Oct 25, 2007
After dozens of cold-calls from a company offering ‘carpet cleaning’ over the past year, I became frustrated, and invited the company to come out. My goal to find out who the company really is. They had been using false telephone numbers, refused requests to take me off their list, and reports to the do not call list had been ineffective. They've called me on my cellphone as well as home phone number, and several friends have reported similar calls.
Well, after a week of eager anticipation, they turned up to clean my carpets. Dodgy looking guy with a strong accent driving a white unlabeled van. I act confused at first and ask, 'which company is he from. Does he have a business card? He pulls out a receipt with a similar 888 number to the one I reported last. - The name across the top of the receipt is now "Daniel Carpet Cleaning" - No address.
I explain to him that I am annoyed at the cold-calling and he has clearly seen this before. He turns away to walk back into the car.
As he is doing this, I start noting down license plate number, and he turns to confront me. He asks me what I am doing. He gets angry, says this is his personal vehicle, says I should take it up with the company. He then threatens me that he knows where I live.
I calm him down and ask if he's worried about his immigration status. I say I have nothing against him personally, but I want to report his company. He says he's not worried about his immigration status. He pulls out an Israeli passport and shows me his visa. I note the name on it.
He says he is just doing the rounds. His boss is in Los Angeles and calls him with addresses. He has my address written on a yellow legal pad with a handful of others.
I say, 'look, if you don't want me to report you, give me the number of your boss'. He refuses, threatens me again, that I can report him, but if I do, 'remember that I am not an american, I am some crazy Israeli. I know where you live'. He gets in the van and leaves.
I filed a report with the police, and they know have a case open. - Clearly these guys aren't in it for the carpet cleaning. There's more going on. But I'm not sure what.