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"Express Consolidation" is still running its telephone scams. Yesterday I got another one of their telemarketing phone messages, falsely stating that I had previously received a letter indicating I'd been approved for consolidation by a "certified non-profit agency," and trying to get me to call 800-481-1242 with credit card information. The call came from Canada (514-958-0000 in Quebec on caller ID), no doubt the better to avoid prosecution. My phone number is unlisted, and the caller ("Joe Summers") did not identify me by name or in any other way. "Express Consolidation" simply calls random numbers and lies about having selected the target for credit approval. Since the caller lied to me as a setup for asking me for credit card records, I assume he is trying to swindle me. This operation, unless there is more than one telemarketer using the name Express Consolidation, has been cited by the FCC for illegal telemarketing practices.
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
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26 comments:
I just got a call from the same place.
They were claiming that my (unnamed) neighbors had complained about the local (unnamed) cable company.
And the rest is like you told your story.
Just wanted to back your sroty, cause it is sad that people dedicate their lives to such nonsense.
Respectfully,
Miel
It's funny - I just recieved a phone call, noticed the number on caller ID and thought it looked funny, so I punched it into google and up came your BLOG. 514-958-0000. As soon as I answered the caller hung up. Weird, no?
I just got called by the same guy too. He hung up when I answered. I am in DC.
A friend just called me with this phone number and asked me to look it up for her, and when I typed it into google, I got this page. The caller hung up on my friend without saying a word. My friend's phone number is also unlisted and unhpublished. We are from Texas. Apparently these people are calling all over the country! Beware!! -lildarlin
Just got a call from same number but they hung up when I answered. I live in Southern Alabama.
I have been receiving a call from this phone number just about everyday, but they hangup when I answer.
I got the call in Idaho
Just recieved a call and they hung up also. Why do they bother to call and just hang up?? My number is unlisted also, and I'm from Ohio.
Same here, in Illinois. Interestingly, this call came to my cell phone and not my home phone. I just ignored it.
Michigan here... got the same call twice now, First time I let the machine pick it up, I have a MANS voice as the machines greeter, they hung up and about ten minutes later they called again so I (a woman) picked it up and it was a Woman calling this time...I wonder if they are switching tactics now? My # is private and unlisted, how are they still getting it? :::shrugs::: Blessings yall :)
I got one of these hangups just now - same 514 number - I googled to find it and found this site. (I am listed in directory assistance, but not in the phone book.) I think this are the same people who keep leaving messages on my answering machine - I have callled them to tell them not to call me. When I called the 800 number left on my machine I thought they said the business was Debt Consolidation or something like that. Also, on the answering machine message the guy tries to make it personal - "I am surprised you haven't called us before" - as if he knew my credit situation - actually I have a good credit rating!
I just got the same call today. I am in Virginia. I searched this # on google and came here. As the same with me they hung up when I answered. I guess they don't want to talk to a live person. I guess they want to do all their practices on machines. My number is also unlisted and unpublished. So they must be just pulling #'s out of the air.
If you want to find out more about 514-958-0000 you can call Randal L Leshin @ 954-941-9711. He is the chairman of Express Cosolidated , the company that is making all the calls that have 514-958-0000 on thier call display. Express your concerns and maybe he will stop.
Hey..I just got a call from that number this afternoon...on my CELL PHONE!!! This is rediculous. I didn't answer it because I was at an art exhibit and they didn't leave a message...but if they call again, I know now not to be nice to them! By the way..I got the call in Georgia :)
I got the same call today. When I answer they hung up. Our phone # is also unlisted. Great huh.
got a call from the same number moments ago. They didn't hang up though. A pre-recorded female voice asked me if I wanted to tickets to Disneyworld.
I called the number M'Gath posted (thanks,btw):
Randal L Leshin @ 954-941-9711
Randal was not in but I spoke with the guy that answered and asked him to put me on a "do not call list". He asked me for my name! lol, whatever, jerk. I told him he didn't need my name but gave him my number and told him again, "remove this number from your list".
I hope I never run a business that ends up with my phone number in an online blog! LOL.
I've gotten several calls from this week - one hang up and two trying to sell satellite TV systems. Why somebody in Quebec thinks they can sell satellite TV to somebody in New Braunfels TX is beyond me. Their last call prompted my internet search for the infamous 514-958-0000. Hung on thru the recording, pressed "1" and got a live person to bitch at. Told them I was on National DNC, had previously given them my number to take off their list. Now that I have their 800 number, every time they call me, I'll be calling them back on their nickel till my finger gets tired - thank God for automatic redial.
As a 501c3 Tax-exempt educational service they are a legitimate company. Having done research, I now know that they meet all legal requirements. Also, it's important to understand that you are legally able to be called by any educational service deemed 501c3 status unless you've been placed on the DNC list with that specific company. Look it up. Even wal-mart receives complaints, so i'm not surprised (although i'm very entertained) that people have had so much of their 'important' time taken that they then took MORE time to search, and then post anger on a website. I hear stories of angry skeptics all day long as an employee with the IRS. Make your own decision after viewing www.expressconsolidation.org
P.S. You may have need for their services judging by your post times. I don't know many business savvy people that are not working from 11am to 4pm on weekdays.
OK, let's have some fun demolishing this person (who I'd guess works for "Express Consolidation," except for admitting to the even lower status of an IRS employee).
My post is marked 5:32 PM, but "msmoney" counts on people not to look back at that date so as to create a false impression that I'm unemployed. This establishes at the start that this person is dishonest.
Next, Ms. Money tries to tell us that an outfit that dials random numbers to offer loans is a 501(c)(3) educational organization. Nice try.
As for rebutting the FCC citation (the link still works) or explaining how their claim to have sent me a letter could be anything but a lie, Ms. Money has no explanation to offer.
Note how upset this person is that people take the time to do research when someone tries to scam them. People like this are terrified of informed and skeptical consumers.
I have been getting calls on my cell phone from a fax machine with a blocked number waking me between 3-4am about 1x a month for years and not been able to figure out where they were coming from. They usually follow up the next morning interrupting work and wasting some of my 20mins a month. I just got a call that finally listed the number and it was that same Canadian one listed above so it seems that all the calls are probably from this company.
Is there somewhere that actually links the Canadian number to Express Consolidated rather than taking someone's post on the internet as word? Has anyone who asked them to remove their number from their call list actually been successful?
Since many people are still finding this old post, I'll add a link to this news item. The FTC is taking a strong interest in this outfit
I am a former employee and I have more insight on Express Consolidation and the "New Company" They have formed called "DMCC" or "Debt Management Counseling Center" If interested please post back up and I can tell you more information.
Also, look here
http://sunbiz.org/scripts/corofflis.exe
THere are other corporations listed under Randall Leshin, he did once have his name in Light House Credit, National Credit Services Association, Integrated Credit Solutions Inc, Express Consolidation and Now the new company....I am NOT a rep, I was a former I.T. employee who was told to shut my mouth about this place, then they have us all Change our Voicemail to NOT have Express Consolidation, then our emails changed, we could no longer answer the phone "Express Consolidation"
Also, they are on the International Business Times
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20070122/express-consolidation-ftc-debt-suit.htm
I'm Kelly Cramer, a reporter for the New Times in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and I'm working on a story about this company. Please call or email me about it if you'd like to talk: Kelly.Cramer@browardpalmbeach.com or 954-233-1547. Thanks!
6/3/2008 and still going. I just got my second call from 514.958.0000 and no one is there or might be trying to fax. This is already becoming very annoying. I must keep my cell on 24/7 for work, and it would be a major task to change my cell number --- can't the number be blocked? why not?
jog10k@yahoo.com
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