US senator (Schumer - NY) annoyed by spam call about car warranty

[E-Z-B]

Source: AP

NEW YORK (AP) -- The telephone calls flood people every day around the country: A computerized voice tells them that their car warranties are about to expire and that they should sign up for new service plans.

The calls target people regardless of whether they have warranties or even own cars and have become such a nuisance that officials in 40 states are investigating the companies behind them. The Better Business Bureau said that last year it received more than 140,000 complaints about the car warranty calls, which come even if a person has signed up for the national Do Not Call registry.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer wants a federal investigation into what he calls "robo-dialer harassment."

"Not only are these calls a nuisance, but they tie up land lines and can eat up a user's cell phone minutes, possibly leading to a higher cell phone bill due to overage charges," said Schumer, D-N.Y.
-snip-

"Some people are losing thousands and thousands of dollars in purchasing a product that turns out to be useless," she said.

-snip-

Alison Southwick, a spokeswoman for the Better Business Bureau, says the calls even come to her office - though she doesn't own a car.

-snip-

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CAR_WARRANTY_CALLS?SITE=KYWAM&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

---

I've gotten about a dozen of these calls already on my cell phone. When I tell them to take me off their list, they cut me off.

[StevieM]

1. A dozen? That's it? They must have called me a hundred times....literally. (eom)

[catrose]

2. Yeah, and on my Do Not Call numbers

The first time I did the math and told them I wouldn't be interested because it cost the same amount as my monthly car payment. And they never give up...

[Old Coot]

3. I hate getting calls dialed by computer telling me that someone

will be on the line to talk to me. I always hang up. They could at least have the courtesy of having a live person on the line to tell me what they want. I think all computer dialed calls should be banned.

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

4. I got one today

and I don't have a car!

They are slippery too. It's not possible to trace the call because it's a computer and if you press 1 to yell at the fools, well...

I have had many about my credit card interest rate increasing but this is the first one for a car warranty.

[steven johnson]

5. Scamming 'Your Warranty Will Expire' Calls Lead to Lawsuits

Source: ABC News

Telemarketers who push shady automobile-service contracts with pestering recorded phone messages angered the wrong guy when they twice called the Indiana attorney general on his cell phone.

Several states have filed lawsuits against companies which annoy customers with robocalls, some authorities say is a scam.

These so-called robocalls are not limited to Indiana. Across the country, people are complaining to state authorities, the Federal Trade Commission, which oversees the national Do Not Call registry, and the Better Business Bureau. Attorneys general in at least 30 states are investigating the calls.

But beyond just being annoying, the calls are sometimes a full-fledged scam. The companies often pose as car manufacturers and convince consumers to buy service contracts with so many loopholes that they are left in the lurch when their cars do break down, Southwick said.





Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=7542747&page=1

[TimesSquareCowboy]

6. These have been going on for months and months.

Somehow they got all of my phone numbers and would call each one several times a day.

[Warpy]

7. Today is the first time those shitheads haven't called in weeks

although I realize there's still plenty of time.

The credit card scammers haven't called, either.

[sellitman]

8. Schumer was on the news earlier saying he is going after these cretins too.

I guess they have his number.

I stopped answering my cell phone unless I knew the number it's gotten so bad.

[InvisibleTouch]

9. I get those all the time.

They keep saying "this will be our last attempt to contact you," and I always wish it really were so!

[Mist]

15. Oh, if only, if only, it WOULD be the last time! I get calls regarding warranties I've

never had.

[TheWraith]

10. I've been getting these for months.

Dunno how they got my number. It used to be I got one every couple days, then they disappeared for weeks. But I got another one just the other day.

[Hepburn]

11. OMG....

...talk about getting a WRONG NUMBER!!!!

:rofl:

[Voice for Peace]

12. When lawmakers have to deal with the same stuff as commoners, change happens.

Have you noticed?

[phantom power]

18. I've sure noticed.

Which is why I think the people who want to yank Congress' health care plan have a point. If you made all the Reps and Senators deal with the health care shit sandwich that most people deal with, we'd have single payer so fast our heads would spin.

[msanthrope]

13. Those fuckers call me on my cell phone!! n/t

[Tuesday_Morning]

14. just got a call from these jerks

10 minutes ago!

[triguy46]

16. On one slow day at home....

I played the game with these guys for about 20 minutes before they hung up on me. My first question to them was phrased, "I'm so glad you called me about this, which of my cars is it?" A long pause from them, "The one that has the warranty about to expire." Me: "yes, but I'm not sure which of my cars it is, since you called me about it, please help me so I don't have to pull the records..." and so on. Freakin idiots. Clearly blind violation of the do not call statutes.

[FloriTexan]

19. I've played that game too...

I answer phones for 4 attorneys and have put all of their lines on the do not call list because of these guys. They call one number, then call right back on the next one and down the hall. They are just hoping they get someone trusting or who is not paying attention and will just give them a credit card. I'm really glad to see someone trying to shut them down or up, either way, it works for me.

[madrchsod]

17. i just received my second call today....

[MindPilot]

20. I don't want investigations and lawsuits.

I want blood.
:nuke:
These fuckers are only one notch above the scum who send teens to my door to sell magazines for "points".

[eppur_se_muova]

21. And how many of these are 'spoofed' numbers?

If you try to call the number back, you might reach the home phone of someone who has nothing to do with the spammers (and is tired of getting such calls, for that matter). Apparently the robocallers can spoof the CallerID software (hardware?) so that the number you see is just a number they picked out of the directory.

If you try Googling one of these numbers you'll probably lots of posts where people complain about that number, or report that it's been spoofed.

[eilen]

22. they are worse than fleas nt

[Baby Snooks]

23. The FCC and FTC could stop it...

The FCC along with the FTC could stop it by allowing people to block the calls to begin with. But won't. I have call manager on my line which blocks "anonymous" calls but doesn't block 800 or 866 calls. The FCC doesn't allow the common carriers to block these numbers. Something about "tortous interference" which in layman's terms means someone has violated your right to "conduct business" although in this case it really is a matter of their right to harass people. Now they are using "spoofers" which display an actual telephone number instead of an 800 or 866 number. They're popular with collection agencies and telephone solicitors. And stalkers.

I sat here one day and noticed my own telephone number on the caller id. And thought how interesting. I'm calling myself. I didn't answer.

I get 2-4 of these "your warranty is about to expire" calls a day. I have a 15 year old BMW that a mechanic calls the "Everready Beemer" simply because he has no explanation for it - despite that fact that it smokes, leaks, belches and burps, it keeps on running. Every once in awhile he refuses to touch it. Then relents. I could buy a new one for what it will cost to repair it at this point. But, well, the joy of poverty. It gets me to the grocery store, or the food pantry, and back. Sometimes.

My warranty obviously expired a long time ago. And I don't need the daily reminders that it did. Although of course they have no way of knowing that. They just hope I am stupid enough to buy another one. I had the one that came with the car. I learned through friends not to buy an "extended warranty" because they are rip-offs in the end. One friend bought one with a company that went out of business three months later. And filed for bankruptcy protection. Everyone who bought extended warranties through them of course suddenly had no extended warranties.

Supposedly the "no-call" lists stop the calls. They don't. The FCC and the FTC could do something about that as well. But won't.

No doubt the telephone soliciting industry has a powerful lobbyist.

[Mind_your_head]

24. Sounds like a job for.....

"Homeland Security"......duh, duh, da.......

SHUT THEM DOWN!

What? You don't know who are placing those calls? un-huh. That's your cryto-cyber JOB, isn't it? Yes? Well, tell me WHY you are so IMPOTENT at your JOB man???? You've been given "all the tools" ~ legal and illegal ~ and you STILL can't shut these annoying scammers DOWN. GREAT BIG FAIL!

[Demobrat]

25. They call me every day at work.

I haven't owned a car in ten years, but I can't get rid of them.

[defendandprotect]

30. You probably said something to offend their petty minds . . . and now -- repeat calls!!!

[pinniped]

26. I knew this was one of the FN dirtbags behind the millions of BS warranty scam calls.

Missouri authorities filed a lawsuit last month against one of the largest car-warranty companies, Wentzville, Mo.-based USfidelis Inc., charging that company officials ignored a subpoena demanding that they answer questions about their business.

They have stupid commercials that try to make appear legitimate. There is also a stupid halo around the US logo. Rusty and Steve Wallace are a disgrace for doing their stupid commercials.

I don't think the BBB or any other .gov entity will stop these assholes, though. It takes them years to do anything.

THey will get a n F rating but it will be business as usual with the BS calls.

[E-Z-B]

27. Just got another call from them just now.

It came in as a 800-954-9370 number. I demanded their company name & address. They only said they were "Warranty Solutions" based in "Southern California". I did a search and found this interesting website:

http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/2087830733/6

PEOPLE. PLEASE READ THE COMMENTS BEFORE POSTING!!!

YOU MAY THINK THAT SOMEONE FROM IDAHO IS CALLING YOU.

THEY DID NOT.

SOME VICTIM'S PHONE NUMBER WAS SPOOFED ON A CALLER ID FOR A SCAM COMPANY.

Important message to all those that have received a call from this number:

The company making this call with an auto dialer is a known scam outfit. They spoofed phone numbers of victims all the time. Sometimes, they spoof non-working phone numbers. The phone number 208-783-0733 is just another victim of these scumbags. I've done a lot of research of this company. Actually, there are several affiliated companies, owned by the same people that try to scam innocent victims. One scam is about auto warranties. The other is about credit card debt relief. They even have scams about dish television, home alarms, and more. Their MO is the same. The use an auto dialer, and call thousands of random numbers. They have no regard to the do not call lists. Your demands or complaints to them are worthless. They will continue to call you.

They will not remove you from their call lists. Why? BECAUSE THEY DO NOT MAINTAIN ANY. THEY ARE CROOKS. THEY HAVE NO REGARD TO THE MANY LAWS THEY BREAK.

If they call about a car warranty, the message says something as "This is the second notice on your extended vehicle warranty. Press one now to speak to a representative..." The message about credit debt mentions "This is Account Services. We are calling to lower your credit card debt. Press one now to speak to a representative..."

Here are the details of these do***ebags:

VP Marketing
1820 Water Place Pkwy
Ste 255
Atlanta GA 30339
678-741-3188
678-741-3189

They also were previously known under a different corporate name, with a different address:
Versadebt Corp.
4501 Circle 75 Parkway
Suite #A-1225
Atlanta GA 30339
678-238-1300
678-238-1349
678-238-1351

Both companies are listed with the Georgia Department of State. Here is how you can lookup their information:
http://corp.sos.state.ga.us/corp/soskb/CSearch.asp

Versadebt was voluntarily dissolved in August, 2008.

You will find that the "Registered Agent" for VP Marketing is Kelly Lonas, 224 Ripple Creek Drive, Marietta GA 30060. The listed "Member/Manager" is James A. Schoenholz at the 4501 Circle 75 Parkway address.

Versadebt's Registered Agent is the same James A. Schoenholz at the 4501 Circle 75 Parkway address. There is one additional name listed for Versadebt. The listed CEO, CFO, and Secretary is named Marvin Cox, Jr. at the same address.

In fact, Marvin Cox may be the owner of all of these related companies.

Here are some links to prove my research:
Job listings for VP Marketing:
http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/J ... p_marketing"_at

Notice the job listings for "Appointment Setter," "Qualification Representative," "Auto Warranty Specialist," and "Financial Representatives." Those are the idiots you get on the phone when you press "1" to speak to a representative after receiving their ILLEGAL recorded phone calls. Also, you can see many other job listings with similar titles.

Interestingly, if you view these help wanted ads, you will notice that their address and phone number are different from what is listed with the Georgia Department of State. They now list 678-741-3188 and 678-741-3189 as the phone number of Human Resources. IT IS PERFECTLY LEGAL TO CALL THEM AS THEY LISTED THEIR NUMBER IN A PUBLIC FORUM. Call them to find out more information about this company. You will need this in your complaints to the FCC, FTC, and your state Attorney General.

You can call them to see if they offer Car Warranties or tell them you are interested in a lower interest rate. It is quite humorous to listen to their answers!

Here are some details from RipOff Report. Pay particular attention to these (especially the first link) as ex employees detail how they operate and how their scam works:
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/418/RipOff0418596.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/312/RipOff0312307.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/301/ripoff0301144.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/276/RipOff0276693.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/301/RipOff0301861.htm

You can learn much more about these do***ebags by performing a web search for "versadebt," and "vp marketing," or "heather from account services."

NOW, WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS? You have two solutions:
1) Speak to one of their customer service representatives. Pretend to be interested in either lowering your credit card interest rate or a car warranty. DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY REAL INFORMATION. Give them a fake credit card number, a fake name, and a fake SS#. Tell them you own a Ferrari, or a 1937 Dodge (however, if you really own one of those two, tell them you own a Buick). Give a made up VIN number. If they ask for your name and phone number, give them the info for the person you hate the most.

Your goal is simple. Keep them on the phone for as long as possible. Be friendly. Your goal is twofold. You want to learn as much as possible about them. They will refuse to give you a website, phone number, or maybe even a real company name. They will attempt to give you a generic name such as "Account Services," "Financial Services," or "Dealer Services." This is done for a reason, to throw you and the government off their tracks. Do not accept this. Keep pressing for info. You will need this (see below).

EVEN BETTER IS IF YOU CAN RECORD THE CALL.

Also, the time you take from them means them have less time to steal from someone who is unknowledgeable about their scams. They get paid to rip people off. Take away their time, and they make no money! I have kept them on the phone for up to 20 minutes! I realize that many of you do not have the time. But do you appreciate being taken advantage of?

Ever hear of Scambaiting? That is what you are doing!!! There are many entertaining web sites on this topic. For example, see:
http://www.419eater.com.

2) YOU MUST REPORT THEM TO THE AUTHORITIES:

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION!
Here is the link to file a complaint: http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION:
https://donotcall.gov/complaint/complaintcheck.aspx

You must also file a report with the Attorney General of your state. See the last link below to see how effective this can be.

I file complaints against Versadebt and VP Marketing every time I receive a call. If everyone that received a call from these low-life scumbags does the same, then the combined action of thousands of us can stop these crooks from scamming innocent people out of money. You may also try to write your congress person.

Additional information: This is what can happen if everyone were to complain!
http://ago.mo.gov/newsreleases/2009/AG_Koster_says_GA_telemarketers_will_pay/
http://ago.mo.gov/newsreleases/2008/TRO_again ... all_violations/

See the following press releases to see how effective your complaints can be:
http://ago.mo.gov/newsreleases/2008/030608.htm
http://ago.mo.gov/newsreleases/2008/National_ ... filed_by_Nixon/
http://ftc.gov/opa/2008/05/telephoney.shtm

[E-Z-B]

28. Ha! On the phone now with one. Gave a prepared fake address & car.

Asked if I could get everything in writing & sent to me. They said they can't do that, that they already did . I asked them to repeat everything (5 minutes). Then told them I'm interested, and they routed me to their "financial supervisor." This is what you need to do.

The guy went into different pricing, and I asked him if he was in Atlanta, and he said, "way off - in Jacksonville, FL" I had a fake VIN number, but their system didn't recognize it. The guy them realized what I was doing and seemed pissed. He said there were other ways to get taken off the call list (and I told him none of those "other ways" have worked). He then said he "has a job to do" so don't waste his time. I told him that everytime they call, I'll keep wasting their time.

Next time they call, I'll do my homework beforehand on valid VIN numbers.

[defendandprotect]

29. Where has Congress been . . .??? I'm getting repeated calls from Capital One . . .

on my home phone -- "Linda" tells me every day that they are hiring!!!

This followed calls to us from Capital One telling us that one of our children

owed them money . . . !!!

How many parents believe this and pay off this bill for their sons or daughters?

Where is Congress ----?? We don't know -- !!!

But we do recognize the GOP's "third world America" every day --

and corrupt capitalism -- !!!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

31. Warranties and "credit services"

I'm finding tha by letting my phone ring almost 5 times, I'm receiving fewer of these annoying calls.

[Hotler]

32. Only when it effects them do they get a spine.

I bet if they had to pay 20% towards their health insurance plus copays and deductables and the other stuff, single payer would be on the table.

[Mariana]

33. I dug out an old-fashioned police whistle.

Anyone else remember that trick? I'm looking forward to the calls now. :evilgrin: