Poor poor Mr. Micah. He’s still shaking. He just got a phone call from “Quality Resources”* and let him know that he’d been signed up for a “discount entertainment program.” It’d be a $1 trial period offset by $40 of gas vouchers. Then if he didn’t opt out (he’d receive paperwork in the mail), it’d be $19.95 per month afterwards.
The scariest part was that they quoted to him the last 4 digits of his credit card on file. So that he wouldn’t have to bother signing up with it.
I didn’t know what was going on until this point, where he got a look of horror on his face (it looks kind of funny and cute when he’s horrified). In utter panic, he asked “How did you get my credit card on file?”
At this point, I armed myself with chocolate and sat down next to him. I also pricked up my ears in hopes of an interesting blog post.
After getting bumped up to the supervisor (I heard the voice switch to male), he repeated his desire not to be signed up at all and insisted that he didn’t want a “free” trial period or even $39 of free gas. And he asked how they got his credit card number, but they it was some “affiliate” but they didn’t know whom. He really wants to find that leak and plug it.
Reflecting on the phone call, he thinks the point was that he had to say “Ok.” That it was a disguised attempt to get his permission. Because the moment he said “No no no no for the love of God don’t send it to me!” (and “if this call is being recorded for quality, let it be on record that I don’t want this sent!!”) the man said “Ok, we won’t.” He then kept trying to persuade Micah who used some unkind words about predatory practices and virtual fraud and hung up. The word “douche” might have been in there…
But if it was opt-in, they certainly framed it as “We’re sending this to you and if you don’t want it you can always cancel.” They didn’t say he could opt-out at that moment. They know how much harder it is to get people to opt-in and how lazy people are about opting-out. Maybe they have to legally obtain some kind of consent, which is a relief.
Incidentally, they quoted the wrong address for him, so he pointed out that this critical mail with the opt-out information…and the benefits…would be sent to the wrong place.
We shall be keeping a wary eye on the credit card and plan to dispute any claims. We’d freeze the account, but that requires participating in a special Chase service ($$$). We’d close it, but that’s our only card and it’s part of Micah’s credit score…part that says he’s reliable about paying stuff off.
*Postscript. He couldn’t remember their company’s name at first. But I called the number back while he cooled down with chocolate and got an option to add him (and did) to their do-not call list (along with the CS number). I then called the number and spoke to a very nice CSR. I didn’t make any reference to his call, I just said that I’d gotten a message about vouchers and didn’t catch the company’s name. Then I verified that it was indeed their own promotion. “Quality Resources” she said. And she described them as something that does discount entertainment programs and that they do offer vouchers. I thanked her kindly and hung up.
I should add that I did a Google search and there appear to be several firms named Quality Resources, probably because it’s got good keywords. Several actually have disclaimers about not being connected to telemarketing. So if you got here from a Google search yourself, the company you’re looking for is quite possibly a fine bunch of people…to the best of my knowledge. But out there, there is a Quality Resources who is well-trained and annoying. And has our credit card number.
20 responses so far ↓
1 SavingDiva // Jan 28, 2008 at 4:54 pm
I would have reported the card as stolen. Then the card number is cancelled and a new number is issued…
2 Kacie // Jan 28, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Oh for pete’s sake. Companies can be so ridiculous!
If it wouldn’t put you in a jam, I think it would be a good idea to get a new card number.
Then, for your online purchases, always use a one-time use card number.
3 JvW // Jan 28, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Way to go Mr. Micah! It’s shocking how aggressive these companies can be… and how all you would have to do is say “OK”.
4 Looby // Jan 28, 2008 at 5:53 pm
I’ve found whocalled.us to be a good resource for this kind of thing, just enter the number that called you in their website and you can find out who the company is. Usually there are quite a few comments from other people who have received the call who may have identified affiliate companies which could help you source the leak.
5 Becky // Jan 28, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Yikes! That is really scary!
6 Dad // Jan 28, 2008 at 9:21 pm
If you report the card number as stolen, the company will surely cancel the old number and issue a new card with a new number but which is attached to the old credit history. Otherwise, they are liable for the disputed charges (at least all but $50 until you report it stolen, and most companies now take the entire loss). It more certainly closes the old account number than a simple close the account. With some companies, closing the account and then using the card can lead to the account being automatically reopened by your action (or by the thief who took the card). Even reporting the card stolen won’t stop a charge that was already authorized before you reported it. You can’t dispute a temp authorization. You have to wait until the real charge is record and THEN you can dispute it. It’s a quirk of the way the law was written but only delays action. The charge you want to dispute never becomes due if you call before the due date. Good luck
7 Amanda // Jan 28, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Wow!
I hope everything turns out ok. I hope Micah’s alright, too. 
8 ms. m&p // Jan 28, 2008 at 9:34 pm
That’s really messed up. It makes me furious how there aren’t better safeguards against these things. This is probably unrelated, but are you on the “do not call” and the “opt out” for junk mail? My telemarketing calls and junk offers in the mail went down dramatically after I got on those lists.
I hope y’all get to the bottom of this!
9 RacerX // Jan 28, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Often the last 4 are available on confirmation lists. Look next time you buy something. THey will put the last 4-digits on there so they, and you can confirm the card.
The next step would have been, “Please confirm the card as I am not allowed to input it.” they would then ask for your csv number from the back.
These sort of businesses are bottom feeders. But it isn’t the telemarketers fault. They are probably making $8 an hour plus a bonus rip on the sale.
However…THESE ARE SCAMS. YOu will fight forever to get taken off the list. They will then try to reload you something else again and again.
Run Forrest!
10 PiggyBankBlues // Jan 28, 2008 at 10:42 pm
whoa, that is scary!!! you did the right thing…
11 Mrs Micah's Mom // Jan 29, 2008 at 3:26 pm
This is the scariest telemarketing tactic I’ve ever heard of. I hope Racer X is right and that the company had only the last four digits.
12 vh // Jan 29, 2008 at 10:37 pm
OMG. Not to say in so many syllables “omigawd”!
Call the credit card company right now, if you haven’t already. This little scam is so close to fraud the two overlap. Personally, being the crank that I am, I would complain to my credit card company and would ask to be issued another account number.
That is creepy.
13 Chief Family Officer // Jan 29, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Ugh! I hate stories like these, or more precisely, the companies that are the cause of them. Good for you and Mr. Micah for not caving in. As others have suggested, I think it’s a good idea to call Chase and tell them you’re concerned about the security of the card and ask them to give you a new card with a different number. It shouldn’t affect Mr. Micah’s credit and you’ll have the peace of mind.
14 Jane // Jan 30, 2008 at 11:58 am
I second (or is it 9th or 10th by now) the idea of calling Chase and getting a new number. I have done this twice in the last several years with my main credit card with no problem. The old card number comes up on your credit report as lost/stolen and your new number is linked to the old history so no loss to the credit score. The only pain is if you have automatic payments set to the card (like I did for a gym membership) that you just normally forget about.
15 Jeff // Jan 30, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Could it be that maybe they don’t have your whole credit card number but just the last four digits? Being the slime they are I can just imagine them, once they got him to agree, asking for him to confirm the card as proof that it was in fact Micha they were talking to.
16 Amphritrite // Feb 20, 2008 at 11:35 pm
I got caught in one of these snares when a magazine company called me, saying that they were an affiliate of my bank. They got me at work, when I was distracted, and after I realized that this is what had happened, I called up to cancel.
They wouldn’t let me cancel. They wanted to take $70 from my account every month.
I spoke to a supervisor. No dice. If the first girl I spoke with was rude, the supervisor was even worse.
So…I called the BBB and reported them. The case was solved within a week, and they were given a black mark on their record for predatory acts against a cold-call victim.
17 miss may // Jul 19, 2008 at 7:53 pm
ya know what, these people are just doing their jobs and get treated like crap all day long from paranoid people! If you buy something from an tv commercial or the internet or from a catalog those people sell your information to telemarketing companies, so get mad at who you purchase from not the people who are calling you! And no they can’t just bill your account with out approval! And if you ask them where they got your info from, they do not know, the people who sell your info do not tell the employees of telemarketing companies who you bought from or what was bought!
18 miss may // Jul 19, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Quality Resources
28870 US Highway 19 N
Clearwater, FL 33761
(727) 712-0382
If you have any questions call them. It is not the employees fault, they are just doing their jobs. And no this company is not a SCAM!
19 mrsmicah // Jul 19, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Miss May, last I checked there were other jobs available and no one forced these people to be telemarketers. If you know of such a scheme, I think it merits exposure!!
Since these employees were using high-pressure tactics (dangling a credit card number), they should expect even stronger responses. You push on someone hard and they either break or push back. If this surprises you in your line of work…since I note you come from an IP address in a town suspiciously close to “Quality” Resources and assume that you work for them…then you should look for another job.
Next time you call, please take “No” for an answer or be helpful. If you don’t have the information, then I suggest saying “Sorry, we don’t have that information available. We note that you’ve opted out of this offer.”
That will be more likely to put the person’s mind at rest, since they have some assurance they won’t be charged. Would have been enough for us. Any customer who is rightfully concerned about identity theft (something suffered by 8 million Americans in the last year) won’t be a customer who’ll buy from you. Drop them and move on to a better prospect.
In 90% or more of telemarketing calls I receive, I simply say “I’m not interested, sorry” and hang up. No anger because there was nothing worth getting angry about (it’s not worth the energy). And gives the other person time to find a better prospect. I have never bought anything from telemarketers, so I’m not a good one.
Quality Resources, on the other hand, was more high-pressure and unhelpful than any other telemarketing company I’ve ever dealt with. So I wrote about them.
20 David // Aug 26, 2008 at 11:41 am
So I had received all call from this company just yesterday at work. They spoke so fast, I wasn’t sure what they were advertising to me. They did know the last 4 digits of my debit card which irritated me. They also wanted to send me the gas card that I would love, however nothing comes free. My scam alert was high. Then my cell phone died. Thank you Miss May for the number, I had called and canceled it seems with no problem, however as a safeguard I am also changing my debit card number. Thanks for the page Mrs. Micah.
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