Verizon hates annoying auto warranty calls, too: Part Two
When I'm confronted by a problem I don't always know how to solve myself, I always try to find someone with more knowledge, power or leverage to assist me when I want to Get-R-Done, a handy phrase coined by that lovable Larry the Cable Guy.
In the case where I was getting annoying telemarketing calls about extended auto warranty offers on my cell phone, out of curiosity, I contacted my provider and asked them if they received a lot of complaints from their customers about these calls.
What Verizon's Leigh Schachter told me, warmed my heart.
Turns out, these auto warranty calls annoy A LOT of Verizon Wireless customers, which in turn, annoys Verizon Wireless a great deal, too, said Schachter in a phone interview with me yesterday. Schachter is assistant general counsel for ligitation for Verizon.
How annoyed is Verizon? Annoyed enough to file suit in state and federal court to stop these shenanigans.
Said Schachter, "It's been a huge problem in the last several months. In March, we had filed a John Doe complaint in state court in New Jersey, trying to identify the source of who is making these calls. As part of discovery and an investigation we've done internally, we filed a new complaint in Federal court last week which names two companies."
The first company is Explicit Media, which does business with Voice Solutions (www.myvoicesolutions.com), Schachter said. The second company is National Auto Warranty Services, which does business as Dealer Services, which operates out of Missouri (where the AG there says numerous auto warranty companies reside).
From Verizon's investigation, Schachter said Voice Solutiosn "looks to be a company that was assigned several of these phone numbers, which were used to make calls. Some were legitimate numbers and some were spoof numbers, which used Voice over Internet to hide the real location of the calls."
Verizon said it is not sure where some of these companies are getting your cell phone numbers to harass you. It could be a random auto-dialer or they could be buying phone lists. Schachter says it is definitely not coming from Verizon.
"These guys are pretty good at hiding themselves," Schachter said. "It takes some work to find out who they are. By filing the John Doe, it allows us to issue subpoenas and take discovery. In the past when we've gone after companies, we get an injunction to stop these people from making calls. That's our primary objective. We're also looking for information to see if others are involved. We want to shut down all avenues."
Schachter says if you want to contribute any details on the annoying calls you get, he said the most helpful information includes: a customer's phone number, caller i.d. number that shows up, the time and day you got the call and most particuarly, if you talked to anyone, get information and details on who was making the call.
You can send that information to Sherri Cunningham, a consultant to Verizon, at scunningham@starpower.net or write the old fashioned, snail mail way to John Johnson, Verizon Wireless, 7600 Montpelier Road, Laurel, MD, 20723.
Cunningham also says that if you believe these calls have caused you to go over your monthly calling plan, you can also call Verizon customer service to get a credit on the warranty calls or text messaging spam.
Any other cellular companies out there fighting back against these auto warranty calls?
Categories: Cellular/Landline/Voice over Internet, Complaints, Consumer protection, Marketing/Advertising, Warranties
Comments
I keep having to spread this around. Alot of people are confusing Dealer Services or National Auto Warranty Services in Wentzville, MO with other companies. They do NOT dial outbound to their customers. The best way to figure out who's calling you is to do something along these lines:
1. Answer the call cordially. Play along and act interested
2. The first representative you talk to is likely just screening calls so you might have to agree to speak with a specialist or a sales person.
3. Go through the sales pitch and tell them you need to call them back with your credit card number.
4. Once you get a callback number post it here. I can check to see as to who the phone number belongs to and I can also verify it with the utility company.
Posted by: Jim Vandiver | July 30, 2008 6:01 PM
Interesting comment "Jim" -- you've made it already on several sites. Isn't your hand getting tired of the constant copy & pasting already?? I'm sure that NAWS doesn't call their *CUSTOMERS*... after all, they've already got their customers' money! They are dialing *potential* customers, after all. And if they aren't, they've hired someone else to do so. Nice job trying to astroturf for NAWS, my friend.
Posted by: Annoyed VZW Customer | August 8, 2008 6:44 PM
nice, definitely
Posted by: jiimiona | August 9, 2008 9:25 AM
This comment is in response to the one from Jim Vandiver.
You are a liar and a shill for National Auto Warranty Services located in Wentzville, MO. We have seen your numerous posts all over the internet and we are on to your lies on behalf of the scumbags at National Auto Warranty Services.
(Note: to everyone: the following refer only to the company National Auto Warranty Services located in Wentzville, Missouri. There are many other companies with a similar name that may be legitimate.)
This company is one of the biggest auto warranty scammers and crooks in the country. There is no way they are legitimate in any sense of the word.
Want proof? View this link, a press release from the Attorney General of Missouri:
http://ago.mo.gov/newsreleases/2008/030608.htm
They are currently being sued by Missouri for fraud and numerous violations of the state's "No Call Law."
In addition, they are part of a national crackdown on telemarketing fraud from the Federal Trade Commission. This press release clearly shows they were involved in both the state and a federal action:
http://ago.mo.gov/newsreleases/2008/National_crackdown_on_telemarketing_fraud_includes_three_cases_filed_by_Nixon/
You can lookup this company's listing at the Missouri Secretary of State website. Be sure to click on the "Filed Documents" link at the top of the page. If you look under the Annual Report dated 4/3/2008, (and previous filings) you will see the home address of both the President and Vice President of this company. This is public information:
https://www.sos.mo.gov/BusinessEntity/soskb/Corp.asp?411719
In addition, this Jim Vandiver, or whoever this person really is, has listed more than one location under his profile for different posts. For example, under this post, he is from Council Bluffs Iowa:
http://www.topix.com/forum/city/rocky-hill-ct/T3S758L7945R8ND2M
And in the following, he lists himself from Troy, NY.
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/201/RipOff0201058.htm
Guess Jim Vandiver will have to refund the $7.50 that National Auto Warranty Services paid him for his post. Good luck on your next career. Or perhaps Jim Vandiver is really Darain Atkinson, the President of National Auto Warranty Services, or Cory Atkinson, the listed Vice President. In that case, good luck in prison.
DD: OK. If this is true, a pox on Jim for trying to fool consumers. Either way, people, please use the information posted about Verizon's reps to let them know if you're being annoyed by these warranty companies. Filing suit against them is the only message that will get through to these pests. Thanks for the tips everyone.
Posted by: Jack | August 11, 2008 4:52 PM
Jim, you have just received the reward for being the biggest douche bag on the internet. I spoke to customer service at 800-649-1856 and they all think your a douche bag too. www.nationalautowarranty.com
Posted by: Palm Beach | August 14, 2008 1:10 PM
Believe what you want. National Auto Warranty Services and Dealer Services no longer dabbles in telemarketing.
If you post a number I can check to see which company it actually is instead of everyone blaming the wrong people. Since you know, they're the only company with a number that can be traced. Fancy that, they're not hiding.
Posted by: Jim | August 18, 2008 5:22 PM
Also, in reference to my using different locations in internet profiles. The answer to that is simple - I don't want people like Jack here finding out where I really live. :)
Posted by: Jim | August 18, 2008 5:25 PM
July 30:
"They do NOT dial outbound to their customers."
August 18:
"...National Auto Warranty Services and Dealer Services no longer dabbles in telemarketing."
Which one is it, "Jim?"
"If you post a number I can check to see which company it actually is instead of everyone blaming the wrong people."
So, "Jim," what value to you propose to offer? Are you going to perform a Google search to lookup a phone number, something that you seem to think other people cannot do?
Those people that are the prey to fraudulent telemarketers already know that they spoof fake numbers on the caller IDs and refuse to provide company contact information when asked. Both are in direct violations of federal laws.
So, "Jim," what do you propose to do if people post numbers?
In addition, I read the links above, and the Missouri lawsuit against National Auto Warranty Services is not just about violations of telemarketing laws. To quote the Missouri press release, "National Auto Warranty Services Inc., of Wentzville, which also sent consumers postcards and letters informing them that their warranties were about to expire, and that it was offering them their final chance to purchase a renewed, extended warranty. The company failed to inform the consumers that it was not affiliated with the dealers or manufacturers of the vehicle, and that it was actually offering to sell MVESCs instead of warranties."
So, "Jim," are you now going to tell us that this company no longer sends postcards, or offers the sale of misleading extended warranties too?
Posted by: Also Annoyed | August 21, 2008 10:56 AM
I have nothing to prove to the likes of you, anonymous poster.
If anyone actually gets a number by following the instructions I listed earlier then I will be more than happy to find out who the number belongs to. Also, as to how I find out to whom the number belongs is no business of yours.
Post a number and aid everyone, or go away.
DD: OK, I've let this back and forth go on long enough. This blog survives on helpful tips and knowledge from readers. Since there seems to be some question about motives here, how about we all just take my earlier advice and contact Verizon (or your phone provider) or the FTC with any numbers and info you have on telemarketers who are violating Do Not Call rules? I think that would serve everyone well. Thanks.
Posted by: Jim Vandiver | August 21, 2008 1:35 PM
I have been getting warranty calls to my cells, so I decided to go thru the process. Although I did not get the name of the company making the call, the person I talked to told me the warranty would be provided by Dealer Preferred Waranties in Shawnee, Kansas. They seem to be in league with Batts Communications Services, a NEC Associate Dealer in Raytown,MO.
I want to stop these calls --- HELP!!
Posted by: Mac Spicer | August 23, 2008 8:58 AM
Their number 321-504-7429. I spoke to a National Auto Warranty person today. After asking for the mileage on my two-year old car she hung up on me.
Posted by: E. Olasytnam | August 26, 2008 11:37 AM
Looks like someone is getting their @ss handed to them. It was only a matter of time. NAWS might want to change their name of sign the company over to someone else.
Either way I hope it hurts. Enjoy being sued by the State.
Posted by: cypherx | September 8, 2008 5:06 PM
National Auto Warranty Services / First Warranty Group Program / Warranty America Program / First Warranty Group / First Warranty Group of Florida and Fidelis are all The same. If you need any information on anyone Hire a private investigator and have them run a LOCATE and a BACKGROUND and a CORPORATE SEARCH on these crooks. I am in the process of filing against these both in civil and criminal courts.
Posted by: Fred | February 13, 2009 8:06 PM
Same story. I filed an FCC complaint a few months back and received a letter back from them. I have two cells with two different area codes and one number is kept semi-secret. They are now calling both and I am filing suit in Virginia circuit court by March 1. Initially it has to be in circuit (upper court) to allow the discovery. Good news is that the dollar amounts for circuit begin at 15 grand a pop. Thanks for coming out, please keep calling AND tell a friend.
Anyone else in Virginia who has info please let me know. Allen
Posted by: Virginia pissed off Lawyer | February 19, 2009 9:48 PM
They are certainly making their way through the NorthEast as well. They have no caller ID and call at all times of the day and night. I told them to stop calling me and the agent told me "Go F*ck youself!" and hung up. I even got a letter in the mail from US Fidelus a few weeks ago. IS THERE NO STOPPING THESE CLOWNS?
The FTC and the other 41 AGs pursuing this case for last 18 months seem to REALLY making a dent in this! I can only hope they somehow start calling Obama on his BlackBerry and this gets something done!
Posted by: Brad Nailer | March 25, 2009 2:14 PM
I'm getting half a dozen of these calls a day on 4 different numbers. Today I accepted their drone's invitation and talked to a "Cory Olson", who said he was with "Warranty Solutions" and referred me to a "knowledgeable warranty specialist", "Tim", who transferred me to "Lauren" of "Dealer Preferred".
I asked all for a phone number, and none would give me one. All said to look at the caller ID on my phone. (I tried that before, but the CID numbers are spoofed). Lauren hung up on me when she finally got wind I was trying to get info from them.
For what it's worth, google pointed me to Wachovia and a ripoff report:
http://www.wachoviadealer.com/Dealers/FIAftermarketProducts/default.asp
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/379/RipOff0379168.htm
Posted by: Frank | March 27, 2009 4:32 PM
i worked for national auto warrenty services for 2 months... from what i learned while i worked there is that its an auto dialer out of flordia that calls everyone... they told us that it takes 3 months to get off thier call list but that is a lie... i couldn't take the lies they had me telling people so i walked out and i have had a few calls from them myself and i told them that i knew the bull they were telling me cause i worked there before and not to call back that seemed to work for me im sorry to anyone who i called while i worked there... they call to regular people to businesses... i know i got hooked on to walmart and law firms so its not just to households anymore again im sorry
Posted by: Anonymous | April 9, 2009 1:00 PM