Announced today 3/12/14:

http://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases ... called-millions

FTC Reaches Settlement With Home Security Company that Called Millions of Consumers on the National Do Not Call Registry

The Federal Trade Commission, with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice, has settled a complaint against a Massachusetts-based home security company that illegally called millions of consumers on the FTC?s National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry to pitch home security systems.

According to the FTC, Versatile Marketing Solutions (VMS), under the guidance of its owner, Jasjit Gotra, called millions of consumers whose names and phone numbers VMS bought from lead generators. The lead generators claimed that those consumers had given VMS permission to contact them about the installation of a free home security system, but in reality, they had not. In its complaint, the FTC alleges that the defendants? tactics violated the Commission?s Telemarketing Sales Rule.

The sales leads were obtained by illegal means through rampant use of robocalls from ?Tom with Home Protection,? fake survey calls, and calls to phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry. According to the complaint, VMS subsequently called these consumers without first checking to see if they had registered their telephone numbers on the DNC Registry.

In addition, the complaint alleges that VMS ignored warning signs that the lead generators were engaged in illegal telemarketing practices. For example, many consumers contacted by VMS complained that they had not given the company permission to call, nor had they given permission to receive a robocall. Despite mounting complaints, VMS continued buying leads from the same lead generators, and calling consumers using those leads.

?Companies that use lead generators must exercise due diligence when they buy lists of phone numbers,? said Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC?s Bureau of Consumer Protection, ?or else they can be on the hook for illegal telemarketing. Relying on a say-so that the numbers were obtained legally, or that the consumers have agreed to be called, even if their numbers are on the Do Not Call Registry, isn?t enough.?    

According to the complaint, between November 2011 and July 2012, VMS made more than two million calls to consumers to try to sell home security goods and services. Of those calls, at least one million were to phone numbers listed on the DNC Registry, and more than 100,000 were to consumers who had previously told VMS not to call them again ? another violation of the DNC rules.

The stipulated final court order settling the charges prohibits VMS and Gotra from making abusive telemarketing calls and from calling any consumer whose number is on the DNC Registry, unless they can prove that they have received written permission to make the call or that they have an established business relationship with that consumer. Further, it bars defendants from calling any consumer who has previously told VMS not to call them again. The order also places restrictions on how defendants can obtain and use lead-generated phone numbers in the future.

Finally, the order imposes a $3.4 million penalty judgment against the defendants, with all but $320,700 suspended due to their inability to pay. The entire amount will become due if the defendants are found to have misrepresented their financial condition.

The court settlement announced today resolves the FTC?s complaint against Versatile Marketing Solutions, Inc. also doing business as VMS Alarms, VMS, Alliance Security, and Alliance Home Protection; and its owner, Jasjit Gotra.

The Commission vote authorizing the staff to refer the civil penalty complaint to the Department of Justice, and to approve the proposed consent decree, was 4-0. The DOJ filed the complaint and proposed consent decree on behalf of the Commission in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts on March 10, 2014. The proposed consent decree is subject to court approval.

NOTE: The Commission authorizes the filing of a complaint when it has ?reason to believe? that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. Consent judgments have the force of law when signed by a district court judge.

Information for Consumers and Business

The FTC has a new blog post for consumers on the DNC Registry, as well as two consumer education videos explaining robocalls and describing what consumers should do when they receive one. The Commission also has a new blog with business education information. General information on the DNC Registry is also available on the website.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC?s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC?s website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics. Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.

the person calls and no one answers and when we call them back, the phone number does not exist

Alliance has called me many times, despite my number being registered with the DNCR. Complaints to the DNCR and the BBB have gone nowhere. Apparently the only thing that MAY convince this company to change its advertising methods is to cost them money. Take as much of their time as possible, preferably setting up appointments for installation, and then cancel/change your mind/don't be at home. I say this MAY convince them because I have just had them come for the second time (oops - not home...) and have set up a THIRD appointment... WOOHOO - great fun, and knowing that I'm helping to eliminate a societal nuisance is very satisfying!

Alliance Security wants to sell alarm system for my home.
Lead him on to I was interested. Gave him my old work address.
Will be sending an installer to my old work address that the building has been converted into condominiums.
Waste my time, huh-huh, yours is wasted worse.

Jane: How are you connecting the dots betweem VMS, Versatile and Alliance?  I presently have 2 lawsuits filed against VMS and Versatile in Ohio.  What was the clue that caused you to connect ALliance to Jasjit?

These people have been robo calling me for months with a scam.  I finally got just enough info to figure out who they are and now you can call them back at home and on their direct business line.

ALLIANCE SECURITY
ALLIANCE SECURITY LLC
NORTH AMERICA ALLIANCE SECURITY, LLC

2720 N STEMMONS FWY STE 300
DALLAS, TX 75207-2237    855-669-2559
2920 N STEMMONS FWY
DALLAS, TX 75247-6103    214-452-1496
9330 LYNDON B JOHNSON FWY STE 900
DALLAS, TX 75243-3443    


Company Name:    ALLIANCE SECURITY LLC
Address:    9330 LYNDON B JOHNSON FWY STE 900
DALLAS, TX 75243-3443
DALLAS COUNTY
Contact Name:    DIAZ, RICARDO
GOVERNING PERSON

Business Information
Company Name:    ALLIANCE SECURITY LLC
Address:    9330 LYNDON B JOHNSON FWY STE 900
DALLAS, TX 75243-3443
DALLAS COUNTY
Contact Name:    GOTRA, JASJIT
GOVERNING PERSON

Home residence:
Name:    GOTRA, JASJIT S
375 SHIPPEE RD
EAST GREENWICH, RI 02818-1044
KENT COUNTY
Date of Birth:    08/1981
(401) 336-3798- Jasjit Gotra

(401)-398-8289
GALVIN NINA- Lives at same address  
(12/2012-Current)


Business Information
Company Name:    ALLIANCE SECURITY LLC
Address:    9330 LYNDON B JOHNSON FWY STE 900
DALLAS, TX 75243-3443
DALLAS COUNTY
Contact Name:    PATTERSON, JODY
GOVERNING PERSON


Residence:
This may or may not be the same person but is the best hit.
PATTERSON, JODY MEGAN
PATTERSON, JODY M
PATTERSON, JODY
(Gender: Female)
(DOB: 01/1980)
(Age: 33)
PO BOX 3054
ALBANY, TX 76430-8051
SHACKELFORD COUNTY

32 S PECAN ST
ALBANY, TX 76430-2562
SHACKELFORD COUNTY
Phone (325)762-2804
PATTERSON J (Current Listing Name)

This company are complete harassers and scamers the have called me a total of 4 times today with 4 different numbers on my cell phone. which by the cannot be legal. here are a few more numbers to avoid. 561-465-2369, 214-452-0007, 401-562-1450. Your not fooling anyone. You need to be shut down.

I don't follow what people consider a "scam" We are in the business of installing home security systems. We offer affordable protection to homeowners and we provide outstanding customer service. We have been in business since 2003 and over the years grown from 2 employees to 200 employees. When everyone has been laying off people we have hired and provided all these meaningful jobs.

Our only vice is that as we grew rapidly we couldn't afford technologies that we have in place today. This resulted in calls to people that were on dnc. We have fixed many of the issues we faced and we are doing our best to run a business and keep our customers and non-customers happy every day.

We do not hide from any reason or anybody and I am available for anyone that wants to speak with me for any issues that are being created due to our business practices. legal@alliancesecurityinc.com Thanks you

Anthony is a representative of Alliance home Protection. Alliance Home protection is an authorized dealer for Monitronics. If we called you then you may have recently gotten a system installed by alliance home protection and we are trying to reach you for a payment owed. If you have any questions or concerns then please do not hesitate to call us at 877-746-2559

Anthony from ALLIANCE said he is a collector for Monitronics Alarm Co., but they have their own billing/collection department and told me not to give out any info to Alliance.  Monitronics has no idea who they are.

they call and say they are the billing department for Monitronics Alarm Co.  I spoke with Monitronics Alarm Co. (who I have business with) and they said they have no idea who Alliance is and that they (Monitronics) have their own billing department and for me not give info out to them.  I get a guy named Anthony calling from Alliance - sounds nice enough but I told him that Monitronics knows nothing about Alliance Billing and he said they would if you gave them my dealer number.

Sounds like a scam that Alliance is running to get your bank account/Visa info.

Good information about it being a scam. I answered the call then hung up because I soon figured out it was a scam.

You should file a complaint with the Texas Private Security Bureau. Alliance is not licensed in Texas to operate as an alarm company, which includes making telephone sales calls. There is a criminal penalty (Class A Misdemeanor) for this violation. Alliance is a name switch to avoid the negative "F" rating that VMS Alarms or Versatile marketing Solutions has with the BBB. Different name, same ole people.

Call from Alliance Security - telemarketing

New number from old friend Alliance Security. Same old scam.