For several days I kept getting calls (at least six) identified on my caller ID as CELEBRATION, but when I answered there was no one there. One time I called back, but the phone just rang and rang. Then, today, Oct 11, 2007,I decided to see what the deal was. A woman who identified herself as Julia Smith, employee 21064 of a company called Value Benefits of America. Strangely, with such an American name she clearly had an Asian-type accent that seemed like it was from India. She gave me the customer service call from this number for this company 866-916-8814 and a website www.freebeegas.com. I tried it later, and it was answered by a woman with an American accent who answered, "customer service Value Benefitis of America." I hung up and didn't ask her any questions. Earlier in the week I had responded to an email that seemed legitimate offering a $500 spending spree and a $125 gas card spendable at any retail store. I toyed around with it but bailed out of the website when they asked for my credit card. So I figured this was a follow up to that. Sure enough, Julia offered the same deal on the condition of paying $2.25 charged to a credit card within ten days of receiving my package. She said nothing else would be charged unless I chose to become a member for only $69.95 a month. She asked for my name, birth date, and address and the expiration date of of a VISA, MASTERCARD, or AMERICAN EXPRESS credit card, but not my card number. Eventually she connected me to a verifying supervisor, who identified himself as "Roy Phillips." He too had the same Asian or Indian accent. When I asked where he was calling from or if he was calling from India, he became defensive and challenging, asking me why I would make such an assumption. I told him I just wanted to make sure that this was all legitimate. He said he had an "Asian accent," was calling from DeMoine Iowa. At that point I got on the internet as he suggested to check out the website and noticed the company listed its headquarters in Largo, Florida. When I mentioned that the company was in Largo, Florida (not in Iowa), he couldn't understand the word Largo and I had to repeat it two or three times. At that point I became even more suspicious. However, I played along until he finally said he was recording information, including my credit card number. When he started the automated call requesting this information, if I didn't give it fast enough, he would interrupt me and come back on the line asking for the same information. I repeated my name and address but never gave him the credit card number. Then I hung up. He called back three more times. Twice I let it ring until it went to voice mail. The third time I had my son answer and tell him to put our number on their no-call list. He begged to talk to me but my son just hung up. If this is a legitimate company and offer, they have a real PR problem with "Roy Phillips" and his defensiveness and hostility and need to fire that guy. He was just TOO desperate to get my credit card information.
The BBB has requested information on the company (FreeBeeGas.com, 14100 Walsingham Rd Ste 36 # 12, Largo, FL 33774-3245, www.freebeegas.com, also known as Tidewater Marketing Consultants, Inc.) but received no reply. Needless to say, the company is NOT a BBB member! Further, from the BBB report, the company owner has a bad history with the BBB with a prior company.
From reading the "Nature of Business" section of the report, it sounds like you get what they say you'll get, but you run through hoop after (costly and time consuming) hoop to get it, possibly to the point where you'll be lucky to break even, and there are other factors too, such as needing to buy at least $100 in gas a month. Personally, I buy around that, but not EVERY month (some months more like $50). No mention is made about the shopping spree, but I gather it's a similar system.
Plus, the very IDEA of cold-calling someone and asking for their credit card number and expiration! You'd have to be a real idiot to give those out to somebody that called YOU. They do offer a call-back number though (same as what "in the woods" wrote, 1-866-916-8814) which adds significantly to their credibility. But in the end, the rule "there's no such thing as a free lunch" should be remembered here!
I have received two calls in 3 hours time span this evening alone from these people. Phone numbers are: 712-429-0345, 712-429-0350
First number was a woman i told her not to call back and hung up on her.
Second time I actually spoke the Eastern Indian guy and demanded to speak to his manager, and he kept asking: "Why Ma'am?" over and over like about fifty times, not exaggerating on that! Finally HE hung up on me when I got irate demanding to speak to someone. Both of these phone numbers have recordings saying they are disconnected.
The listing of the Company on my caller ID is: "Offer P"
I looked up these numbers on the internet and found (Aventure Communication Technology L.l.c**.)
I just got a call from this number and I requested they put me on their Do Not Call List. The guy had a thick East Indian accent. He told me to say my phone number and my name which now that I read these messages, I should not have done. He asked if I wanted to be on the Do Not Call List and I said "Yes" and he recorded my answer stating that he would call tomorrow. I am now worried about my information. How can this be reported? When I tried to return the call, it said the number was disconnected.
Got a call from this # and I had a feeling it was some sort of scam. So I picked up the phone without answering and just hanged up. Thanks to all of you above for providing the information to everyone else. Very helpful and I'm glad I hanged up on them without speaking to anyone.
I received a call from 712-429-0350 and told the caller to put me on the do
not call list. The caller ignored me and I told him again; the script continued until I told him if these calls persist a law suit may follow and hung up. I saw the caller ID listed from Sloan, IA. and am entering their number on the national do not call list. The freebegas program needs to be shut down. If they call again report them the the state atty. general's office and FTC or FCC complaint sites for ignoring repeated do not call list requests.