anti206thread

Selected 206 posts from Mikes Blog

I hate telemarketers, I really do.
I just received two telemarketer calls within a very short period. One was 6:19PM, and the other was 6:38PM.
The 6:19PM was received at my Skype number.The 6:38PM was received at my Home distinctive ring number.
The 6:19PM call originated from 206-415-8739.The 6:38PM call originated from 206-278-9390.
The 6:19PM call left a message telling me that I had been selected as part of their “Jacksonville Area Marketing Study” to attend some scam cruise leaving from Miami.The 6:38PM call left a message telling me that I had been selected as part of their “Jacksonville Area Marketing Study” to qualify for some scam satellite tv promotion.
Wrong city, wrong state, nice try.
Since I really dislike telemarketers, I think I am going to change my current approach– it could be called the “overwhelm them with legaleeze and shuffle papers while you ‘take down their information’ approach– with a new approach. Maybe we can call it the, “appear like a business who is legitimately interested in their services and string them along as much as humanly possible.”
I can come up with a fake corporate telephone announcement to really get them interested.
It could start something like:
Thank you for calling MikeCo Hotels Executive Office. MikeCo Hotels now provides 28 free cable channels for all guests in the Jacksonville Area. Please hold while we transfer you to the executive secretary. Please note that this call may be monitored or recorded for quality assurance.
Then, after a moment of music and a few blips and bleeps, I can answer, recording the call, and see how much of these people’s time I can waste.
I would be the dream sale! A hotel owner who is proud to be offering a crappy 28 cable channels in their rooms, conveniently located in Jacksonville, where they seem to be targeting!
What do you think?
Edit: For anyone interested in listening to the original call (do you enjoy torturing yourself?), you can listen to an MP3 of the message here: http://mikesblog.americasdebate.com/uploads/telemarketer.mp3

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20 Responses to “Telemarketer Fun”
Cyan Says: August 2nd, 2005 at 7:02 pm
Telemarketing calls are supremely irritating, and I usually just hang up on them. If you can get some amusement out of messing with them, more power to you.
Tina Says: August 4th, 2005 at 8:28 pm
Can I just say that I love your idea… I just got the same message, from the same telephone number, on my CELL phone! Do these telemarketers actually get business calling people? … maybe middle America/FLORIDA (that is where all of middle America retires..) buys into their antics! Extremely frustrating, it’s time to turn the table somehow- go for it!
Heather Says: August 5th, 2005 at 4:00 pm
I got the same call on my cell phone, same 206-415-8739 #.I was selected to be part of some study in Carlsbad, CA and I will win a 4-day cruise to Mexico. BS!
Raven Says: August 5th, 2005 at 4:26 pm
My solution to this is I only give my home number when absolutely necessary and never to anyone I actually want to talk to. As a result I never answer my home phone and if the person leaves a message then I’ll listen to it. Furthermore all my numbers are unlisted which cuts down on it a little bit. Everyone that I care about talking to calls me on my cell
Meghan Says: August 8th, 2005 at 3:23 pm
These jerks called mine and my husbands cell phones this morning. I wasn’t even aware that they could get cell phone numbers. Anyone else called by these guys that uses ATT or Cingulair or any other subsidiary of this company? Think it could be an inside job?
john Says: August 8th, 2005 at 6:08 pm
I too received the ensenada phone call..Is there anything we can do to stop these types of calls.
Russ Says: August 10th, 2005 at 10:07 pm
I got a call from the same number - 206-415-8739 offering the Carlsbad, CA/Mexico scam. It directed me to 800-517-8077. After waiting on hold for “the next available operator, I was asked to leave a message. How do they get cell phone numbers?
Nikki Says: August 11th, 2005 at 11:43 am
I just got a call from the same number 206-415-8739. I didn’t pick up on the call because I didn’t recognize the phone number. I google’d it and I got a hit to this website. I only use my cell for family calls. I’m going to call Cingular/ATT to report it & will let everyone know what happens.
Suzanne Says: August 12th, 2005 at 9:56 am
Got the maketing/cruise phone call/recording from the same number (206 415-8739) where I work in Tampa, Florida. The recording called the firm’s main line 6 times in less than five minutes. It called our back door (unpublished) line once. (This is a line you even have to enter an extension!) They gave a (800)575-5536 to call for a free Carnival Cruise. What bothered me is I had to put actual clients on hold to get their stupid call. (Caller Id doesn’t show till I pick the call up)Wasted my time which upsets me the most. Googled and came to this website and felt more people needed to know how wide spread it actually is. Maybe someone should let Carnival Cruise know their name is being associated with these terrible tactics.
For those of you that have cell phones. Soon those numbers will be available to the public. There is a no-call list you call from your cell (no cost) do not have the 1-800 number and besides I want to double check it before I pass it on to others. My luck it would be something bogus to get people’s cell phone numbers.
STEVEN HESS Says: August 12th, 2005 at 11:13 am
It cost me $14.95 to get this. It is the record of the UNLISTED owner of the phone number.
Phone: (206) 415-8739Name ADVIENNE ALTAddress SEATTLE, WA 98121Carrier MARATHON COMMUNICATIONS, INCService Type Land Line - ResidentialLast Reported 08/01/2005
STEVEN HESS Says: August 12th, 2005 at 11:37 am
If you call Marathon Communications - they will “forward Do Not Call requests” to the owner of the phone number. Find them at http://www.marathon.net/customer_service.asp.
However, they will not give out any customer information, give you a name of a Marathon contact, give you any name of the person you are talking with except a first name, no extension or employee ID, allow you to speak to a supervisor, give you an address to write Marathon, etc..etc…
And they claim to be a “Common Carrier” - they offer VOIP, internet and web hosting. Perhaps somebody in Washington can complain to the PSC.
STEVEN HESS Says: August 12th, 2005 at 12:03 pm
Your complaint has been submitted to the Washington State Office of the Attorney General on 8/12/2005 10:00:35 AM
Click here to return to the main page.
——————————————————————————–
Consumer Protection DivisionGeneral Consumer Protection Complaint FormConsumer Information
_____PERSONAL INFO DELETED__________Marathon CommunicationsAddress:22722 29th Drive SECity:Bothell State:WA Zip:98021Business Phone:800-919-1000 Business Fax #:Toll-Free Number:
E-Mail Address:Web Site:http://www.marathon.net/Name of Owner / Manager:
Names and addresses of any other businesses involved:Unknown telemarketer DBA as (206) 415-8739Salesperson’s Name:Brad
Have you complained to the business?YESIf YES, to whom (and their position):Brad at 800-919-1000 - no further information would be given. Brad would not let me speak with a supervisor, give me a extension or employee number, or other information to verify the contact.What response did you receive?Brad is supposed to pass my cel phone number to their customer (a residental listing) that is running a recorded telemarketing message - one that never connects to a persion, just ties up your phone reading a (possibly phony) “you have been selected to receive a vacation” message.If you have not contacted the business explain why not:Brad and Marathon Communications is claiming on the call that they are a “common carrier” and will not give out their customer information - so I can properly make a request to the caller to have me placed on their “do not Call ” list.
*Briefly explain your complaint:Since Marathon COmmunications offers to forward the request to the telemarketer, I wonder if they have a business relationship to this telemarketer, beyond what they reveal on the phone. I should be able to speak directly with a telemarketer, to make sure my request to be placed on their do not call list is correctly entered. By taking the step of refusing to allow me to contact the caller, they have interposed themselves in the process, and should share the liability of allowing a telemarketer $20.00 unlimited long distance calling - and should share in the responsibility for using my cellular minutes at my expense.What do you think the business should do to resolve your complaint?OTRExplain if you selected “Other”:Shut down a non-compliant telemarketer who is making a national nuisance of themselves.[No], I would not like to be included on the Attorney General’s Office e-mail list for periodic press releases, consumer warnings, and other notifications.Disclosure Notices
——————————————————————————–[Yes] In order to process your complaint, the Attorney General’s Office will send a copy of your complaint to the complained of business. Do you want the Attorney General’s Office to send this business a copy of your complaint?
I understand that if I answer no, the Attorney General’s Office will not process this complaint. Additionally, if I answer Yes, I understand that my complaint and any related documents I have submitted will become “public records.” Under state law, public records are subject to public records disclosure requests. Under some circumstances, my complaint and related documents may therefore be seen by other people.
Declaration: By filling in my name and the date below, I declare, under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Washington that the information contained in this complaint is true and accurate.*Name: Steven Hess *Declared this date: 8/12/2005
PJ Says: August 18th, 2005 at 6:07 pm
I got this call twice on my ATT/Cingular cell phone. From previous posts it looks like the old ATT Wireless may be the target. Maybe a disgruntled layed-off employee? I filed a report with the FCC, maybe if they get enough complaints someone will get fined.
John M Says: August 24th, 2005 at 2:54 pm
Mike, try 32 calls from the benvolent police society. When I asked them not to call anymore, they got angry and hung up then started on my other phone line. When I told them it was recoreded due to my fax line being hooked up to one number through my comp, they blurted an expletive. How can I print up the call log from the fax console. - JM
steve Says: August 24th, 2005 at 10:56 pm
posted at payphone-directory.org TOPIC - Maranthon CommunicationsDATE - 07/06/05 17:40:27FROM - Mike VirginiaHow to fight Marathon Communications. I am a lawyer from Washington State (although I now live in Virginia). I too have received fraudulent marketing calls from 206.415.8940 and 206.278.9390. I talked to the Consumer Protection Division of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. They said that all people who feel that they have been harmed by these calls should file a complaint as I am doing. Here is the link to file a complaint: http://www.atg.wa.gov/consumer/forms/
The Federal Regulations Sec. 310.3(a)(4) prohibit any person from making false statements in a telemarketing pitch (my paraphrase). Sec. 310.3(b) prohibits any person from aiding another in committing fraud.
Marathon knows that it is aiding whoever this marketeer is because it has received sufficient complaints. Marathon knows that the marketeer is using these numbers as a fraudulent cloak–they are not valid call back numbers.
Marathon has a duty to stop the misuse of its numbers but it is a small business (40 employees or so) and has not chosen to do so. The person I spoke to at Marathon said that they would reveal the owner of these numbers only upon receiving a subpoena.
Therefore everyone receiving these calls should file a complaint with the Washington Attorney General’s office against Marathon for aiding and abetting this illegal telemarketer.
Please do this so that the AG will take action For more info. visit http://www.anti206.blogspot.com/
steven hess Says: November 2nd, 2005 at 6:59 am
I recieved a reply from the Washington State AG. regarding my previously mentioned complaint number SEA-239297. Marathon Communications has coughed up the owner behind 206-415-8739. It is a letter forwarded dated October 1, 2005.
Marathon Says:Marathon Communications srtives to care for all it’s customers, bla bla and will respond promptly bla bla and assist any third party bla bla bla. The subscriber name is:
Coast to Coast Marketing10655 Roselle St, Suite HSan Diego, CA 92121Phone number 619-279-7460EIN 20-1826108Contact: Bryan Lindahl
206-415-8739 is only a forwarding number, and not attached to any physical location. As such, it does not originate any calls. Marathon COmmunications does not provide any outbound calling services for Coast to Coast marketing nor any service through which they may make outbound calls.
Christopher GillenMarathon Communications Inc
——————————-
Ok, then does that mean the number is shut down? Obviously they were originating calls at one time, no mattter what they claim at this time. And Marathon was sure not helpful when they blocked all inquiries - until I wrote the AG.
I will provide copies of the letter via fax to anyone interested if they contact me.
steve Says: December 8th, 2005 at 4:23 pm
206 278 9390 updateGuardian Communications (309 277 1222) has been sued again.Contact your Attorney General,file a complaint and ask them to sue.Posted at WFMY 2:Attorney General Hangs Up A Telemarketer
The Attorney General puts a stop to a telemarketer calling local residents with a pre-recorded message.Raleigh, NC — An Illinois telemarketer that made illegal prerecorded calls to collect information about potential customers and then sold it to satellite television dealers has been ordered to stop calling people in North Carolina, Attorney General Roy Cooper announced today.
“This telemarketer bothered people who’d made it clear they didn’t want to get sales calls at home,” said Cooper. “Not only were these calls illegal, but the telemarketers weren’t even selling what they were pitching. Instead, they were trolling for potential customers so they could turn around and sell their names to another company.”
In a preliminary injunction granted today in Wake County Superior Court by Judge Donald W. Stephens, Guardian Communications of Moline, Illinois is barred from calling North Carolinians while the case goes forward.
Cooper’s office is also seeking to permanently stop Guardian’s telemarketing calls into the state and make them pay fines and penalties.
In a complaint filed in Wake County Superior Court this week by Cooper’s office, Guardian Communications is alleged to have called North Carolina homes to pitch satellite television service using illegal tactics such as prerecorded messages and calling numbers listed on the Do Not Call Registry. The company, which does not actually provide satellite service, then sold the information it collected about people to satellite firms who were looking for potential customers.
One consumer from Summerfield, NC described the call she got from Guardian in March 2005: “When I said ‘Hello’ no one responded,” she said. “After a delay, a sales representative continued to speak in the same speed and tone.
It was obviously a pre-recorded message and I hung up immediately.” Under North Carolina law, prerecorded telemarketing calls are illegal unless a live operator first asks if the consumer wishes to listen to the message.
North Carolina’s case against Guardian was brought by Cooper’s Telemarketing Fraud Task Force, funded by a grant from the US Department of Justice. Since the Do Not Call Registry began in 2003, Cooper’s Task Force has taken dozens of telemarketers to court for breaking Do Not Call laws and recovered more than $250,000 from violators.
“When someone puts their phone number on the Do Not Call list, companies need to respect their wishes and stop calling. If you’ve placed your number on the list but still get calls, let my office know about it,” said Cooper.
To report Do Not Call violators, call the Attorney General’s Office at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM. To place your number on the Do Not Call Registry, call (888) 382-1222 from the number you wish to register or visit the state’s “Do Not Call” website.
For more info visit my http://www.anti206.blogspot.com/
Mike Says: January 18th, 2006 at 1:20 pm
Yeah, they’re back at it in full force it seems.
I had them call my skype number and leave a message 4 times yesterday!
Mike