My wife handed me the phone and I said hello? (I should of hung up then). I got hooked on the $300 gas rebate card. (Boy they are slick!) I thought I was savvy enough to refuse their attempts of gaining any information on me.
They had my wife's old name and our past address (RED Flag). I wasn't about to give them any more info until I got something back in return. The man on the phone which had an accent gave me his name and employee id number city and state along with the company name (Phoenix AZ) Ph# 1800 923-8939. We battled back and fourth about there is no obligation in getting the gas card and I asked what the catch was. He said no catch.
He then went on to explain all he needed was a shipping and handling charge of $6.90 (Bingo!) after I get the materials (subtle change of terminology). I said I would not give them any money. He said I didn't need to give them any money now.
He said I was getting it because I was a good customer of MasterCard (Red Flag!) and needed to verify an expiration date on my card. I said I couldn't find my card, so he said any visa or MasterCard will do. (Red flag! Subtle change) I gave them an expiration date of a valid card that hasn't been either used nor has been activated.
He wanted my credit card number as well. I said I wouldn't give him it. He persisted and then came up with this: i will give you to our automated recording device (or something like that) and it sounded like he put me on mute and pushed a button to let me think I was on a different recording device. I fell for it gave in and gave them my account number. He then came back on and verified the information (how did he get that if he wasn't supposed to have it?). We verified information and I asked for an address on the company. He said I would get it on the automated verifier. (Somewhere in this conversation to him I gave a valid billing address)
When he said that his verifier will give it to me, he put me on hold and transferred me to a second person with an accent very similar to his. He said I was qualified to get 2 more offers. One for long distance and one for VIP health card. I said I didn't want these, so he said that all I had to do was to read it and then throw it away. I said I didn't want them to come to my house at all. He said I would be getting the $300 in gas coupons (Change in terminology!) and the offers and all I had to do is thro wit away.in this conversation he also said I had to read it and call a toll free number to cancel (Another change in protocol for canceling for me). We bantered back and fourth on this issue, and I finally asked for a mailing address for the company. He said I would be getting it from their automated verifier. I again asked for it from him and he repeated his answer. I then told him if I didn't get the address this conversation and all information contained was null and void. We talked for a few more seconds and I again repeated my demand. I gave him time to respond but he decided to hang up on me.
Both of these people were nice and calm and sounded professional. I was firm and loud at times but never ugly to them. Numerous times in this conversation I was put on mute. How can I tell? I heard silence then background noise then silence again.
I called my Credit Card company and explained the conversation to her. She was nice and understanding. The results of this conversation are: my card was reported lost or stolen and it had a temporary charge of $2 I will be getting a new card, and I will need to check back about the temporary charge. The Phone number that my CC company has for them is 1-866-916-8814
She also said that if they have an account number and an expiration date they can charge to your card. BE WARY.
I have read other complaints against this company from this site and consider myself fortunate. My sincerest hope is that my conversation with these telemarketers will help someone to become savvier to telemarketers. (Hard sell'-Aggressive, high-pressure selling or promotion.)
Finally, DON'T give any info to anyone over the phone especially if you didn't initiate the call.
DO call your financial institution about fraudulent or suspected fraudulent charges.
Telemarketers these days are very slick. And they change the terms on the fly.
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