Oct 13, 2010
As with all of you, I am also receiving these calls multiple times a day, it seems SO urgent to reach me - YET, no one ever leaves a message. I figure anyone that calls more than once and doesn't leave me a message doesn't actually know me. And the fact that I don't know anyone in New York (I live on the other coastline) makes the call suspect from the beginning.
SO, today I called the number back and was connected to a prerecorded message about making a Bigillion Million Trillion dollars from Mastercard, Visa, and American Express. Anyone thinking FRAUD or PYRAMID SCAM??? I had to listen to about ten minutes of the message before being given the option to talk to a HUMAN to sign up for the deal. I chose this option.
Upon immediately being asked for my name and contact information, I said NO, and fired back with "Who are YOU trying to contact at this number because you keep calling, but never leave a message with your information for me to call you back? I realize that this is likely due to the fact that you are using a Computerized Automated Dialing System and not dialing directly yourself." I obviously didn't recognize the name given that they were calling for and requested to be put on the company's Do Not Call list.
I believe that there are some exceptions to who is barred from making unsolicited calls under the DNC list and clearly people have found ways to slip through the cracks. Keep a log of who,what,when, and why they called. AFTER you have made contact and have been put of the COMPANY's DNC list, continue to log additional calls (if any) and file the complaint with FCC/DNC List and it will be a much stronger complaint.
One last strategy that my phone company told me about is to contact the "NUISANCE BUREAU" and file a complaint with them also. If you ever find out the true name of the company and their location, then by all means, contact their local Better Business Bureau, and their local Chamber of Commerce to file complaints. One other thought is to contact VISA, MASTERCARD, and AMERICAN EXPRESS, to see if they condone or are even aware about some fly by night company using their Company Names to invoke feelings of trust and legitimacy amongst those .
Good Luck.
Andy