Yes, they are at it again, 800-920-0389 called my cell phone, said they were calling from Carlson bmo and that they were contacting all bmo mastercard holders then they paused, I assume waiting for me to confirm that I am a bmo mastercard holder.  They asked for me by name, I let them start their speil about whatever it was they wanted to sell, then interupted them and asked them to confirm who they were and why they were calling - they stammered a bit and asked me if I was a bmo mastercard holder - I told them that even if I was a mastercard holder of any card that I would contact them and not be solicited over the phone by someone purporting to be from some company that I had never heard of then they asked my name again and asked if I was a cardholder - I told them I was not comfortable with the conversation and ended the call.  I would expect that if Carlson BMO had anything to do with the Bank of Montreal and they were legit that they would be aware of who thier cardholders actually are and not have to have the person they are calling give that info to them.  When I called the number back there was a message first in french then english, then you are given the option to have your name removed from thier call list, when you select 1 to have your name removed from the list they ask that you give your name and spell it with your phone #.  I may be a bit exteme in my thoughts that possibly this is just another way for them to obtain portions of information about people that they can keep and add to to use later but really, think about it . . .   Even though I am not a cardholder I did contact BMO and asked them if they had a company doing this on thier behalf the BMO employee said that he had never heard of them and he took the phone number to report it.   So I would say yes this is a scam!

I get a call from this number once a day everyday for the past week on my cell #.  When I called the number from a land line you had two options #1 to add your number to "our" do-not-call list or #2 to have someone call you back.  Nothing to identify who was calling or why.

ALERT!

as of today, at least,
Sykes/Psychs (whatever) Enterprises is/are using
another NEW NUMBER :

800-920-0438

DON'T let your voice be heard.
If you call back out of curiosity
do NOT pick ANY options,
do not give any clue
or confirm that your
number is legitimate,
or that it is yours, or
that it is a corporate or private,
or residential number
or anything.

Leave your cards face down!

If you get caught in a conversation,
say you are a babysitter
with no authority to decide anything
or you have no address,
or you are moving,
or you are in the middle of a
medical emergency and need
the line free quick.
DO NOT CO-OPERATE!

good luck

(I'm going hunting for their head to crush!
and I can do it and get away with it, too!
-don't ask- just be glad I'm one-a-the-goodguys))

Hubby checked out number & it said "INMATE" Some scam from jail/prison maybe??

This number is now calling me several times a day. Tres annoying! And, to boot, the phone company can not block calls on a cell? What's up with that?

I got the call several times - telemarket message about insurance too.  I just hung up.   It also asked if I wanted to be on the do not call list.

Got calls from this number endlessly. I called back and it is Sykes Enterprise. So extremely annoying. If telemarketing is the only way to get business that is sooooooooo PATHETIC!!!!!!

I called back and they have a system in place to remove your name from their calling list.  Just press 1 and then enter your phone number. Your number will be removed the next business day. I checked and this is a legitimate call center who has been in business for 34 years (Sykes.com).

To stop this number 18009200389,finally available to get the call after a million missed calls and i say hello ,first step no one is there, just sounded like someone hammering in the background, but second step there is a lady sound me name and means she want to talk me , then nothing. I have to say this must be a Scam phone want to get detail infomation of you, they're criminals

they called me 6 time a week i finally got the jerk on the phone they were for bmo master card tring to sell me home owners credit and auto credit of 5% cash back when i use my card on renovations and on car repairs I dont own a car or home and they still wanted me to buy it. at that point i just repeated stop calling me stop calling me stop calling me no letting him get a word in so far no call today

they dont stop calling...a few times a day! and NO one is there when you answer

I got a response that this was Sykes Enterprises and inviting me to be put on the "Do Not Call" list.  However, they wanted my number which should be readily identifiable.  Don't know what the game is.

They are constantly calling me everyday.  I have a phone that records the phone number and time called.  In the last 1 hr and 14 minutes they called seven times - 15:35, 15:47, 15:56, 16:05, 16:31, 16:40 and at 16:49.  This is unacceptable and should not be allowed in Canada.  

You can call BMO 1-800-263-2263 and they will take your name and remove it from any future callings.  It will take up to a month.

I would suggest we start a boycott of BMO.  Call the 800 number to complain, and call all the local BOM locations you can.  Send emails to consumer groups, federal and provincial consumer departments and even local politicians.  

I also think that when a phone company has it licence renewed, they should be forced to offer no charge a service where a customer can specify which calls can come through, and all others would be blocked and/or a service where a customer can enter a number and it will be blocked.  When compared to many other countries, especially Europe and the Scandinavian countries, Canadians have poor consumer protection.

If we all make noise we can do something.

They call me every day. I  called them , and I chosed to delete my name off their list. It did not happen they called me next day. It is called Psych Enterprises, They are scamers.

scammers plain and simple, can the police do something to arrest these fuc###kers

I've have a couple of calls now from this number. I called back and got a recording saying "Thank you for calling Sykes Enterprises. We were calling you on behalf of one of our clients......" They give you the option of being put on their client's do not call list but they insist on you giving not only your phone number but your name. I hung up at that point because I don't want them to have my name. It's bad enough that they have my NON PUBLISHED phone number I don't want them to put my name and number together. So I guess I'll just have to put up with the calls coming in and ignoring them until they get tired of it and quit. Hopefully that will be soon!!

This number has been in my nightmares! I finally able to answer their call today! It was just BMO MasterCard trying to sell me identy theft insurance. I told her a firm "No". I don't think I will be hearing again from them any time soon. I wish everyone the best of luck but at least this should ease your concerns, it not a scam just those dreaded telemarketers

I've received two or three calls from this number every day for the past week. They never leave a message and if I answer no one is there. I have a two year old and a 20 day old baby- these calls are driving me bananas!  If I could figure out how to block the number I would :/

I have got the very suspicious call from this number. The caller told me that he is calling on behalf of Bank Of Montreal, but refused to identify itself and the company he is working for! The call was about some forced promotion that I would have to call for cancelletion as the only way to cancel the payment that I did not agree at all. looks like complete scam.

getting multiple calls from this number several times a day these past several weeks.

Never picked up because it's a 1-800 number. never was there a message.

Thanks for posting this! I've just added their number to my phone's "Reject" list. :-)

this caller keeps calling me, and leaves no message.  I screen my calls.  you knows its a scam, call when they can't even leave a message.

Debt Collectors – Collection Agency's do NOT fall under Do NOT Call registry, as they are not telemarketers.  However, they do constantly violate other Federal Laws, because us American's don't know the laws to protect us.  They are counting on that.  

- Federal Law says you don't have an obligation to Collection Agencies or Debt Collectors; you can send them a written letter and they cannot contact you after that.   This includes Attorney's in state's other than your state of residence.  The only Attorney's that can sue you, have to be licensed in your resident state.

A word of caution:  Some Law Firms do have Firms in other states, and Lawyers licensed in other states, so you have to do a little research before sending a Cease & Desist (Do Not Call & Go Away letter) to make sure they aren't in your resident state or you're likely to get sued by these #%#&*@!#%&@$^*.  

Once a debt collector makes contact with you, they also have to contact you within 5 days after the first phone call, letter etc., and give you validation/proof or judgment of the debt.  You are not required to ask for it.   They never do this!!!!

This law is known as the Fair Debt Collector Practices Act.  You can get it at FTC.gov; as well as other Consumer Protection Laws.

Most collection agencies, purchase your delinquent debt for pennies on the dollar.  Guess what? It is no longer your debt!!!  You don't have any agreement/contract with the debt collector or collection agency.  Your only agreement/contract was with the original creditor.

Do NOT agree to any payment arrangements, or you'll be creating an agreement/contract, where upon initial contact by the Debt Collector, one didn't exist.  The collection agencies are counting on you not knowing this little bit of information.  

The best advice I can give you is, do NOT talk to these idiots - they will leave you in a frustrated heap on the floor.  They lie, and will tell you whatever they need, in order to get you to commit to paying them.

The lies are illegal, but they honestly don't care, they're probably on commission for how much they collect from you and others like you.  

If you do answer the phone, do NOT give out your employer, social security #, DL #, Credit Card and/or Bank information, or any personal information.  Tell them to send you a written statement & you'll respond. Then hang up.  When you get that statement, google, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and you'll probably find a letter you can send them   Or:  send the letter I’ve enclosed that I use.  Sign and mail that letter Certified Mail, so you have a signature and confirmation of delivery!!!
RE
Account #  
Amount in Dispute: $  
Account #  

Dear  :

I am in receipt of your demand for payment.  However, this Notice is to confirm that I do not wish to be contacted again by you, and that you are hereby put on Notice to Cease Communication pursuant to 15 USC Section 1692c(c).  Failure to comply with said Notice shall result in a complaint filed and submitted to, the Federal Trade Commission, and possible legal remedies in an appropriate United States District Court.

In addition, PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT, I am not waiving my right to dispute the alleged debt asserted herein, but at this time I am under no obligation to respond.  

Sincerely,



Your Name
Address
City, state Zip



Certified Mail#:  


In the Law of Novation: if a debt is purchased by another, for that to be a legal owed obligation, a new contract / agreement has to be written and signed by all parties.  Google Law of Novation and read up!!!

No I am not an attorney, just a well knowledged, educated consumer.  I have spent the past 2 years studying various Federal Consumer Protection Laws.  

I wasn't just satisfied knowing I could send a letter to a Collection Agency/Debt Collector and they had to go away.  I read that in the Fair Debt Collector practices Act law;  I needed to know why, what law tells me the reason why I can.

Everything I have typed, I have learned basically on my own through reading, studying, printing out and binding the laws and underlining/highlighting them.  Not to mention the knowledge I have gained on my own fighting two lawsuits without an Attorney.

I was sued by a Collection Agency, and waiting for a Court date. The Collection Agency Attorney, sent us a letter willing to dismiss with prejudice our lawsuit, if I dismiss our Cross/Counter Claim for Fair Debt Collector Practices Act violations.  Oh, I forgot to mention, we do not have an Attorney representing us; and I have not had any legal experience, in the past whatsoever.

I have read / printed & bound, my State's Rules of Civil Procedure and Rules of Civil Procedure - Evidence.  I catch Attorneys on violations of State Rules of Civil Procedure all the time.  And our Judge's let them get away with it.

And for those of you who say pay up and quit being a deadbeat; it appears that you have never had your life turned upside down, because a good job, not high paying by any means, but a supposed secure job, got your hours cut by 3/4.  

And then a couple years later, as you are just recovering, you lose that job.  And when you are in your 50's, a new job is not so easy to come by.  And when that happens, then what?  

Or what about a major illness, guess you've never had that either - too bad.  Maybe if you did, you'd understand why and how people end up getting in financial straights. Not because they chose to, or decided they were going to find loopholes to get out of paying obligations etc.

What if the money isn't there to pay these debts to begin with?  We've been barely able to pay a mortgage, let alone credit cards etc. It's easy to tell someone else what to do.  I hope someday, something throws your secure little world off its axis, and you find yourself in the very situation as some of us here. Maybe then you'd learn it isn't such a cut/dry situation.

Oh, we've struggled.  And the job last hasn't exactly been replaced.  We're still behind in our Mortgage and trying to catch up, as with our other legal obligations.  I can't work because of various health conditions, or I would, including a part time job at least.  My husband started his own company with the tools of the trade, and now contracts for copier, computer, IT technical jobs as he has a computer science degree, and has years of experience in the others, especially the wide format copier / printers / computers.

People, please read the Fair Debt Collector Practices Act; if a Debt Collector violates any one harrassment or other law in there; Federal Laws says you can sue them for $1,000.00 per violation.  Do it, and then THEY can pay off YOUR obligations!!!  

Again I am not an Attorney - but have learned these by my own experiences.  There are Attorneys you could talk to, and I would, if any violations of the laws have occured in your circumstances.  I am posting this strictly to help others maybe have a piece of mind, if they are up all night worrying about financial problems, and sick to their stomach in worry as I have been, and still are in some ways. I am again just a well informed, knowledgable consumer, who has spent hours studying the laws, because I had no where else to turn for help.  If anything I have written, causes you questions, please seek the advice of an Attorney.

Certain situations such as Mortgages and Car Payment loans usually do not apply here; so you may need to seek the advice of a Lawyer for your individual situation.

If anyone should need help with Lawsuits regarding Collection Agencies/Debt Collectors and/or Credit Cards; I may be able to help you.  Please contact me at tlcpetmommy@gmail.com.

© petmommy copyright 2009 All rights reserved

Hello, Mr. xxx, I am calling from BMO bank. How are you doing today?...
This call will be recorded...Important service...Credit check...

I said I am Ok.

And that's it. So it is a scam call.

Me Too!!! Lately it's been 2-3 times PER DAY. What. The. Deuce?!! *frustrated*

I have been receiving regular calls from this number for several months. I received 8 calls in the last 3 days. They never leave a message.

No, not a scam, but a very annoying company hired by Bank of Montreal.  I wrote directly to B of M and this is the reply I got:
____________________

Thank you for contacting BMO Bank of Montreal.

In regards to your inquiry, I can confirm that Carlson Marketing Group does work on behalf of BMO Financial Group. Should you wish to confirm that this group has contacted you, I invite you to contact Donna Cook at 905-214-8357 or d.cook@carlsoncanada.com.  

I have been advised that this company does contact our clients from time to time about their customer experience with BMO Financial group.

I hope that this is helpful to you. Please contact us again if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for choosing BMO Bank of Montreal. We appreciate your business.
__________________

If Bank of Montreal really DOES appreciate your business, they'll appreciate that you want these phone tactics from a company they've hired, to stop.  This is the B of M email address:
_________________

BMO Bank of Montreal <Feedback@bmo.com>

Yea these guys call me all the time, one time i started swearing and saying I would kill them if they kept calling and I think they started to call even more.

I was also getting a lot of calls from this number. It was Bank of Montreal Mastercard trying to sign me up with some sort of travel insurance. I told them I was not interested. Hopefully they will not call again.

these are criminals, they should be reported to the police, so they can trace where the calls are coming from, busted and put behind bars by police.