This is fairly standard in the focus group or opinion survey industry. Normally when they do focus groups they have to have a specific demographic that is usually pretty diverse. So to help them be more efficient they ask for the demographic questions and only want to call back people that are interested. I have participated in several over the years. The pay usually depends on where you live and how long the focus group is. I participated with this company in March in Pensacola Fl and had a good experience. They only ask for, Name, Age, Employment Status and Occupation. No big secrets there.
If you do a little research with the number and caller ID you will find that Monte is a Partner at Nationwide Research Recruiters and they are legit.

There are some opinion studies done over the telephone. In this case, the company simply wants your name, age and best contact phone number so that they can give you details about the focus group. If you are interested in the focus group after learning the details you then typically go through a qualifying questionnaire.
Some focus groups have specific quotas on your background: age, employment, education, race, etc.
They don't want to waste your time or their's so they ask a few questions to help in this area.

There is a reason that there are thousands of focus group facilities based all over the country. Companies do research and they need people to provide opinions. Because you are giving opinions and your time they compensate you for that.

Hope this helps you understand.

This company is legit. I participated in a focus group with them after receiving a call. It was explained to me that they typically have to find a diverse group of people to participate in a particular opinion group. I lived in the right county and was in an age group that they still needed participants. This is the 3rd focus group that I have done and they have all been good experiences.

caller will pay 175.00 FOR MY OPINION  things about johnstown, pa .  the date for this is tues the 16 or 17. when you call this number you get a recording asking for name, best contact number, age and employment status.

They left me a voice message on my home line: "Hi, if you live in (local county listed) County and would like to get paid one-hundred and eighty dollars per day and participate in a very interesting and important opinion discussion group that's taking place in *** (local city name given) *** on Monday, October 1st and Tuesday October 2nd please call 760-942-2010. This opinion group is one-hundred percent research, there is no solicitation. Again you will be paid one-hundred-and-eighty dollars per day for participation in a very interesting discussion group. Call 760-942-2010 if you reach our message center, please leave your name and best contact number. Thank you".

They listed correct local information. The call restricted the 'qualification' for participation to my county and listed the major local city where these things would be expected to take place. Hummmm?  

Called and got the messaging system: "Hi, you've reached the messaging system for the paid focus group. Please leave your name, age, best contact phone number, employment status and occupation and we will call you back with the information on the paid focus group."

Question: has anyone had a legitimate experience with this organization they can list?  

When I have done this in the past (only once) an obviously local research organization called me and I spoke with a live person. In that experience I saw about 60 other participants and we were paid $200 for the day. It was only one day.

Got the same call for the paid focus group for $175 a day.  Didn't bother to all back and just Googled the number.  Protect yourself and always try to look up info before you give any confirming PID (personal identifying data).

They're still at it! I just got a call at my home in the Kansas. The automated message said I could earn $179 a day for participating in a very interesting discussion panel and giving my opinion on number of topics. Glad I checked into it and did not respond! This is very helpful!!!!!

They're still at it! I just got a call at my home in the Midwest. The name on my caller id said Hueftle Monte. The automated message said I could earn $179 a day for participating in a very interesting discussion panel and giving my opinion on number of topics. Glad I checked into it and did not respond!

**  READ ME PLEASE  ***

STRIKE BACK THIS WAY - SET THIS NUMBER TO AUTOMATICALLY FORWARD TO THE WORTHLESS FTC AND FCC COMPLAINT LINES. OR FORWARD THEM TO YOUR STATE AND FEDERAL CONGRESSMAN - HOW ABOUT TO YOU STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

This is another twist on the personal info phishing scam...

These callers are criminals intent on ignoring the law - and they have no interest whatsoever in any Do Not Call list you are on. And they know what they are doing is illegal.

The the Federal Trade Commision/DNC does not investigate any complaints at all - just read the disclaimer/thank you note you get when you enter a complaint on the FTC web site.

What we really need is law makers at all levels that enact laws that they actually intend to be enforced -- not hanging their name on a law just to say to us commoners "I voted for that law because I care about you. Thank you for voting for me again."

**  READ ME PLEASE  ***

STRIKE BACK THIS WAY - SET THIS NUMBER TO AUTOMATICALLY FORWARD TO THE WORTHLESS FTC AND FCC COMPLAINT LINES. OR FORWARD THEM TO YOUR STATE AND FEDERAL CONGRESSMAN - HOW ABOUT TO YOU STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL.


These callers are criminals intent on ignoring the law - and they have no interest whatsoever in any Do Not Call list you are on. And they know what they are doing is illegal.

The the Federal Trade Commision/DNC does not investigate any complaints at all - just read the disclaimer/thank you note you get when you enter a complaint on the FTC web site.

What we really need is law makers at all levels that enact laws that they actually intend to be enforced -- not hanging their name on a law just to say to us commoners "I voted for that law because I care about you. Thank you for voting for me again."

Thanks for the "heads-up" on this number.  I was tempted to call back.  How foolish of me.

This number left a message on my answering machine the other day saying they would pay $150 for a focus group, when i called the number back the recorded message asked for my age, name and phone number and occupation and i haven't heard back from them.

Got the call from this number for a local opinion survey to pay $150.  I was out of town, so I tried to call the number when I got home.  When I called it, I got we're sorry, your number cannot be completed with the access code provided.  Okay, so why do they leave a number that won't work? I guess maybe it is all filled up?  Even so, have a number that someone can tell you that it is filled up, or they are no longer taking people.

Got a robo-call at about 11:00 AM on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 in Louisiana, offering $150.00 if I was a registered voter and would come in on a specific Saturday (didn't get the date) to give opinions. Said to call 760-942-2010 if interested. I don't have caller ID, so I don't have that info. No company name was given.

Caller ID says Hueftle Monte.
Robocall involved a call back number to participate in some kind of political survey in my city for which I would be paid $150. If you're going to pay me anyway, why not start off with a toll-free call-back number?
I'll decline to investigate further.

While there are such things as paid focus groups, they usually build panels based on some particular expertise or experience.  I have been on a few, and they have you come in as a group, observe/film through a one way mirror, etc.,.  They usually pay a bit better than the numbers I see here as well.

Never heard on one doing it over the telephone though.  Think I'd pass on this one...

Boy oh boy, they are now using the 'Bait' of 'paying' you just to get info from you!  
I now take a few minutes (I do it daily or or once a week) to Report any call that is suspicious to www.donotcall.gov - so at least they will have these Scam Caller numbers in their data base for future investigation.  Many shysters hide behind the guise of SURVEYS, CHARITIES ETC.  In this day and age you never know 'who' you are really talking with.  And never talk to them or follow the 'Robo' instructions to be 'taken off their list' because this only encourages them by 'confirming' that your number is a valid one.

I also got a call in cincinnati, this time it was for $75.  I read on another site where you "get the chance" to win money by participating.  We are on do not call list so I am reporting this number.

They called us-- Northeast of the U.S.-- and were offering $175.

It has to be bogus.  Any reputable surveying company would identify themselves!

caller will pay me 125.00 for my option regarding the Gainesville, GA area.  When you call this number you get a voice recording asking you for your best contact number and the city your calling from.