COMPANY CLAIMING TO BE AFFILIATED WITH PSEG/JCPL IS BREAKING DNCR and FCC RULES (Trenton: attorneys, law)

[risag]

yes, i have been getting a lot of these calls - continually. Every day, at least 6 times a day. The caller i.d. says either "Discount Center" or "IVR" or "Berlin, NJ" or "Camden, NJ" or "Andover, NJ". I don't pick up the calls at all. I let the machine take them.

I make a log of the calls that come in and then once a week I go to the DNC and I complain about the calls. So far no help there. I am going to have Xfinity block them.

Here are the numbers that I have gotten in the last week:

732-807-6294 (caller id said Asbury, NJ)
206-445-6112 (caller id said Seattle, WA) - I got this one on 8/27, 8/28, and yesterday at 4:24 pm)
973-786-1525 (caller id said Andover, NJ and i have gotten calls from them where there is just the number without the hyphens and no name) - they call every day - yesterday 11:44A and 2:40 pm)
856-335-1765 (caller id said IVR) and they have called 2 days in a row where one day it said IVR and the next day it said Berlin, NJ
856-283-4507 (caller id said Camden, NJ) twice in a minute yesterday and they just called again and it said Discount Center

I have been getting these calls just over and over and over. Very aggravating as the caller id only works on the downstairs tv and sometimes it isn't on. I have to run down the stairs and look at the caller id. If it actually someone, they leave a message. If not, I write it down and delete it from the phone. If I go outside, I come back in and there is another of these stupid calls. I told my son not to answer the phone unless he recognizes the number - it is his grandma, my best friend, his dad or one of his friends. Otherwise ignore the calls.

I wish the DNC would do something about these idiots. They are wasting time, and they are calling over and over. I get so frustrated by them. Why call if you aren't going to speak? My best friend got one of these calls today and they actually asked for her credit card number and she told them to F themselves.

For old people, they really believe what these people are saying and that is why they get ripped off. I told my MIL not to answer the phone if she doesn't recognize the caller id. Just because someone is calling you doesn't mean it is real or true. They tried a few months ago to scam her out of thousands of dollars, she was smart enough to call me and ask me about the call.

Anyway, what can be done about these idiots? Someone has to stop them.

[Docendo discimus]

After going through all the complaints on various call complaint boards, here is an updated list of phone numbers from this phone spamming company "Discount Center":

201-298-6973
206-397-1131
206-445-6112
206-496-0464
425-320-5045
609-138-9533
609-147-8799
609-149-8447
609-154-3675
609-156-2399
609-158-9945
609-161-7845
609-187-6500
609-357-1326
609-357-4842
732-189-5635
732-363-2835
732-383-5031
732-383-5074
732-383-5080
732-383-5194
732-637-9295
732-807-6294
732-907-2112
856-283-4507
856-335-1765
973-085-1515
973-138-9533
973-147-8799
973-149-8447
973-158-9945
973-161-7845
973-177-8600
973-189-5635
973-203-5588
973-241-4395
973-786-1525
973-929-3294


I have not received any responses for the complaints I filed with the FCC and the DNCR/FTC, and I continue to receive spam calls from an ever growing list of numbers.

I am reading that other people have been keeping lists of these spamming phone numbers and have been filing complaints with the FCC and the DNCR/FTC on a weekly basis. People are filing new complaints every damn week! It is absurd that this is happening.

I'm not sure anymore that either of these agencies can do anything since no one seems to know who this "Discount Center" company is, where they are located, or what their real contact information is.

The only updated info I have on this is that someone posted on one of the complaint threads that all of these numbers are associated with a telecom company called Level 3 Communications (Level 3 Communications | Connected We Stand).

Here is what that person posted:

"These phone numbers belong to level 3 communications. Their toll free call annoyance line is 877-371-8776 they verified the numbers"

"Please call 877-371-8776
These phone numbers belong to Level 3 communications and this is their annoyance call line. I just gave them this number and all the 20 other ones and repirted . They confirmed that these belong to them and am filing a complain to have my number removed."

"Just spike to Kimberly again at Level 3 communications, 877-371-8776. She stated that there ate two of their customers with whim these numbers are associated with. She said she sent them emails requesting my number be removed. She stated she cannot give me her customers names without a supeona, the best she can do is an email request to both. I find this NOT acceptable!!!"

Level 3 Communications is a phone provider like Verizon or ATT. I've never heard of them. From what I can tell, it seems they serve commercial businesses rather than non-commercial, private individuals. If anybody knows any different, please correct me.

I called them today myself and all they did was pass the buck. The person I spoke to would only check one phone number on my list of 20+ that were spamming me, and all she would verify is that it is a "SPOOFED" number, i.e., not a real telephone number, and she can't tell from the caller ID info who the caller is.

This is a different story now from the other person's experience that I quoted, wherein that person was told by Level 3 that these numbers "belonged to them" or that they belonged to 2 of their clients, whose identities can not be divulged. Furthermore, they told me the only thing I could do was call MY telephone provider and tell THEM to block these calls. Similarly, another person posted that when they called Level 3, they were told by a Level 3 rep that Level 3 couldn't do anything because Level 3 was not that person's phone carrier. As I already posted, calling your own phone carrier to complain about these spam calls does not work for various reasons. In fact, someone else posted that they DID, as per Level 3's "advice", call their own phone company and were told that they could not do anything because they were not the carrier for these phone numbers.

By the way, when I spoke with Level 3, the rep did NOT offer to email a complaint to anyone, telling them to remove my phone number from their system. I didn't bother asking her to do it either because this is nonsense. If these spam companies won't, as per FEDERAL REGULATIONS, comply with YOUR direct, verbal request to remove your phone number, they're not going to listen to a 3rd party's halfhearted email request to do it. I doubt Level 3 would really email anyone about removing your phone number anyway. They're just blowing smoke up your ass.

STILL, if you are getting harassing calls, I encourage you to call Level 3. First of all, I'm curious to see what line of pass the buck B.S. they'll give the next person, and second of all, maybe if enough people complain, Level 3 will start to take some real action. Or at least stop protecting their scam artist clients.



Lately, I have been getting non stop calls from 206-445-6112. Today, I answered the call and waited for a live rep. Again, they are only identifying themselves as "Discount Center". However, now, they are claiming to represent "30 local utility companies". Their new spiel is that they are not calling to try and make you switch companies, they are merely calling to see what discounts you qualify for, and if you would just give them your name and account number, they'll hook you up. AND AGAIN, when I ask to have my phone number removed, they lie and say "I'll do that right away" and then call 30 minutes later.

TIP: This is just a guess, but if you ignore the calls altogether (i.e., don't answer them AT ALL--don't answer and hang up, and don't press 'END' on the call--just let it ring and IGNORE) they'll call less frequently. Today, I answered one of the calls and have gotten 5 calls by 3:30 PM. Up till today, I was "only" getting 1 call per day from this number. I've had the same experience with a bunch of other numbers from this company.



ANYONE THINK OF ANY BRIGHT IDEAS ON HOW TO MAKE THESE CALLS STOP? Who else to get involved? How to find out the identity of "DISCOUNT CENTER"?

I am about ready to punch holes in the wall.

[Docendo discimus]

Originally Posted by risag

For old people, they really believe what these people are saying and that is why they get ripped off.

Yep. Senior citizens are easy targets for these types of calls.

And by the way, people that HAVE taken this scam company up on their offer of a supposed "discounted" bill have posted either that the bill is lowered only for a couple of months, and then it skyrockets, OR, they have posted that the bill is discounted but there are a bunch of hidden fees that make it even more expensive.

[ocnjgirl]

I assume ALL the calls are actually from sources out of the country. The FCC probably can't do too much to stop them, just like no one can stop all the spam e-mails that try to trick people into thinking it's their bank, credit card company, etc. and rip them off.

[beachouse]

I'm going to get a smart phone and get this app.

iBlackList

I think you can type in an area code and then 7 zero's and block area codes as well as specific #'s.

[ocnjgirl]

Yeah, but if you look at that list, they are all NJ area codes, so you wouldn't be able to receive calls from anyone in NJ!

[Carnivore]

The telemarketers are spoofing their caller ID just like spammer spoof their E-mail headers. And they're operating from outside the US.

File as many complaints as you want, I don't see any sign of government agencies or law enforcement doing anything about it which is why the telemarketing crap has increased so exponentially lately. Nobody in charge cares.

[Aceofshane13]

If you all have a complaint you should call the "discount center" or savings center" or whom ever they are calling themselves this week as it does change often, directly at 1800 479 0776. The main guy is at this location Arash or something like that. They do not care at all about adding people to their do not call list. Even employees complain! It is terrible harrasment you should not have to put up with. They have programs they know will not help anyone and they simply tell employees to not discuss rates, or "avoid it at all costs." .

--This is all truth, including a direct quote from an supervisor whos name I was not there long enough to remember, but would his face.

[qjbusmaster]

Here is an instafix if you have a HIGH-END android smartphone you should have a settings feature called the reject list if not download mr number an app that exposes their number and can block their numbers easily. Soon apps like these will become so commonplace these harrasing calls may become extinct as it gets harder to even get through to suckers they will soon give up or be put out of business due to technology changes and the death of the home phone.

[rscalzo]

Now if they would only ban all the political calls I'm getting hourly.