds are hard at work for you, and as far as i can see by all thes complaints it has helped a lot !

    For the interested consumers that actually read what they post before they re-post it : SBN Peripherals was a service provider to the telemarketing industry, we had a internet based  computer system that allowed telemarketers to make phone calls and sell THEIR services.
    We were accused of aiding and abetting telemarketers by the FTC and in a Razzia that took place on June 2 2010 all of our assets (money and property) were seized, and our company was put into receivership.

    That means any call after June 2 2010 could not have come from our system, since we were quite effectively killed by the feds!!!!!! ( maybe they killed the wrong company ????????????)

    If anyone is making calls these days it must be the receiver, since they took all of the dialing equipment.  For more information pls call Steve Wernikoff at the Chicago FTC office :

    Steve Wernikoff

    Federal Trade Commission

    312.960.5630
  • 0
    Hans Smit
    | 2 replies
    Hello all!

    The Feds are hard at work for you, and as far as i can see by all thes complaints it has helped a lot !

    For the interested consumers that actually read what they post before they re-post it : SBN Peripherals was a service provider to the telemarketing industry, we had a internet based  computer system that allowed telemarketers to make phone calls and sell THEIR services.
    We were accused of aiding and abetting telemarketers by the FTC and in a Razzia that took place on June 2 2010 all of our assets (money and property) were seized, and our company was put into receivership.

    That means any call after June 2 2010 could not have come from our system, since we were quite effectively killed by the feds!!!!!! ( maybe they killed the wrong company ????????????)

    If anyone is making calls these days it must be the receiver, since they took all of the dialing equipment.  For more information pls call Steve Wernikoff at the Chicago FTC office :

    Steve Wernikoff

    Federal Trade Commission

    312.960.5630
    • 0
      William replies to Hans Smit
      Hans Smit died January 8, 2012

      http://www.law.columbia.edu/media_inquiries/n ... /hans-smit-obit

      This is not Hans Smit he is simply using his name. his last post was 23 Feb 2012 or about 46 days after he died.  This person is clearly tied to cardholder services and trying to direct attention away.
    • 0
      cochisejustice replies to Hans Smit
      Hey, Hans Smit! You seem to like to talk smack to the American Consumer.
      So, how do you like it now, scum-bag foreign loser!

      This bottom-feeder’s goes by Johan Hendrix Smit Duyzentkunst. And, if you think enough of a name, Corporate defendant, and director of Defendant Repo, B.V. (Dutch foreign for profit shell company) Janneke Bakker-Smit Duyzentkunst (“Bakker-Smit”).
      Geez, it’s no wonder an angry American Consumer cursed her! Two of the same kind of criminals.
      These two geniuses operated Asia Pacific Telecom, Asia Pacific Networks, Repo B.V., SBN Peripherals, Inc SBN Dials, and who knows what other fraudulent bullcrap.
      Here’s the 18 page FTC lawsuit.
      http://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/1023060/100610asiapacificcmpt.pdf

      Looks like their back at it again with PacTel, and KMC telecom running the “GE security solutions” scam. One a Jerk@@f scammer always a jerk@@f scammer!
  • 0
    masterbilly
    dear hans, I believe the people out sourcing these calls are pacific telecommunications.They called my house thinking i wanted to participate in lowering my interest rate.They left a message on my anwsering machine.I know they do the calls but their is someone else behind the scene paying pac-tell to do the calls.I checked and found out they had complaints before similar to whats going on.They are out of the west coast.I cant remember if it was Oregon or Washington?I think asia pacific is associated with them.They did have complaints with the FTC.
  • 0
    Peter
    They're looking for credit card numbers?

    Give them some (fake) ones: http://www.darkcoding.net/credit-card-numbers/

    They can't tell whether they're good or not until they try to use them.
    It's called "data poisoning" - the more fake numbers they get, the more doubt they have that any untried number is fake.

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