We are the VA Combat Veteran Call Center and all we are trying to do is to HELP you.  We tell you about the benefit change and also to see if you are getting the medical help that you need.  At the end, we ask you if you would like some more information about your benefits-(health, edcuational, medical, home loan quaranty, and small business)  So, if you don't want anything that is given to you (which you have earned) just politely declined.   We understand if you don't want to talk-    Just don't be rude to us.

I agree with RageBanken -- Brandy and Tiffany aren't helping the situation.  Neither is the fact that the number can't be found anywhere on the internet except in threads like this one.  

Since you have to be somewhat intelligent to successfully navigate the labyrinthine beauracracy that is the VA and apply for your benefits in the first place, I don't understand what audience this waste of taxpayers' money (the call center) is trying to reach.  The money would be much better spent improving the application process.  I'm sure anyone capable of obtaining their benefits now can easily find out about the changes that have been made, if they care.

Still--the call center is legitimate.  I called the 800 number left in my voicemail (the one this thread is about), got the same spiel Bill did, including "thank you for returning our call" and "thank you for your service."  It was all quite pleasant, and I appreciate that someone's thinking about us, however misdirected their efforts to help are.  She did ask for both my name and number, but since the guy that left the message in the first place knew both, I figured it wasn't a huge issue.

Correction, the 1 800-827-1000 is an official VA number.  It is however in no way connected to this fraudulent organization.

Brandy & Tiffany,

    Having worked in a call center myself before, you both need fired.  Neither of you are qualified to respond to our concerns.  The manner in which you are, and your poor excuses, are only a detriment to whatever you are trying to accomplish there.  Even as a scam your poorly thought out rantings (Brandy) and defense of such an attack on us (Tiffany) only galvanize everyones belief that this IS a scam.  You're overzealouse and poorly devised attempt to defend an organization that obviously has no idea how to communicate with anyone who has ever had a security briefing defeats any argument you might make before you even make it.  Congratulations, you're effort to make yourselves feel better has proven beyond a doubt that you and your organization are not to be trusted.

If you were working for a truly legitimate company then your idiocy knows no bounds.  By coming onto these forums and showing your horrendous attitudes you've virtually guaranteed a large drop in answers to your calls.  By doing so you've drastically reduced the effectiveness of the campaing and therefore put yourselves on the chopping block.  But this is not the case because the only authorized program that used an outside contractor was cancelled in May of this year.  For that matter neither of your numbers, nor the program you claim to represent, are listed with or known to the actual VA.

In short, thank you Brandy & Tiffany, you've proven what a scam this is.  As a bonus you've provided we veterans with a moments amusement by your childish antics.

Oh and for anyone that's wondering, I recently recieved a notice from the VA through their ONLY official means of contact (the US postal service) informing me of the increase in benifits.  These increases as well as all ongoing benifits are readily available from your local VA office as well as the official VA website.

Brandy,
I received the same call today. What new benefits are to be discussed. Where os a www site that I can read about them?

Brandy is right... I work there. Calling won't hurt to call and see whats it about! We have your number anyway. We dont ask for your s.s. number, birthdate, or anything. Just want to show thanks and concern for the people that need it the most. We are just trying to reach all the veterans. You an report us as spam or fruad but it's not going to work... why? Because we are legit.

VIRGINIA..YOU ARE RIDICULOUS. WE ARE NOT A SCAM..YOU PEOPLE ARE SO DUMB TO ACTUALLY THINK THAT A NUMBER COULD BE A SCAM. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU? HAVE YOU EVEN DIALED THE NUMBER FOR YOURSELF TO SEE OR ARE YOU JUST RUNNING YOUR TRAP. FIRST OFF WE ARE NOT THE VA... WE ARE THE VA COMBAT VETERANS INFORMATION LINE FOR THE VA...NOT A VA FACILITY..LETS SEE IF YALL CAN GET IT RIGHT. SECOND...WE CALL VETERANS TO INFORM THEM OF ANY RECENT CHANGES PUT IN PLACE... YOU PEOPLE ARE REALLY SOMETHING SERIOUS...WHO CARES IF YOU THINK WE ARE A SCAM..SOME SMART PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY GETTING BENEFITS THEY DID NOT KNOW THEY WERE ABLE TO GET BECAUSE OF US... WE ARE A INFORMATION LINE.. PLEASE STOP BEING SO BITTER UNLESS YOU KNOW YOUR FACTS.. YOY CAN CALL THE 866-606-8212 NUMBER OR THE 1800-827-1000 AND THESE ARE BOTH LINES THROUGH THE VA FOR INFORMATIOB ABOUT VA BENEFITS. THANKS A LOT FOR YOUR OPINION BUT PLEASE KNOW YOUR FACTS BEFORE YOU RUN YOUR MOUTH!!!

Just a heads up, this number has been reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) as a SCAM!

The VA doesn't work weekends. These people do.
The VA uses mail. These people call.
The VA knows who you are. These guys want your personal info.

There was a msg on my phone when I returned home this evening. Christina said she was from the VA. She asked me to call 866-606-8212 up to midnight. That seemed late for a govt agency so I went to the VA web site and found no reference to that number or new benefits. Benefits are listed on the web site but nothing about new benefits. Like Virginia suspects, it's a fraud.

Brandy, if you truly believe that a phone number is not personal, then please provide us all your home or cell phone number.  With that little piece of “personal” information, it is possible to find out everything about you.  I am sorry if you are offended when people hang up on you, but you need to understand the world in which we live.  Unsolicited calls, from an unknown entity asking for personal information is a no-no in this day and age.  If additional benefits are available, the government will do what it always does and that is send the information via the good old USPS.  If working at a call center is to taxing for you and your attitude towards vets that have served their country is jaded, then I suggest you find another line of work.  There is no doubt in my mind this phone number and the company you are working for is a fraud.

I AM SO SORRY YOU REFUSED TO GIVE THE VA CALL CENTER YOUR NUMBER....ITS NOT GOING TO HURT US OPERATORS THAT YOU DONT TAKE THE CALL...WE ARE JUST TRYING TO HELP YOU. YOU ARE JUST MISSING OUT ON FREE BENEFITS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE VA IS TRYING TO OFFER ITS VETERANS. I HOPE YOU FINALLY COME TO YOUR SENSES AND REALIZE THAT A SIMPLE PHONE NUMBER HAS ABSOLUTLY NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION AND THAT WE ARE ONLY TRYING TO SEND YOU ALL THE VETERAN INFORMATION YOU NEED TO RECEIVE THESE NEW, EXTENDED VETERAN BENEFITS. THANK YOU

I just received a phonemail message from the "VA Combat Veteran's Center" calling about a "new benefit".  They gave me a phone number of (866) 606-8212.  I called the number which was answered by someone who immediately asked how he could help me.  I told him I was returning a phone call.  He then asked me for my phone number.  I refused to give it to him and he asked for my name.  I hung up.

It was a Combat veteran interview center. I didn't call back.

PEOPLE THIS IS NOT A SCAM!!!!!

This link will take you to the VA website as well as the EDS website. It will explain the call you received. It's not hyperlinked so just copy it into your browser.
These agents are contractors for the VA and they work 7 days a week and they actually care about veterans. They are not able to answer all of you questions but they can put a request in on your behalf to get you the answers you need. We will even follow up on your requests to make sure the VA responds to you in a timely manner. PLEASE SHOW THEM SOME RESPECT!!! As a supervisor here I understand your concerns about scams and phone solicitations so even if you are not interested there are other veterans out there suffering and are unaware of some the benefits available to them and are happy to know that the VA has reached out to them. So, again PLEASE SHOW THEM SOME RESPECT!! They should be giving you the same in return and if you were disrespected please ask for a supervisor on staff. The VA is trying to step up and assist as they should. If the links below does not provide the information you need to verify our authenticity, please contact you local VA at 1-800-827-1000 (VA general information line).

Website 1:   www.va.gov
Websit  2:    http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1493
Website 3:   http://www.eds.com/news/releases/4542/

I got a message from the "Combat Veterans Call Center" that left a message and a phone number to contact (866-606-8212). It sounded odd, the hours 10am to 12am. I looked on-line and found most people think this is a scam. I am a vet of OEF, I went to the VA web site www.va.gov and if you "search site" on the VA web page and type in "Combat Veterans Call Center" it will bring up a list of press releases. Go to the one dated 08/30/2008 and you will see that the President of the Veteran`s Affairs anounced that the VA is using private contracted callers to inform 570,000 plus vets about changes in VA benfits, using a "Combat Veteran`s Call Center". Since this was on the offical VA web-site, (www.va.gov) I called them back. Yes they wanted my phone number ( a phone book has your phone number, name and street address, so it`s not really "personal information" the postal sevice mails out new phone books every year) to conferm that they had contacted me. So after I gave them my phone number and they replied (big shock here) with my name, the polite lady on the other end informed me that the VA has extended the medical and educatioal benifs from two years to five years. She  asked me if I had any other questions, and if I did to call and if they could not anser them, then they would find a rep (from the VA) that could and that they would contact me in 48 hours with an anser. Then she asked if it would be alright for some one from thier service to contact me in 10-15 days to ensure that some had contacted me with in the 48 hours and ansered my question.Then she thanked me for my service (which no one hardly ever does) and hung up. No they didn`t ask for my SSN or account numbers or my B-Day, simply my phone number, and that`s all she wanted to give me info. Since the press releases are on the VA web site about the callers (check it out yourself) and all they wanted was my phone number, and to inform me (and you) it`s not a scam.

Apparently these people called my parents house looking for me.  Dunno how they got their number unless I listed it as an alternate.  I haven't returned the call but the VA is calling veterans according to this article...

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123096049

There is some truth to it even if these alleged call center operators are less than professional sounding on here.  It's possible it's still a scam though, as anyone could setup a vonage 800 number and start advertising on this premise...  Not sure how to verify this short of calling back and giving no personal info or making it all up.

Brandy, if you truly believe that a phone number is not personal, then please provide us all your home or cell phone number.  With that little piece of ?personal? information, it is possible to find out everything about you.  I am sorry if you are offended when people hang up on you, but you need to understand the world in which we live.  Unsolicited calls, from an unknown entity asking for personal information is a no-no in this day and age.  If additional benefits are available, the government will do what it always does and that is send the information via the good old USPS.  If working at a call center is to taxing for you and your attitude towards vets that have served their country is jaded, then I suggest you find another line of work.  There is no doubt in my mind this phone number and the company you are working for is a fraud.