This appears to be a debt consolidation company. While the services may or may not be legitimate, it is their marketing techniques and lies which are despisable.
This company makes phone calls to random US phone numbers, diregarding the US Do Not Call Registry. Upon answering the phone, you are told that this is "Account Services" calling about your credit card. It states that nothing is wrong, but that you must act now to get a reduced interest rate. You are then given the option of having your number removed from their system or being connected to a representative.
After being contacted numerous times and asking to be removed, I talked to a representative. I asked to be removed. I continued to get calls. Another time I asked for their name and phone number. They refused to provide a phone number but did provide me with the name "Financial Services in Atlanta, Georgia."
The next time I received a call, I played along with them to find out who they were so I could report them.
A representative named Crystal answered the phone and stated her name, and then I asked if I was calling to reduce my interest rate. I replied "Possibly, if it is a good deal." She then asked how much debt I had. Evidently, you must have more than $4,000 in debt to be considered. I told her $25,000. She then asked for the 800 number on the back of my credit card, what Bank it was from, and whether it was a mastercard or visa. She then pretended like she had my card information and just needed me to confirm. She stated "OK, I see. That card begins with a 4. I need you to confirm the remaining digits." Of course, all Visa cards begin with a 4 and all mastercards begin with a 5. She then wishes to know your zip code and the last 4 digits of your social security number.
After giving her incorrect numbers, I asked said that my phone has a tendency to disconnect and wondered if I could get their phone number in case of a problem. She stated that if there was a disconnection that she would call me back. I then said that that was nice of her but due to identity theft I don't feel comfortable giving out information without knowing who they are. I asked for the name of the company and was told "Financial Services in Atlanta Georgia." I asked for a phone number and was told that the call center they work in doesn't have a phone number, but as soon as I finish providing the information and it was verified with my bank that I had debt, that I would be forwarded to a specific account manager who would provide me with his/her personal address and phone number. I pushed hard and the representative got an account manager to tell me that it was impossible for them to do anything with this limited information.
I then asked for the physical address, and was told they don't have one either. I then said surely you have a CEO or headquarters with a mailing address. The account manager told me to hold on while she got it. She came back and told me the address was 2778 Cumberland Blvd, Smyrna Georgia.
I did a quick Internet Search and found this webpage: http://groups. Google.com/group/alt. Privacy/browse_thread/thread/d71cbc1421aac831/993d6c2ea00da0bb
with subject "Telemarketing call from Caller ID 1442-0749988". That site claims there is a Suite 370. I aksked the Account Manager if there was a suite number and she said there are some suite numbers but it depends on which account manager you are assigned to. (Of course, the UPS Store is located in Suite 328.) I didn't push this further, even though I believed she was lying. I then asked if she was associated with Clear Breeze Solutions and she said "No, we aren't. This is Financial Services." I didn't push this any further.
She then called the bank number from the back of my credit card and let me listen in to the call on a 3-way call. The credit card asked for the 16 digit account number which she typed in (this was a correct number that I gave). It then asked for the last 4 digits of my social security number. I typed that in on my keypad before she could and the bank then gave her my balance, which was more than $4,000. She then disconnected from the bank and called me back, telling me Congratulations and that she would fill out some paperwork and assign me to an account manager.
After some time, I was assigned to an account manager who then told me that the name of their company was Clear Breeze Solutions, their phone number was 877-383-7748 and their website was clearbreezesolutions.com. I didn't accuse them of lying (Since the previous Representative had denied this) but just continued to listen. Her name was Chandra. She said that they work with your current creditors to get you the lowest possible interest rate for all of your accounts so payments go towards principal instead of interest. She told me that currently 75% of my payments are going towards interest (instead of principal) and with them it would be reversed.
She made me two guarantees: First, that I would save a minimum of $4,000 on interest and finance charges, and, second, that I could be debt free 3 to 5 times faster (in less than 5 years). She said that in the next 5 to 7 business days I would be receiving a welcome packet with a debt profile. I was instructed to fill out the profile for all loans (such as credit card, student loan, car loan, etc) so they could best help me manage my debt. She said I would then receive a 15-20 page financial analysis (sort of a "debt diet") to become debt free.
She the stated "Here's how we make money." If clients don't qualify they have to send a check for $990 to us, but since you have sufficient debt, then you qualify and don't have to do this. She said that they conveniently charge the $990 fee today to the credit card with the highest balance and that the fee pays for itself because it would come out of the $4,000 guaranteed savings. "The fee gets paid by your interest savings." We don't charge it to your bank account because that is where your hard earned money is kept and what you use to pay your credit card.
Without asking if I wanted to continue, she then asked me to verify some information, name on the card, mailing address, phone number, credit card number, expiration date, and the 3 digit code on the back. She received inacurate informaiton from me, of course.
I was then transferred to Miranda in the Verification Department who told me she would record my answers to questions and then charge me the $990 fee. I was told that this was due to Federal Law. I was told that if they didn't meet their 2 guarantees that I would get a refund. I then hung up. I did not complete verification.
Since I didn't complete the process, I'm not sure whether they provide quality financial advice and whether their $990 fee is reasonable or not for the services they actually provide. However, their lies, their being shady, their violating the Do Not Call List, and their refusal to stop calling me after being told many many times does not say much for them.
Their website clearbreezesolutions.com is owned by email address [email protected] and is registered with Misk.com.
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