Just received a call from this number I live in Alaska they did not leave a message

Out of the blue I just received a call from these people. They said my nuber was chosen at random to receive a 100 and 50 discount gift card for a survey I did. They said they wanted me to try out products and give my review. I ask which survey I had done, they didn't have an answer. I went along with Jody173 and was transferred to the supervisor... To the supervisor I asked how much. She said a shipping/activation of a one time 1.95... The whole time they kept repeating the same statements over and over. I told the supervisor I didn't want it and she said "okay, thank you" and we hung up.

Bear, contact the hospital and ask them for the paper work to help pay the bill. Most have these programs and just don't come out and offer it. They can get you a discount, or paid in full. Some even have what they call a "charity care" program where you covered for a few month's and renew it every few month's.   They fail to tell folks these things!

Secondly, these guy's break FDCPA laws.

Section 809 of the FDCPA http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf requires 3rd-party debt collectors to give debtors written notice of debt (the key word is *shall*) :
"§ 809. Validation of debts
(a) Within five days after the initial communication with a consumer in connection with the collection of any debt, a debt collector shall, unless the following information is contained in the initial communication or the consumer has paid the debt, send the consumer a written notice containing?
(1) the amount of the debt;
(2) the name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed;
(3) a statement that unless the consumer, within thirty days after receipt of the notice, disputes the validity of the debt, or any portion thereof, the debt will be assumed to be valid by the debt collector;
(4) a statement that if the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within the thirty-day period that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, the debt collector will obtain verification of the debt or a copy of a judgment against the consumer and a copy of such verification or judgment will be mailed to the consumer by the debt collector; and
(5) a statement that, upon the consumer?s written request within the thirty-day period, the debt collector will provide the consumer with the name and address of the original creditor, if different from the current creditor."
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A Collection Agent May Not?

Here are the top 11 actions prohibited by the The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act:

Misrepresent Him or Herself

  A debt collector may not misrepresent himself as an attorney or law enforcement officer.

Use the Telephone to Annoy or Harass

  A collection agent may not cause a telephone to ring or engage any person in telephone conversation repeatedly or continuously with an intent to annoy, abuse, or harass anyone at the called number.

Threaten Arrest or Lawsuit

  A collection agent may not threaten a consumer with arrest. It may not threaten legal action that is either not permitted or not actually contemplated. In other words, a the threat of a lawsuit may be an empty one.

Use Abusive or Threatening Language

  A debt collector may no use abusive or profane language in the course of communication related to the debt.

Publish a Bad Debt List

  Publishing the consumer?s name or address on a "bad debt" list is prohibited.

Contact By Embarrassing Media

  A debt collector may not communicate with a consumer by post card. It may not use any language or symbol, other than the debt collector?s address, on any envelope when communicating with a consumer by use of the mails or by telegram. A debt collector may use its business name if such name does not indicate it is in the debt collection business.

Contact a Consumer at Work

  A collection agent may not communicate with consumers at their place of employment after being told this is unacceptable or prohibited by the employer.

Seek Unjustifiable Amounts

  A debt collector may not demand any amounts not permitted under an applicable contract or as provided under law.

Contact a Consumer Represented by an Attorney

  A collection agent may not contact a consumer after it learns the consumer is represented by a lawyer.

Communicate With a Consumer After Receiving a Validation Request

  If a consumer sends a written §1692g response within 30 days, the collection agent may not communicate with the consumer until it mails the consumer the requested verification of original creditor's name and address.

Communicate With Third Parties

  A debt collector may not reveal or discuss the nature of a consumer?s debts with third parties other than the consumer?s spouse or attorney. A collection agent may contact neighbors or co-workers only to obtain location information. It may contact a third party again if it has reason to believe the information the party provided previously is false.

Bills.com FDCPA FAQ

Below are questions Bills.com readers ask frequently:

Can a Collection Agent Call My Cell Phone?

  Yes. However, if you tell the debt collector it may not use that number because it is a cell phone, it may not contact you again at that number.

I Keep Receiving Dozens of Calls From Collection Agents. Is That Legal?

  No. Unscrupulous collection agents will use "block parties" or "office parties" where they contact a consumer, multiple neighbors, or co-workers telling them they need to reach the consumer on an urgent matter. This is not permitted under the FDCPA.

A Collector Says I Will Be Arrested if I Do Not Pay

  This was a true statement before the US Civil War, but has not been true since. People may be arrested if an aggressive judge files a bench warrant for a person who does not appear at a hearing relating to a lawsuit regarding a debt. However, in that case, the offense is the failure to respond to a court order, and not the existence of the debt. As stated above, it is illegal under the FDCPA to threaten a consumer with arrest if the consumer does not pay the debt.

Please do file reports with the FBI, your state attorney general and Department Of Justice,FTC & FCC..

http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
http://www.fbi.gov/
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/
https://esupport.fcc.gov/ccmsforms/form1088.action
https://complaints.donotcall.gov/complaint/complaintcheck.aspx?panel=2

Also read up on the laws and your rights:

http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpajump.shtm
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/search ...
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0096-fair-credit-reporting-act.pdf

And see:

http://800notes.com/forum/ta-86217073a9c8dad/ ... 077595690349410
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http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors
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http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/pressreleases/extortion_scam.htm

(Sorry, first post didn't contain the intro information)  Bear

I'm certain this is a collection agency...  These people buy bad debts from those we may owe then try and collect.  Let's say I owe $250 to a hospital.  After a couple of years, penalties and interest have made the debt $800.  They (the hospital's bad debt dept) will try and try to get me to pay that $800, but eventually stop trying.  Companies like this "buy" that debt from the hospital for - say - $100.  Hey, the hospital gets something and most likely breaks even or even gets a little profit as their charges are already inflated.

Then, these guys harrass us up and down, threatening legal action and even say things like "a warrant was issued."  Yep, they can get scary...  We tell them we don't have $800!  So, they offer a deal for us to pay only $300.  

That company just made 300% profit.

So, when I get a chance - and I know the exact companies I owe - I make the deals like these dirtbag companies do directly, with in this case, the hospital.  they don't care who pays the money, as long as they get something.

Hope I wasn't too confusing :)

Then, these guys harrass us up and down, threatening legal action and even say things like "a warrant was issued."  Yep, they can get scary...  We tell them we don't have $800!  So, they offer a deal for us to pay only $300.  

That company just made 300% profit.

So, when I get a chance - and I know the exact companies I owe - I make the deals like these dirtbag companies do directly, with in this case, the hospital.  they don't care who pays the money, as long as they get something.

Hope I wasn't too confusing :)

I'm certain this is a collection agency...  These people buy bad debts from those we may owe then try and collect.  Let's say I owe $250 to a hospital.  After a couple of years, penalties and interest have made the debt $800.  They (the hospital's bad debt dept) will try and try to get me to pay that $800, but eventually stop trying.  Companies like this "buy" that debt from the hospital for - say - $100.  Hey, the hospital gets something and most likely breaks even or even gets a little profit as their charges are already inflated.

Then, these guys harrass us up and down, threatening legal action and even say things like "a warrant was issued."  Yep, they can get scary...  We tell them we don't have $800!  So, they offer a deal for us to pay only $300.  

That company just made 300% profit.

So, when I get a chance - and I know the exact companies I owe - I make the deals like these dirtbag companies do directly, with in this case, the hospital.  they don't care who pays the money, as long as they get something.

Hope I wasn't too confusing :)

received a call from this number and they just held the phone never responding to my repeated hellos as though it was a very errrrrie call frighting and such obsene  what is this CID says APPOINTMENT that it. this all came at the wrong time creating unreasonable complications in a already stressed home.

Got this call...never picked up. No voice message was left either.

Called offering gift cards from a product testing site I'd supposedly "registered" with. Tried getting me to let them record me saying certain things.

Got a call on my cell phone...did not answer.  No caller ID just the number itself.    So glad to read the previous posts.

I JUST got a phone call from them and I never filled out any type of survey.  Everytime I would tell them that, they would ignore me and continue talking... eventually, I was able to get a few words out and asked them where they got my phone # because I DID NOT fill out any survey, anywhere, and they hung up on me... definitely a scam..

Same thing. Jody, script, and anytime I asked a question about what I would be charged they just re-read the script or put me on with a pre-recorded script.

Got a call from this on a cell phone. For some prices that I have won. Hanged up

THey told me the same thing. I have NEVER taken online surveys. NEVER!! I agree this si a SCAM!

They tried to convince me to give them my home address & full name spelled out & that I would receive a 100 dollar gift card & a 50 dollar gift card for restaurant. The person who originally spoke was the exact same voice as the person who supposedly was a supervisor. I hung up on them. I then called the number back just to see what it said because I was trying to find a "business name" & it was a recording that said the voice mail box is full please try again later & disconnected. I am not falling for these crazy scams. it wouldnt take much for them to get my identity with my name & home address. Then I look on here & see where people said they are selling home security equipment! I say SCAM!!
They claimed to have employee ID numbers & all sorts of identification number sin whcih I wrote down to turn in. SCAM!!!!

They said they were from sample rewards and were going to give me a $100 gift card and a $50 Dining Gift card. They sounded like a robot... so I hung up!

I got a call from these people saying that they had 2 gift cards for me and were saying that they got my number from an online survey which is highly unlikely.  I think it was a scam but not sure cause I didnt give them my info.  I would be very apprehensive about trusting these people.  First they said they were a survey research company but then they gave me a website for md247.com which also seems like a scam or spam website.

got this number some broad, stated from SAMPLE AWARDS.COM, DIDN'T NOT LEAVE ANY SIGNIFICANT MESSAGE  JUST HELLO! MY NMAME IS JODY!

Just got a call from this person and I answered but then they hung up??

criminals are now added  to PRO call blocker version 2.0...the best $59 you will ever spend.
1200 number blocking capacity..up to 10 area codes can be blocked...also you can block criminals with no phone numbers on their caller ID.
blockers with 50 or 60 number capacity..you will run out of numbers in a couple of months.
FCC is in bed with these criminals:
1-do not answer the calls that you do not recognize.
2-search on awesome websites such as this one,for the phone number and once you see the numbers here,
3-stop wasting your time with useless reports and complaints and by a good blocker.

If you are lucky and have phone service with Comcast like I do here is a fun way to jack with these kinds of companies. Comcast's phone system allows you to block up to 12 phone numbers also blocks all anonymous phone calls, block all overseas phone numbers and the one I love it allows you to forward up to 12 regular phone calls (not 800 or 866 etc...) to another phone number.  I find legitimate phone numbers for these type of companies (the repeat offenders)  and forward all the calls I don't want to the legitimate phone numbers of companies that are repeat offenders and block up their incoming phone lines with similar garbage phone calls. I only wish Comcast would increase the amount of numbers you can block and forward.

Just says appointment.  Obviously living in ny I don't have an appointment in that area code. They are idiots, pick up then hang up, do this after the second ring, do it every time, eventually their system registers it as a non-functioning number (robo calls are stupid)"

I received multiple calls from 215-383-3357 over the last couple days while at work.  All I knew was that Caller ID said "Appointment", so thanks to those above who were actually able to identify these slugs.  Corporate America has become the same type of waste material as identity thieves and other assorted vermin - all in the name of "Free Market" enterprise - They spend millions buying Republican legislators on the state and natioanal levels, then ignore regulations passed to protect you because "regulations are evil and so is government" - grow a pair folks - file a complaint with "Complaints.DoNotCall.gov" and vote to remove the obstructionist, bought-and-paid-for politicians from office AND YOUR LIFE.

I am on the do not call list and these people have call me more than once

NO message, just says appointment in Caller ID
Caller: Appointment

You know you are living in a sick society when somebody bombs a marathon, but nobody does anything to a call center.

These vermin deserve it.

Same here. CID indicated "APPOINTMENT".  I had previously entered them in my call blocker (Digitone) so was unaware of the call untill I checked to see what numbers were blocked recently.  Thumbs up for call blockers. :-)

Call hang up from this number.  Can not blame government for these scammers.  They know it is illegal, which is why they are evasive in providing you information.  Numbers need to be reported to Do Not Call List constantly so that when they get a massive group of the same phone number they might be able to track them down.  Unfortunately these crooks are good at changing their phone number when they think someone may be on to them.  They look for the old, impaired, naive to buy into their scam.  Disgusting things that are supposedly "people" ...

Appointment.....to get senior citizens to pick up the phone. Then scare them with the FBI warning.Shameful.The real FBI should stop these scammers..

Just got a call and they didn't leave a message.  I never pick up these type of calls because all they want to know is if they have a 'live one.'