"Clean Air" Duct Cleaning - Telemarketers (Charlotte: lawyer, live)

[paulosfm]

For weeks, if not months, I get calls from a 980-220-0172 and another 704 number (same outfit) trying to line me up for duct cleaning services. I made the mistake of hitting #2 to be removed (I KNOW better).

These people use dummy numbers, from 1888 and 1800 to others I am sure. HOWEVER, there is a contact number in Charlotte where you can contact and get a live person who "will take you off the call list" - the Do NOT Call list withstanding. Then, the conversation ends when you are cut off. I've been calling their other numbers

There is a legitimate company in Chicago that is having its business negatively affected by the telephone scammers because they are using that company's name and they have repeatedly called the company telling them to cease.

If you are getting the robo calls, here's a number you can call in Charlotte. It's 1-800-208-9887. If you get one of these air duct cleaning under a name of EBC Green Green Air or ABC Green Air or anything close to that, it's the same crowd. Call the 1-800 number and tell them you want off the call list and that you are filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission AND the NC Attorney General. Every time I get a call in the future, I have saved their 1800 number and I'll be calling them. If I could get an address for these knuckleheads I'll be eyeballing them, because I am fed up.

The owner for this telemarketing company lives in NY. I'd give a steak dinner to anyone who can get me a name, address and phone number, but you can bet he lives under rock with no way to contact him unless you can turn over the rock.

I wonder if anyone knows people who have used these operators only to find they've been scammed.

[businessperson]

Thanks for the info; I plan to call the 800 number.

[StevenNC]

I just got the same call from a phantom caller ID number. I pretended I was interested and set up an appointment for Friday. I've learned that if you challenge the telemarketer on the lawfulness of their activity, you get hung up on and there's no way to track them down.

When the guy they send out arrives, I'm going to get his business card and everything I need to identify the company he works for before letting him know that I'm going to file a complaint with the FTC and perhaps with the AG's office.

It is unlawful for telemarketers not to periodically expunge from their call list numbers that appear on the national Do Not Call list. Pre-recorded messages are also prohibited by law. Liquidated triple damages are available and filing a complaint is relatively easy in small claims court and the standard of proof is straight forward, and by my count they're looking at about $3,000 in liquidated damages. The duct cleaning company is vicariously liable for the actions of its telemarketer. I'm going to send the company a demand letter and see if they'll settle for a quick $500. Otherwise it's going to cost them a lot more than that when I drag them to court and they have to pay an attorney to respond to my suit.

I encourage others to do the same. You don't need a lawyer -- there's plenty of information available online and can probably handle this on your own through small claims for a relatively small filing fee.

[Semperparatus!]

Originally Posted by StevenNC

I just got the same call from a phantom caller ID number. I pretended I was interested and set up an appointment for Friday. I've learned that if you challenge the telemarketer on the lawfulness of their activity, you get hung up on and there's no way to track them down.

When the guy they send out arrives, I'm going to get his business card and everything I need to identify the company he works for before letting him know that I'm going to file a complaint with the FTC and perhaps with the AG's office.

It is unlawful for telemarketers not to periodically expunge from their call list numbers that appear on the national Do Not Call list. Pre-recorded messages are also prohibited by law. Liquidated triple damages are available and filing a complaint is relatively easy in small claims court and the standard of proof is straight forward, and by my count they're looking at about $3,000 in liquidated damages. The duct cleaning company is vicariously liable for the actions of its telemarketer. I'm going to send the company a demand letter and see if they'll settle for a quick $500. Otherwise it's going to cost them a lot more than that when I drag them to court and they have to pay an attorney to respond to my suit.

I encourage others to do the same. You don't need a lawyer -- there's plenty of information available online and can probably handle this on your own through small claims for a relatively small filing fee.

Great information, thank you for sharing!