A quick search on the Prize Claim Center, as they self-describe themselves, on this site quickly reveals the blatent pattern that I too encountered. I share my story as follows:
I get home from work and there is a message on my answering machine from a person identified as "Paul." He states that I have "already one of four top prizes" and that it would "be in your interests" to call them back on an "877" number, as soon as possible. There are no conditions stated in this call that you have to "pay to win" or "participate to win" at all.
So I called. Actually, I've called several times because they have called me several times. Each time, the same story.
The person answering the phone asks me to verify my name and address. He tells me how I have already won one of the four prizes and then then asked rhetorically, "And you living with a companion?" The first time they called I answered honestly, saying "No..." He asked me again the same question and when I again said "No" he quickly said "Well, you have to be one of those to even qualify sir..." and proceeded to hang up.
Presumably, I have read from this "Joey" (who seems to be the only person really responding in favor of this company), that they wouldn't have called unless I entered a contest... Well, I'd love for them to tell me what contest it was that I entered that authorized the impending solicitiation with or without conditions. To date, I do not recall any contests I have ever entered. And I know for a fact that my number has been on the "DO NOT CALL LIST" for over 15 months!
So you would think that if I didn't even "qualify sir..." that this would stop the calls. It didn't. They called using an automated dialer and left another message several days later, which I promptly deleted. A few months went by and I got another call on or about 7/29. This time, the person who answered when I call asked if I "lived with anyone else, " and being that I have a roommate, I said yes. I was then told that I had allegedly won some vacation and I would be able to "claim it" only by placing a "refundable upon-arrival" deposit. I later learned that this alleged "inclusive" vacation was in fact just a bait-and-switch time-share presentation package; and I could not claim my prize without spending an entire afternoon in a solicitation. Ok, being that I am a fairly sophisticated consumer, I sat through the solicitation, knowing I wouldn't give into the unfair pressure tactics.By the tenth time I said no, I wasn't interested, " I was promptly escorted to a room where after I waited another 30 minutes got my "refundable deposit" back... AND "Certificates" for another vacation package. The problem — if I would want to claim that "free vacation, " I would have to give them another "refundable-upon-arrival deposit" — I would also have to give them 60 days advance notice of the date I wanted to travel — and the certificate was further conditioned on "checking in" on the worst days possible, like Sun, Tues or Wed nights... Are you starting to get the picture that you have not really "won" anything???
Personally, if you are checking this site you are probably not going to "fall" for what i believe is a fraudulent advertising practice, legally called bait and switch. But for those who just hear about this company or "paul's" calls, please spread the word as i would to avoid wasting your time.
Lest I be called a "liar" by the Mr. Joey, or have other defamatory statements made towards me (which I will happily take anyone to court over), I would welecome a representative of this company to answer these specific questions:
1) What is the legal name of your business and address registered with EVERY Secretary of State in which you operate? (I ask this despite the above because I have been unable to independently verify that the above address is in fact a true and correct business address and not a mailing/PO BOX address.) Please include a list of all officers and authorized agents.
2) What exception to the DO NOT CALL LIST do you invoke that, without this exception, your multiple calls would be violations of the law preventing these solicitations and claims and subject to an $11,000 per call fine?
3) What specific contest or business relationship do you assert I have agreed to or entered? (And if you would be so kind as to provide me evidence of this.)
4) What are the names of each of the specific "four prizes" that I "could have won" and what were the specific "odds" of winning those prizes and the number of "entries" for each prize?
5) Lastly, as the answering service states that the calls are "recorded, " I would request you to save these recordations and provide me with copies of all such recordings in accordance with the Federal Privacy Act and Electronic Communications Act.
Thank you.
P.S., I did file a complaint with the FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION over this phone call since my number is patently on the DO NOT CALL LIST, and would urge all others out there to do the same — they act when there are NUMBERS of people involved, and I'm sure this is one case where they would.
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