Wednesday, August 24, 2011

385-226-3690 Card Member Services, Fraud?

Disclaimer: This is not an actual picture of anyone at 385-226-3690, Card Member Services, its affiliates, associates, franchisees, or their mothers.  Any similarity to anyone living or dead is a coincidence.  A really funny coincidence.  Do not look directly at Happy Fun Ball.  Batteries and lawyers not included.

So, is this a fraud?  I'm just asking.  And it is a rhetorical question - so please don't answer it.

I got a call from this number on my cell phone, a recording allegedly (I love this word!) about my credit card.  It sounded suspicious, allegedly, so I wanted to talk to someone.  I took option 1, and a lady (allegedly) went into a sales pitch.  When I asked her the name of the alleged company, she said "Card Member Services."  Hmmm.  When I asked if they had a website, she said that if I agreed to do business with them, they would then direct me to a website.  Sounds like an offer one can't refuse.  Allegedly, that is.

When I asked for contact information for her company, she promptly hung up on me.

Calling back results in only a strange noise in the phone.  Other people report a similar experience here.

So, I'm not saying this is a fraud, a scam, a ruse, a racket, a shakedown, a rip-off, or a criminal enterprise - because saying things like that would make a person liable to a lawsuit.  So I am not saying any of those things.  Nor am I going to call them bottom-feeding parasites for calling my church's cellphone number - because that really wouldn't be nice either.  Eighth Commandment and all that.  I do think it would be more professional of them to be more specific about their company name, services, contact information, and of course, not to hang up when asked for more information.  I'm not saying they are unprofessional, as that might make someone liable for a lawsuit.  So I won't say that either.  But I do wonder if their level of professionalism might leave some room for improvement.  Cough.  I'm sorry.  I must have gotten something in my throat.

I'm just asking the question rhetorically: "Is this a fraud?"  Maybe you all might want to program this number into your cell phone so that you can ask them some questions if they call you too.  Cough.  Cough.

I really need to take care of this tickle in my throat.  Allegedly.

1 comment:

rev_af_col said...

I've received similar calls. I just hang up partially because I don't trust them. By the way, how do they beat the no call list? And also because our credit card balance is very low, and it doesn't make sense to change, if as you say it might even be legit.