OK, I'll start things off in "Telemarketing-Legal" with a new topic.

This topic concerns calls from Quebec 514-958-0000.

I've gotten several calls with "Quebec 514-958-0000" comming up on Caller ID.

Some of the calls have been abandoned (the caller hangs up when I answer), and some of the calls have delivered prerecorded messages. The prerecorded messages have been on behalf of Summer Bay Resort and DirecTV.

Anyone know who is billed for 514-958-0000? The areacode/exchange 514-958 appears to be in Canada, and it appears to be unassigned. But there also appear to be some businesses using this areacode/exchange.

Hi Thier is no Business using this number. I own a similar number in Canada( 1 digit difference and we get 20 calls a day off people who miss dial and are pissed off) 514-958-0000 is unassigned and thats why they are using it.

check out smallclaim.info/zen.php

PLAINTIFF'S ASSISTANT: TCPA CITATION HUNTER
New Search List All Citations FCC Enforcement Bureau Contact John


This was sent to them.
________________________________________
FCC Enforcement Bureau file #EB-03-TC-003
Published 11 Mar 2003
Adapted from http://www.fcc.gov/eb/Orders/2003/DOC-231937A1.html.
PDF version at http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/atta...OC-231937A1.pdf.

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSIONWASHINGTON, D.C. 20554

March 11, 2003

Express Consolidation, Inc.
413 - N.E. 3rd Street
Delray Beach, Florida 33483
Attn: Randall L. Leshin, Esq., President/Dir.

Express Consolidation, Inc.
506 N.E. 5th Avenue
Delray Beach, Florida 33483
Attn: Randall L. Leshin, Esq., President/Dir.

Delray Funding Corporation 1
504 N.E. 5th Avenue
Delray Beach, Florida 33483-5600
Attn: James J. Atwood, President
Tom Eichas, Chmn. of Board
Rick Fletcher
Randall L. Leshin, Esq. Agent

Randall L. Leshin, Esq.
1921 E. Atlantic Boulevard
Pompano Beach, Florida 33060-6651
RE: EB-03-TC-003

Dear Correspondents:

This is an official CITATION issued pursuant to section 503((5) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the Act), for violations of the Act and the Federal Communications Commission's rules that govern telephone solicitation.2

It has come to our attention that your company has delivered one or more prerecorded unsolicited advertisements to residential telephone lines (see attachment). The Act and the Commission's rules prohibit transmission of unsolicited advertisements through prerecorded messages to residential telephone lines except under the very limited circumstances described in the rules.3 The term ``unsolicited advertisement'' is defined in the Communications Act and the Commission's rules as ``any material advertising the commercial availability or quality of any property, goods, or services which is transmitted to any person without that person's prior express invitation or permission.''4 The attached information provided to the Commission indicates that your company delivered such unsolicited advertisements, through prerecorded messages, to one or more residential telephone subscribers who do not have an established business relationship with your company and had not expressly invited or authorized the call(s). Those actions violate section 64.1200(a)(2) of the Commission's rules.

Separately, it appears that your company may have violated other Commission rules governing prerecorded messages and telephone solicitation. Under section 64.1200(e)(2)(iv), any telephone solicitation - whether live or prerecorded - must provide the called party with the name of the individual caller, the name of the person or entity on whose behalf the call is being made, and an address or telephone number (which may not be for an autodialer or prerecorded message player) at which the person or entity may be contacted.5 According to the attached information received by the Commission, it appears that your telephone solicitation did not contain all the required information.

Please be advised that subsequent violations of the Communications Act or of the Commission's rules of the type described herein may result in the imposition of monetary forfeitures not to exceed $11,000 for each such violation or each day of a continuing violation. 6

Pursuant to section 503((5) of the Communications Act, you may request a personal interview at the Commission's Field Office nearest to your place of business. The nearest office appears to be the Tampa Office at 2203 North Lois Avenue, Suite 1215, Tampa, Florida 33607-2356, which you can contact by telephone at (813) 348-1741. You must schedule this interview to take place within 21 days of the date of this citation. Alternatively, you may submit a written statement to the following address within 21 days of the date of this citation:


If you want to find out more about 514-958-0000 you can call Randal L Leshin @ 954-941-9711. He is the chairman of Express Cosolidated , the company that is making all the calls that have 514-958-0000 on thier call display. Express your concerns and maybe he will stop.

Since I am the one who started this thread, let me try to clarify what is going on.

Someone has the ability to make lots of prerecorded telephone solicitations in violation of the TCPA, and they have the ability to put through 514-958-0000 on Caller ID with those calls. The calls they make are on behalf of a variety of busnesses, including (but not limited to) travel companies, satellite TV companies, and debt consolidation companies.

As has been pointed out, 514-958-0000 may be "unassigned" and this number is presumably put in Caller ID so that the company physically making these calls can avoid revealing who they really are. None-the-less, I am interested in finding out who is physicall making calls that put 514-958-0000 through on Caller ID (we'll call it "the 514-958-0000 company").

It's helpful to know who is using "the 514-958-0000 company" to make calls for them, but it seems pretty unlikely to me that Express Consolidation is actually physically making calls and putting through 514-958-0000 on Caller ID. It's more likely that Express Consolidation has hired "the 514-958-0000 company" to make the calls for them.

But having said all of the above, the more we know about who "the 514-958-0000 company" is calling on behalf of, the more we know about "the 514-958-0000 company" itself, and the more likely we are to figure out who they really are...

I tried to research this a bit. After reading ( check out smallclaim.info/zen.php)
about how pre-recorded messages are illegal and the partie (s) can be sued; I am seriously thinking about taking this route. I am keeping a log, and following the instructions on this website on how to do this. I litterally get about 20 of these calls a days, minutes apart from each other. They seem to come in clusters. I have been disconnecting them, but after reading the article (website mentioned above),
I am going to actually answer them to see if they fit into the "suable" category. It is a question of principal now; they are disrupting my family time and in some cases, illegally. It's just not right to let this go on.
Can we do a class action suit? Maybe we call all work at locating these people...
What is your opinion? Remember, they read these posts too.

It can be a lot of work to sue telemarketers who violate the TCPA, but I've found it to be a rewarding hobby - intellectually, emotionally, and financially.

With practice you will learn how to record the prerecorded message (or simply write down the important parts of the message), how to get the information you need from the live representative, how to send a demand letter, and how to work the court system.

Good luck!!!

November 11, 2004 at 12:10 I just received one of these calls but I answered and was disconnected. I Googled the number and came up withthis thread.

It is unnerving that these jokers even have my number and would like to know how they obtained it. For those getting numerous calls a day this has to be a huge P.I.T.A. and I can only hope it doesn't escalate. In some ways I'm suprised it hasn't happened sooner given what spammers have done to our email systems.

I will monitor this board and take notes on further calls; this simply canot allow to grow as spamming has since you don't have the same options with phones as you do email.

Good luck to us!

[quote=Southern Cal Guest,Nov 11 2004, 08:25 PM]
November 11, 2004 at 12:10 I just received one of these calls but I answered and was disconnected. I Googled the number and came up withthis thread.

It is unnerving that these jokers even have my number and would like to know how they obtained it. For those getting numerous calls a day this has to be a huge P.I.T.A.


================
They don't necessarily have your number. They may be calling all of the numbers in each exchange, like 405-555-0000, 405-555-0001, 405-555-0002, etc.

The reason you get hung up on is because their computer calls several numbers at the same time, when someone answers they are connected to the next available phone drone, if more people answer than there are drones available, you get cut off. The number of people they hang up on is used to figure their abandonment rate.

I received one of these calls last night, 8:00 pm here in NJ.

Its very annoying receiving these kinds of calls. So, I decided I was going to stay on the line and wait to speak with one of their operators. I figured that if they are going to waste my time I was going to waste theirs. Unfortunately, I got cut off when the operator came on.

Why not pretend you're interested in what they have to sell? In my case it was a satellite dish that I have no use for. I was going to stay on the line as long as it took for them to give me their spiel and pretend to let them hook me in. At the end of the call I was then going to tell them that I had no interest in the product and that I hoped I wasted their time with me and caused them to lose a sale since they wasted my time by calling me.

=================

I keep getting these calls as well, most of the time I don't answer cuz it's usually dead silence. It's very frustrating! Put me on the list of irritated consumers as well.
Beverly in Oregon

Express Consolidation

"Express Consolidation" is still running its telephone scams. Yesterday I got another one of their telemarketing phone messages, falsely stating that I had previously received a letter indicating I'd been approved for consolidation by a "certified non-profit agency," and trying to get me to call 800-481-1242 with credit card information. The call came from Canada (514-958-0000 in Quebec on caller ID), no doubt the better to avoid prosecution. My phone number is unlisted, and the caller ("Joe Summers") did not identify me by name or in any other way. "Express Consolidation" simply calls random numbers and lies about having selected the target for credit approval. Since the caller lied to me as a setup for asking me for credit card records, I assume he is trying to swindle me. This operation, unless there is more than one telemarketer using the name Express Consolidation, has been cited by the FCC for illegal telemarketing practices.

i have got these calls 2 i dont know what thay are hey has any one here got calls thare blocked on id but on the answer machene a message ses if you would like to make a call hang up and try agin

This is getting annoying I have gotten one about everynight at 8:00 PM..they Even know my name which is creepy... I sure hope they are found and fined for spamming our phone lines It makes me so mad.

t
Thanks guys for the good infomation hate those calls

I have spoken to a Express Consolidated Rep and I have a very similar number in Canada (1 digit difference then 514-958-0000). They told me that it was not there problem if people were too stupid to tell the difference on thier call display between there number and ours. We get 20 calls a day from people calling us by accident and we get threatened and harrassed. Being in Canada we don't have much legal recourse. If you would like to complain you can call Randall L. Leshin at his office and express your concern. He is the chairman of Express Consolidated. We would love for this to stop.

i just received a call from this "quebec" number and they did leave a VM on my mobile, supposedly for mortgage refinance. i phoned the number provided for randall & a guy named rick answered the line. he obviously knew about the problem

jennie:

Can you possibly post a transcript of the voice mail message that you got on your mobile phone? Or at least post the number that was provided in the message? I would like to call them and get the name of the company that they are using to send out their prerecorded messages...

I just got one of these too, this time it's a pre-recorded message for "lowering your cable rates" and satellite televison. The number in the message is 1800-519-0723, and it's a company called "Satellite Systems."

Thing is, I'm on the Do Not Call List.

When I called the number that you gave above (800-519-0723) it was manned by representatives of a company called Satellite Systems Network (also known as Vitana). Both companies are registered in CA and the former is listed in the BBB. I have sued and settled with them before. I am about to sue them again. It would helpful to my case if I could get a statement (an affidavit) from you about the prerecorded call that you received. Could you click on my TCPA4all username at the left of this message and send me a private e-mail...

After a Google Search on Leshin's phone number provided here, (954-941-9711) I have discovered that Randal Leshin is the Florida Attorney who represented DAVID EUGENE MUELLER, the Defendant named in a Civil Action by the Federal Trade Commission. You can find the consent order signed by Mr. Leshin at http://www.ftc.gov/os/1997/12/cnstmlr.fnl.htm

The question then becomes, how did this 514 number become connected to Mr. Leshin, and has Mr. Leshin taken over the "business" from which his client Mr. Mueller has been permanently restrained.

While all this amounts to a "scam" that is a huge PITA to most, and may have the potential to cause financial loss to some, it cannot be denied that more dangereous criminals do exist. HOWEVER, what I find most disturbing is to think of how the squirrley, corrupt and contemptible continue to rake in the bucks while the honest, consciencious and admirable work minimum wage and barely survive.
UGH!!

Let me just also say that I too get phone calls from this number. It happens at least a couple of times a week. I find it very annoying. I have registered my phone with the local and national DO NOT CALL list and yet this comes through. It usually says QUEBEC under the number in the caller ID display. I hope that this gets straightened out and soon, or I might take it upon myself to file a formal "legal" complaint myself.

Keep us posted. I hate hearing that so many others are dealing with this as well. It sucks and is a total waste of all of our time.

I googled 514-958-0000 and came up with this site. I bought a house in Oregon in October of 2003. Shortly after we moved in we started getting calls in the middle of the night between 1 and 3 am. It was always a fax machine calling. Our caller ID came up with the 514-958-0000 number. Apparently our phone number used to be a business fax line years ago so I didn't think that much of it. About 6 months ago the number of calls increased draumatically so we bought a fax machine and turned it to be answered on the first ring at night. We have recieved many kinds of fax spam. Everything from cable offers to porn sites. When I have tried to fax something back to that number it comes back as no longer in service. We are currently getting 10-12 calls a month, most are in the middle of the night, but this week they have started happening at all hours!! Our phone company won't help, says to just turn our phone off at night. Like that will work! I will be watching this site to see if anyone is able to come up with a solution.

You could try adding your telepone number to the Federal do-not-call registry, but the only immediate and complete solution is to change your telephone number.

On the other hand, if you want a fun hobby, then you could learn about the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). Using the TCPA, you can sue the people who send you those "unsolicited advertisements" by fax. Each "unsolicited advertisement" by fax is worth a minimum of $500 and a maximum of $3,000.

There's GOLD in dem der faxes !!!! :-)

I too have received a call from this number and entered it on google, to come to this web sight. they're still at it. Feb 28, 2005

I did a google search and came up with this result for the phone # as I got this call 2 days ago from the same #..

(514) 958-0000 (514) 958-9999 XXXXXXXXXX, PQ

Dunno if this helps at all?

I just received a call on my CELL phone from this number, and am investigating my options as well. The only thing worse than junk calls to my home phone is junk calls to my wireless, wasting both time AND minutes!

Hi Please check out www.5149580000.com Please folow the instructions on the site. We are keeping a log and plan do pursue legal recouse. State the the Company, and all revelant information regarding the call.

Thanks

I received a call from (514)958-0000 as well. I tried to call it back and it said it was disconnected. On my caller ID it read "PLANT TEST PQ" and then the number. When i answered the phone for the call, it was silent. Then after a few moments the call disconnected. I tend to get several calls like this a day from a variety of different numbers.

I have been getting the 514-958-0000 calls for a while and now there's another one. It comes up Iowa % the number is 319-390-8411.They call everyday. I've never been home to answer it so I'm not sure if it's the same sort of thing. Anyone else getting these?

Here is that outfit information:
====================
Here is the info about that outfit:
==================
EXPRESS CONSOLIDATION, INC.
413 NE 3rd Street
Delray Beach, FL 33483
View Location Map

Original Business
Start Date:
10/11/2000
Principal: Randall Leshin, Executive Director
Local Phone Number: (561) 330-6188
Fax Number: (877) 595-1523
Membership Status: This company is a member.
Date Joined BBB: 7/31/2003
TOB Classification: Credit-Debt Consolidation Services
Web Site URL(s): http://www.expressconsolidation.org

The information in this report has either been provided by the company, or has been compiled by the Bureau from other sources.

BBB Membership

This company has been a member of the Better Business Bureau since July 2003. This means it supports the Bureau's services to the public and meets our membership standards.

Program Participation

This company participates in BBBOnLine. This company has agreed to use special complaint handling procedures including mediation and arbitration if necessary to resolve disputes.

Customer Experience

Based on BBB files, this company has a satisfactory record with the Bureau. The company has been responsive to any matters brought to its attention by the Bureau.

To have a Satisfactory Record with the Bureau, a company must be in business for at least 12 months, properly and promptly address matters referred to it by the Bureau, and be free from an unusual volume or pattern of complaints and law enforcement action involving its marketplace conduct. In addition, the Bureau must have a clear understanding of the company's business and no concerns about its industry.

Licensing Information

This company is in an industry that may require licensing, bonding or registration in order to lawfully do business. The Bureau encourages you to check with the appropriate agency to be certain any requirements are currently being met.

Additional Telephone Numbers

(561) 330-0337
(561) 330-9109
(561) 455-0032
(800) 330-6932
(800) 481-1242
(800) 689-8963
(800) 689-9014
(877) 807-5021
(888) 589-7901.

Company Management

Randall Leshin, Executive Director
Charles Ferdon, General Manager
Jeffrey Clough.

Additional File Information

According to this non-profit company's contract, this company will develop a Program to reduce and/or restructure Client's monthly payments to identified creditors. The first payment is a fee used to set up the customer's account and upon completion of the program an equal amount to the fee will be refunded to the customer. Funds will be disbursed within thirty (30) days after the client makes the monthly payment.
=============================
Florida Non Profit

EXPRESS CONSOLIDATION, INC.

PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
413 NE 3RD STREET
DELRAY BEACH FL 33483
Changed 04/29/2002

MAILING ADDRESS
413 NE 3RD STREET
DELRAY BEACH FL 33483
Changed 04/29/2002

Document Number
N00000006792 FEI Number
651046906 Date Filed
10/12/2000
State
FL Status
ACTIVE Effective Date
NONE
Last Event
AMENDMENT Event Date Filed
03/09/2001 Event Effective Date
NONE

Registered Agent
Name & Address
LESHIN, RANDALL L
712 E. MCNAB ROAD
POMPANO BEACH FL 33060
Address Changed: 01/25/2005

Officer/Director Detail
Name & Address Title
LESHIN, RANDALL L ESQ
413 NE 3RD STREET

DELRAY BEACH FL 33483 DIR
LEWIS, LINDA
413 NE 3RD STREET

DELRAY BEACH FL 33483 DIR
MEDLOCK, RICHARD
413 NE 3RD STREET

DELRAY BEACH FL 33483 DIR
LESHIN, RANDALL L ESQ
413 NE 3RD ST

DELRAY BEACH FL 33483 PRES
FERDON, CHARLES
413 NE 3RD ST

DELRAY BEACH FL 33483 SEC
MOROVITS, JOSEPH
413 NE 3RD ST

DELRAY BEACH FL 33483

We have also been tormented by this outfit are very willing to take any action necessary. I'm just curious how you got this info just to be sure we're no going after the wrong outfit. Feel free to email me at bogusnumber@gmail.com.

Thx

I've gotten several calls as well from the 514 number. Get energized to get take action - it works.

My opinion is that the companies that violate TCPA are banking on a low-lawsuit response to their actions. But it can pay well to respond to these companies, with an appropriate letter or lawsuit. Why? Because your privacy, protected by US Federal law, has been violated and you may have a "private right of action" to go after the companies who did this.

It's easy to get upset at what is really happening: A man (haven't found a female defendant yet) decided that he would set up an auto-dialer to call thousands and thousands of times, in order to get some response rate for the offer that allows him to make a profit. Other businesses that are nicer, and use legal means... they have to pay more money to get their customers, and so some of these "nice businesses" may close while the mega-dialer-man wins. So he does it some more, perhaps in other industries. (and I propose that some industries, like travel scams, may not exist if they have to play by the rules).

Being on the USA national Do-Not_Call list actually is a form of retreat, and hurts responsible companies (such as a local gardener or flower shop).

I have personally gotten thousands and thousands of dollars from telemarketers, merely by doing the boring task of tracking calls (taking photos of every unknown caller id, saving every voicemail (including hangups) and taking notes as I talk, of calls that I answer).

It's just a "cost of doing business" for some of these TCPA-violating companies, and they pay up so they can keep going. Some even don't change their tactics, making it easier for you to sue them for the 2nd, 3rd, ... 10th violation that they've done.

I think the use of a Canadian 514 area code was genius - it will get the average American to think they can't do anything about it. But if the organization behind the calls has any legs in the USA, then they may get to pay up for their Canadian counterparts.

All of the above is purely for entertainment purposes, non-legal opinion only, but hopefully will inspire the right people to action.


© 2005 "The Tele-Junkman"

One addition - I also do *57 (call trace) after any call that I don't recognize. It costs me a dollar per trace (when it works), and provides a trace record that my local phone company can provide in writing to verify that the call to you did take place (mobile phones can't do this yet).

And my disclaimer did not apply to the money I've obtained - that sentence was not for entertainment, but inspiration. I've received over $20,000 so far, and yes I pay taxes on it.


© 2005 "The Tele-Junkman"

i get these calls to0.. i hooked up the home phone to the fax line and it seems to have stopped. maybe it's designed to recognize that it's a fax line and not a residential line and stops the recall...

[B] [COLOR=red] I called Randel Leshin at 954-941-9711 after getting hang ups from Quebec 514-958-0000. I didn't want any more junk calls so I blocked my number. You guessed it. He doesn't take blocked calls.

I have several lines that go to my cell phone when the office is not staffed. These people should be tarred and feathered!!!! 514-958-0000 Too bad they aren't from the neighborhood....

I've also received calls from this number to my residence in Rhode Island. The last one was yesterday at 4:07PM and came up as "Test Code PQ 514-958-0000". No message was left but it's beginning to irritate me so I decided to do a Google search and found this board (as well as several other links addressing this specific number). Figured I'd post in case someone decides to pursue the company responsible and needs documentation.

http://www.ftc.gov/donotcall/

go register

This number called this AM(4-25-05) and it was "Lighthouse Credit Corporation"

I am getting sick and tired of the calls from this number. Sometimes I get as many as 7 or 8 of them in a period of two hours. Our phone number is registered on the government "Do Not Call" list. If anyone has a free solution other than paying the local phone company for call-block please post it. Thanks.

Hi I just recieved one of these calls and what I did was contact 1-888-589-7901 (which is the number posted on express consolidations customer service number on their website) and I spoke with Tara I told her that our conversation was being recorded and that I received a call from their 514-958-0000 unassigned number and that if I received another call from this number that I would turn it over to the FCC for prosecution. She acknowledge the call number and took my phone number to place on their do not call list. I will keep you posted. However, I suggest everyone that has been contacted by this number to call the above number and record the call letting them know it is being recorded and then state you do not want to be called anymore or you will pursue legal action.

Disclaimer: This is just a personal opinion and I am not providing any legal advice.

They call my house alot also. I wonder if there are any programs available for my computer that can log incoming calls like that and allow me to answer them through the computer and record straight to the harddrive. Would make for very easy logging.

Caller ID with Phone Ring Controller can solve this problem, only put 514-958-_ _ _ _ into Reject list see www.jfteck.com. Then it won't bother you.

Hi, I'm sure glad that some of you know some solutions to this problem with 514-958-0000.
I live in MA and get at least one call every other day.
I've answered a few times, only to be hung up on.
Only twice did I get a pre-recorded message stating to press one to receive offer, or press 9 to be put on their do not call list.
I've sucessfully not been hung up on twice while pressing 9, but I'm still getting calls that are showing up on my caller ID.
Like so many others, I don't want to be bothered, and don't want to resort to paying for the resolution of this problem.
If anyone has any like info to share please contact me : khc_02149@yahoo.com

If it helps I am in the UK & get calls about 3 times a week with ID withheld. On answering one of these calls I seem to get to the same people as yourselves. I am being told that my phone number was supplied by my credit card company, as this phone number is not registered with anybody at all, is ID withheld & is ex-directory & is only used for a dial up modem this is not possible. Any suggestions would be welcomed.

John

Tanya:

Thanks for the suggestion. I too called and was placed on the DNC list. They were calling 3-4 times a day on my home office work number. It was driving me crazy!
Hope this works, I'll post back if it doesn't.

Thank goodness for the internet... sharing this info is priceless.

T