800-266-9420

They call me 2 or 3 times a day. Not sure who are they and what do they want. I tryed to call them back but the line was busy.

PLEASE REMOVE ME FROM YOUR CALLING LIST.

Don't answer these calls. A woman called me, she knew my name and said that she is calling regarding my Platinum Visa credit card ending in **** (the numbers were correct, I do have a credit card with those numbers). I asked what bank she is calling from and she hung up on me!

Hi folks, want to fill you in on a few things about these calls.
First: they come from a company by the name of Platinum One Marketing Group, Inc, located at 18562 US Hwy 19 N, Clearwater, Fl 33764. Telephone number (727)536-8800. However, they are moving by the end of the month but maybe we can follow them by their web site. They may change their name and number but it appears they will be staying in the Clearwater area as they are keeping the same employees.

Second: The hang up call aren't that hard to explain. The calls are made by a computer and once the call is answered it then attempts to find an employee who isn't busy to take it. If it can't find anyone free then it simply "drops" the call and goes on to the next number that is programmed. The Federal Telemarketing Rules states that they must play a tape giving the company's name and a call back number before they "drop" the call but of course this company doesn't do that. In addition, the number that we have grown to hate appears to be a call-out number only.

If you google - map the address you will see that they are currently located next door to a McDonald's out on US-19. If you mention that to the callers you will see a attitude change or they may simply hang up and take you off the list.

They seem to get our name/number/last numbers of our cards by purchasing them from motel desk clerks etc. A routine purchase doesn't give all that information.

They are not connected with the "Visa Platinum" cards nor with "Capitol One", they simply use the name to create confusion by sounding familiar.
Please go to the following web site to understand a little more about what they are trying to pull. It is legal but the tatics that they use on the phone are harrassment:

http://www.ketv.com/consumerwatch/10880667/detail.html

Don't let them get to you, being informed is your best defense. A call (or go online) to the BBB Florida and your local BBB is a good thing. But most important, put your phone number on the "Federal Do Not Call List". Best of luck to all of you!

Found this:
www.platinum1marketinggroup.com

Phone - 800-915-2979
Fax - 727-531-4836

File a complaint with the BBB of West Florida.

I've been getting these calls too. I've got a guerilla tactic for these kinds of jokers. Give them a taste of their own medicine.
Since I've found their office numbers I am waging a one man campagn to drive them crazy. I call up and hang up or yell "GOTCHA" or since they answer the local number by saying "corprate" I'll parrot them in a silly voice and hang up. I know technically I'll pulling a crank call but I don't think that a telemarketer operating on the razors edge of legality will seek police intervention. Anyhow it soothing to deal some anoyance back at them.

  I finally answered a call from 800-266-9420 after seeing the number on my cell's caller ID for the past couple of weeks. However, it wasn't a telemarketing call! The person on the other end was trying to sound like a child and was talking with a slight lisp. They kept asking my name and I kept responding, "who is this?" He/she finally responded, "This is Thomas." When I pressed for more info they just kept saying, "This is Thomas." They also said something about selling candy and "I'm from eBay." When I kept pressing they started saying my first name everytime they spoke. Eventually they hung up. It was actually kind of creepy.
  As for the consumer watch mentioned above, I received a call from a number with a 703 area code shortly after the "Thomas call." I've seen that number on my phone before too. The woman wouldn't tell me where she was calling from, but I kept leaning on her for the info. She said was representing Tesco. When I asked where she got my phone number and other info, she hung up.
  In researching Tesco the only thing I could tie into the consumer watch report is a company in the UK (Tesco.com). Coincidentally, they have discount clubs like the ones we are being solicited for.

I've reported this number and their wide-spread scamming harassment calls to Verizon Wireless.  They seemed very concerned and the person I spoke with has forwarded the information to her manager for review.  Everyone please report this to your respective phone companies, because they are the ones with the power to do something about this.  If they get enough complaints, they will really investigate the matter and possibly block the number.  

In the mean time, if you have a cell phone and you don't want to change your number, I suggest adding 800-266-9420 to your contacts and setting a custom ring tone for them (a very quiet one!) so you know when it rings you don't have to pay attention to it.

UPDATE - After filing a complaint with the BBB of West Florida, I have not received ONE call from this number, and they responded to my complaint by saying I had been removed from their list.

I got a call on 21 feb 8:44 PM. Caller ID  1-800-266-9420 name unknown

Him: "Is DM home?"

Me: "Who's calling?"

Him: "I'm calling from XYZ corp" (I don't remember the exact company  name) I'm calling you about your mortgage"

Me:  "DM is not available now"

Him: "Then why did you say that?"

Me:  "Excuse me?: (no longer polite)

Him: "Why the f--k did you.."

Me:  (I don't remember exactly what I said before terminating the call but it wasn't pleasant)

Apparently business isn't good lately for these idiots and it is getting to them.

I am on both the fed and state NO Call List but I suspect that because of the supposed prior busness relationship that they BS you with they so far have gotten away with this illegal practice.  I notice that they always have info that would indicate that you
have communicated with them prior to the call and as such they are somehow exempt from the do not call regs.  I am going to do some further research on this; there are $ involved if you successfully
prove repeated do-not-call violations.

PS

some tactics:

listen intently to the sales pitch (waste alot of their time) with the apparent intent of buying.  Have them explain all aspects twice or more.  Ask questions and make comments that appear to lead to additional leads for them such as "My cousin told me about something similar and he is real interested himself but he dosn't know where he heard of it. After we're done I will get his number for you.  Hey is there a discount if I get more people involved?"

Then after wasting as much time as possible you can just hang up or go for the gold:

A. Give the guy false info (completely random CC #) then when he says it's no good take some time to get another random CC #.  Repeat as needed.

B. Even better, just string him out as long as humanly possible and then have him hold while you get your CC.  and hold...  and hold....
A muted speaker phone is very useful here.  ;^)

Remember that the majority of the what the guy gets is "no" and the length of these "no" contacts is usually less than 15 sec

While he is tied up with you he is denied the very rare "yes" call and there is nothing more irritating to them than this.  They are absolutely immune to verbal abuse but waste their precious time and you have very effectively given a little back to them.

One more:

Never answer your phone "Hello?" if you suspect (caller ID) a telemarketer.  (I prefer "Hoy Hoy")

Reason is the computer dialing system discards calls that reach fax machines, answering equipment, etc all of which respond with something other than "Hello".

So say "Good Day" (like Paul Harvey)
and you will hear silence. (the dialer drops you for the next victim)

Have fun

How Do I Stop These People From Running Up My Fracken Cell Mins.
I answer and they hang up. I can't even call them back.

These bastards call me and I answer and they say nothing.  They call at least twice a day.  I want to kick them in the ovaries.  Any help?

They called me today from a different number. I was quick to inform them there I have already filed a complaint with the BBB and will now be filing another one.