- Report: #212702
Complaint Review: Distinct Advantage - Nationwide
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Distinct Advantage
distinctadvantage.net Nationwide, U.S.A.
Phone:
800-853-9982
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Distinct Advantage Phony Telemarketing Scam Fort Worth Texas
It is Monday evening, my phone rang and I picked it up. The voice on the other end greeted me by my first name only then thanked me for being a valued customer and would like to extend to me $400.00 in airline services, (by an internationally known airline) and also give me a voucher worth $100.00 in free gas from any gas station in the US. Odd enough, right? ANY gas station in the US?
He then asked me to verify my address, which he had correct. It didn't surprise me since he had my phone number too. He then asked me which bank do I bank with, I told him the name of the bank. He then asked for me to grab my check book to verify some information for him. When I got back, he recited to me the routing number to my bank, then asked for me to tell him the numbers to the right of the routing number. I replied,"This is my account number, I'm not comfortable with providing this information over the phone." He assured me that this is normal procedure for their company in order for me to recieve my free gifts and my information was safe with him. I told him, "If you must have my account number then I cannot proceed with this call." Without a thanking me for my time or ending the call in a professional manner, he hung up on me.
I called back the phone number that marketing guy had previously given me, and spoke with customer service and came to realize quickly that this was not a professional customer service rep that I was speaking with. Before I ended a sentence, she had already started explaining to me that it was not what it seems. Finally, frustrated enough...I said "can I explain to you why I am upset without you interrupting me." A very long pause came...I thought she had hung up on me too. I then said "thank you", then told her that I recieved this solicitation call unexpectedly in my home, the least this guy could do was thanked me for my time and for listening to him while he spoke.
Instead, when I told him that I was not going to give him my checking account number over the phone...he just hung up on me. The CSR told me that the marketing guy didn't hang up on me, we had just simply lost connection. Hmmm. How convenient? Well, I gave her a few choice words on how I felt about the rude invasion then I conveniently lost connection with her too. If this is not a scam...then I'm not sure what to think one would sound like.
Chong
Fort Worth, Texas
U.S.A.
He then asked me to verify my address, which he had correct. It didn't surprise me since he had my phone number too. He then asked me which bank do I bank with, I told him the name of the bank. He then asked for me to grab my check book to verify some information for him. When I got back, he recited to me the routing number to my bank, then asked for me to tell him the numbers to the right of the routing number. I replied,"This is my account number, I'm not comfortable with providing this information over the phone." He assured me that this is normal procedure for their company in order for me to recieve my free gifts and my information was safe with him. I told him, "If you must have my account number then I cannot proceed with this call." Without a thanking me for my time or ending the call in a professional manner, he hung up on me.
I called back the phone number that marketing guy had previously given me, and spoke with customer service and came to realize quickly that this was not a professional customer service rep that I was speaking with. Before I ended a sentence, she had already started explaining to me that it was not what it seems. Finally, frustrated enough...I said "can I explain to you why I am upset without you interrupting me." A very long pause came...I thought she had hung up on me too. I then said "thank you", then told her that I recieved this solicitation call unexpectedly in my home, the least this guy could do was thanked me for my time and for listening to him while he spoke.
Instead, when I told him that I was not going to give him my checking account number over the phone...he just hung up on me. The CSR told me that the marketing guy didn't hang up on me, we had just simply lost connection. Hmmm. How convenient? Well, I gave her a few choice words on how I felt about the rude invasion then I conveniently lost connection with her too. If this is not a scam...then I'm not sure what to think one would sound like.
Chong
Fort Worth, Texas
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Joe
Here,Florida,
U.S.A.
Telephone Alert - Members 1st Federal Credit Union!
#2UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sun, October 01, 2006
The latest telephone alert involves members contacted by individuals claiming to be a Checking Account Supervisor and offering free services. Please be aware these are not Members 1st employees and the calls are originating from a company based out of Florida named Distinct Advantage. As when contacted by any company soliciting services via the telephone, Members 1st recommends exercising caution. Ask questions to fully understand all aspects of the offer being made. If you are contacted and note charges were made to your account without consent by Distinct Advantage, or if you feel employees of Distinct Advantage misrepresented themselves, please contact the Florida Attorney General's Office of Consumer Protection. The toll free number for the Florida Attorney General's office for filing a complaint is 1-866-966-7226. Complaints can also be filed online at http://myfloridalegal.com/ Once on the site click on the Consumer Protection' link, then click on the ?How to File a Complaint or Check on a Business' link. All the necessary information for filing a complaint is provided. For more information regarding alerts, scams, and fraud protection information please visit our http://www.members1st.org/Security.aspx?index=9 As you can see I don't make this stuff up. To see the alert for yourself copy and paste the link below to your address bar. http://www.members1st.org/News.aspx?index=8#PhoneScam This is the third banking institution to post warnings about Suntasia and it's sub companies.
Joe
Here,Florida,
U.S.A.
MEDIA ALERT!: SUNTASIA MARKETING IS EXPOSED AGAIN FOR A THIRD TIME BY ANOTHER NEWS STATION!
#3UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, September 27, 2006
BREAKING NEWS ! Consumer Alert: Discount Membership Clubs A woman in McKeesport, Pennsylvania called her local news station crying b/c she got charged for a so called, discount package with the same bait scam, free gas and airline vouchers. Shirley Smorey really believed she was getting $500 worth of free gas and airline vouchers but as usual the package got to her home late and thus Shirley got charged $59.99 membership fee plus the first monthly charge of $19.99. She also got a bounced check fee and is now out more than $113. Yes it's typical folks that the people who are responsible in promoting this scam Suntasia Marketing in Largo don't take the heat for it b/c everyone thinks it's Distinct Advantage that is the only one involved. Make no mistake about it Suntasia is FULLY behind selling the products of Distinct Advantage, Travel Agents Go Direct, FloridaWay, Prism, Freedom Gold and other names as well. Suntasia Marketing is located on 8751 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33771 and their corporate website is suntasia.com/. To see the video of the news story that was done by KDKA Channel 2 reporter Yvonne Zanos their Consumer Editor there just copy and paste the link below to your address bar. ( link removed by ROR) You all have been asking what you can do, well here is another example of someone taking action to expose these crooks. CALL YOUR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS! DON'T STAY SILENT!
