Unwanted Calls – Episode #5 – Duct Cleaning Services

by Brian on 8/17/2011

In this episode I receive a telemarketing call from Air Duct Cleaning Services based in Toronto. I get into a discussion with the telemarketer and try to figure out how they will send a crew from Toronto all the way to my house in Thunder Bay. The caller id on my phone showed up as (408) 443-0850, and the telemarketer claimed to be calling from (647) 763-8761 ext. 305 which rings busy when I try to call it. Telemarketer name was Seresha.

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Tagged as: duct cleaning, duct cleaning services, podcast, telemarketing, unwanted calls

ok

i have this problem too. what exactly are they trying to find out when they call?
http://www.brianjones.ca joshaidan

They seem to be trying to sell duct cleaning services (cleaning the heating ducts in your house). I’m not sure if they sell an actual service, or if they’re just trying to get your credit card number. What I found funny was that the cleaner was based in Toronto, and I leave 20 hours away.
Kurt_grau

these people have been calling me over and over and ive asked them to stop the police cant help and the number cant be called back. I am going to have one of there crews come out and kick all there asses.
http://www.brianjones.ca joshaidan

I hear you Kurt! That’s why I decided to have some fun with it. Do you keep getting calls about Duct Cleaning, or are they trying to sell you something else?
Kutty Duhamel

We get it too! so frustrating! We are going to start having fun with it too
http://www.brianjones.ca joshaidan

Share your stories Kutty! I’d love to hear them.
Annoyed

At least he used his real Indian name! (Seresha). Whenever these guys call, it’s usually a Dave, or an Adam, or a Mark. I think we even had a Tyler call. I ask “Tyler” what the weather was like in Mumbai.
http://www.brianjones.ca joshaidan

I know what you mean. I also noticed they don’t admit they’re calling from India, usually they say they’re from somewhere in the states.
VAL

CALL THIS NUMBER 416 800 07 98 AND HARASS THEM TOO.
Jimsmith

I get the same FRIGGIN HARRASMENT !!! I tell them my house has no ducts only chickens and hens !!!!!!!
Paiva67

Is there a canadian agency or law that defend consumers against this? In Brazil, my native country, you can denounce any company that calls you more than three times, and the companies get fined big time… I am tired of being called at 9 in the evening by this company… I asked them over and over again to be taken away from their list to no avail. Does anyone know of something similar to what there is in Brazil to deal with abusive telemarketers?? Thank you!
http://www.brianjones.ca joshaidan

Yeah, the place to go is the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/.

The problem with these calls, is that they originate outside of the country, often from India. I suspect the cross-jurisdiction nature of the calls make it difficult for the authorities to track and prosecute.

However, the calls that do originate inside of Canada can easily be dealt with by the CRTC through their Do Not Call List https://www.lnnte-dncl.gc.ca/index-eng. Canadian companies must follow the rules outlined by the CRTC, otherwise they will be fined, which has happened in the past.
http://www.brianjones.ca joshaidan

I should add that even though the calls originate from India, I suspect that in a lot of cases the calls are sourced from North America by greedy business people.
MaryF

I’ve been receiving repeated calls as well from 1-416-111-3949 which of course won’t receive an incoming call. Same deal’air duct cleaning services’ with all agents having a south Asian accent. I’ve registered numerous complaints on the Do not call list but had no response yet. Is it time to contact the news media about this??
Sdfd

Just got a call 5 mins ago, when I ask for their business number they just hang up. I don’t even get the chance to tell them to take me off their calling list. But I love the F-18 part, too hilarious!
Aa

These people keep calling my house (Air Duct Cleaning Services – Toronto), so one day I pretended to be interested in their services, and they gave me a # to call them back on. This is the # 416-800-0241. So please, feel free to call that number to harass these people back!
Ductsrus

Just got a similar call except “John” said he was callig from ottawa. With a 905-416-9688 phone number! Interesting that 905 and 416 at area codes for missisisauga and Toronto. I have him the gears a bit then he Thales me for wariness his time then hung up.
Ductsrus

Thanked me for wasting his time! Damn spell checker.
Barb Clatyon

I just got a call from “air duct cleaning services” and when I told him to remove my number from their list he told me no. I told him that I was on the NDNCL and that it was illegal for him to call me and he hung up.
I’m so sick of these airduct cleaning places calling me – up to three times a week!!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_HPAX7S6S7L3GBKJHJN4LABLPXM ads

I have already set up two fake appointments with these idiots for duct cleaning. I say yes to their services and give them fake addresses in my town. They call on the day of the appointment and say they can’t find my house and I just give them more fake directions and send them all over town. LOL.
http://www.brianjones.ca joshaidan

Wow, I’m curious, who are the contractors they send out to do the cleaning? Are they local independent contractors, or people who work as part of a franchise? I wonder how they get the referral–perhaps you can ask them, who gave them this lead?
PW

I get many calls a day from these people…i called the number below and the guy Adam started swearing and cursing at me (after i asked if he was affiliated with the telemarketing harrassment)…I have asked many times to be taken off the list and the calls get worse for a couple days and then better-one day i got 11 calls in a row…unbelievable!!
http://www.brianjones.ca joshaidan

Yeah, I don’t think you’ll be able to get off their list as I doubt they’re a legitimate telemarketing company. Perhaps if we put enough complaints to http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/, they’ll try to catch the people doing it.

In any case, caller id can be spoofed if you buy the right kind of lines from your phone company. So likely the person you were talking to had nothing to do with the telemarketers, and was just frustrated because he got a lot of calls from annoyed people like you.
Kldrobson

These stupid people are driving me mad. They continue to call repeatedly like as if one day i’m going to do business with them! Friday night they called and I kept him hanging on the line dragging the conversation on then I got really mad and said I was sick of their calls even after I kept saying to be taken off the list. I threatened to call the do no call list authorities to report them. He was apologetic and then got off the phone. Today, the day after, they call AGAIN! I asked if they were on drugs. Does anyone know if you receive a call and just put the phone down on a table for awhile, does that tie up the line on their end? I heard that a long time ago but wonder if that’s true.
NGD

I kept telling these guys that I had no air ducts at all ( I have radiant heat ). Finally, I set up an appt for today and pretended to book their service. The workers phoned me from Scarborough ( I am in Newmarket ) . It took them an hour to drive up here in pretty bad weather. I invited one of them in to see that I do not in fact have ducts. They just left a few minutes ago and were pretty pissed and said they were going to give their call centre shit for this. I felt bad for these guys, but I am sick and tired of the constant harrassment. Each time now I will set up an appt and have them drive up here until they get it !!!
http://www.brianjones.ca joshaidan

See if you can get them to tell you the name of their call centre. But anyway, you should report the company and the guys who came to the CRTC / Do Not Call List so they can be fined.
Dowson Cd

We just had those guys come to our house today…….we don’t have air ducts in our house….oops we forgot
Gr8bar

dont get mad get even, I bought a aerosol air horn in walmart for
$20.00, I wonder if his hearing is restored yet?
Deb

I got one of those today – fortunately I have call display so I wrote the number down and asked the telemarketer to repeat the name of the company. I then proceeded to tell them that I have their number and the name of the company and I will be reporting them to the CRTC then I slammed the phone down. Made me feel REAL good! Don’t bother reporting them to Bell Canada.
VADESKA

call 416 900 2930 this is their main office number and please, please, please harass them too.
filthyskipig

Number is not in service any more.
Kevin

Yes, the F18 comment was brilliant. I’ve been getting calls from these guys almost every day. Once, I asked for their name and phone number and they said I wouldn’t get any more calls…they stopped for a week. I see a documentary in the making here…
Pentaralpha

I’ve submitted complaints to the CRTC. I suggest people do the same. I called the phone indicated above ( 416 900 2930 ) and I did get them. It sounded like the same people making and he tried to give me the same offer. I yelled at him and demanded he take my # off the list. I also informed him I submitted two complaints to the CRTC already. If enough complaints go in, they’ll get a massive fine.
VEG

I told them to send 1000 workers to my house because I have 1000 feet of duct that needs cleaning. I would like them sent right away. I was transferred to the supervisor and told him of my request. He wanted to know I needed 1000 people to come to my house. I them told him to stop f*****g phoning me, I have don’t have any ducts. He then swore at me to F**K you numerous times.
Navra1

I have also been harrassed by Air Duct Cleaning Services. They are aware that I am on the Do Not Call list (I have told them several times) but they continue to call me. They have given me two different phone numbers neither of which exist. I have contacted the Do Not Call list people but they don’t seem to be able to do anything about it.
Julie

Get all the info (caller id name and phone #) from your phone and the date and time they called. Then call the CRTC at 866-580-3625.
Tim

Yeah, I led the guy on and asked him what their wesite was, but he kept dodging the question. When he found out I was olny 15 (because of my “little child voice”) he told me to “F*** off”! I tried calling the number but it didn’t exist.
Haniaakaannmarie

I get these calls all the time as well and cannot seem to get rid of these people. When I ask where they are located they say all over Toronto. When I asked to speak to their supervisor, the odd time they put some shmuck on that says nothing can be done because the calls are coming from multiple centers and they cannot remove me off their list. I made a couple of appointments and my husband basically told them that he changed his mind and the last time he did, we received a call from the company telling us they were going to bull us a cancellation charge but thankfully never did. These guys are like parasites that won’t go away. There has to be something formal we can do to get rid of them.
Kathylovespets

http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-416-878-4747#p370109341936508512
Kathylovespets

I am having the same problem from tele 416-878-4747 and the above link describes many people who have the same problem. The guy who calls me has an East Indian accent. I never get a company name and continually tell him that I am on the DO NOT CALL list. I finally reported it today, however, without a company name, etc., and only referenced the phone number. As you can see from the above link, others have reported this company/guy/whoever and everyone still continues to get calls. We need help with this. Any suggestions??
http://twitter.com/zymsys Vic Metcalfe

They call my home almost every day. I’ve finally broken down and booked an appointment so I can waste their time too. I plan to record the conversation when they arrive, and to get all the info I can from them for the CRTC.

If everyone who is harassed by these people booked bogus appointments I’m sure they would stop. If they continue to call I will continue to book appointments.
http://www.brianjones.ca joshaidan

Hey Vic, when you get the info, be sure to give the Anti Fraud Centre a call too: http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/english/home-eng.html
http://www.airforceduct.com/ Airforceduct

Hello, I am in charge of management for Air Force Duct Cleaning and recently we had customers complaining about phone calls from RUDE and ANNOYING individuals masking under our company name (Air Force Duct Cleaning).

We do NOT conduct any telemarketing services and it is very sad and unethical behavior on a part of whoever is making these calls claiming to be our representative.

Please beware that anyone calling from 905-416-9688 or Private Number and offering duct cleaning services non-stop is a scam! If you happen to come across this situation let us know, our company telephone number is 416•841•9698.

A smart consumer is an educated consumer.
Thezoo

Does anyone know how to stop them although I like the fake address idea
RC

My phone has been hacked! I’m getting hundreds (no kidding) of calls from people saying I called them, and some quite annoyed as they think it’s a telemarketer.
I analyzed and found out from a couple of calls that these are ‘duct cleaning service’ calls, which will flash my number if called back ’647XXX9993′ (in case anyone got this call, which is actually my cell number). I’m a victim here and want this out of my life so bad.

I checked with my phone carrier and they can’t help me. The only solution is to change my number!

Changing my number will solve the problem for me, but does not provide any solution to the issue that’s going around. I’m sure they will find another victim!
http://www.brianjones.ca joshaidan

Hey RC,

Your phone hasn’t been “hacked,” in other words nobody is using your phone to make calls. However, your caller id is being spoofed, which is a common occurrence in the industry. Businesses can purchase special trunks from their phone provider that allow them to specify what phone number they like as the caller id. For example, calling card companies will use these trunks so that they can set the caller id of an outgoing call to that of the original caller.

The telemarkers in this case are not following any of Canada’s telecommunication laws, and the calls are likely originating from another country. Very likely, the are choosing a random Canadian phone number to make it appear as though they are calling from Canada.

It definitely is an annoying problem when it gets abused, but goes to show how outdated is the design of the public switched telephone network.
Big Girl Burnsy

I get these phone calls from Air Duct Cleaning Services multiple times a week. Here’s what I do. I ask them to tell me exactly what they do in terms of cleaning the ducts and what extras they provide. While they are telling me, I just gently put the phone down. They can still hear noises in the background, so they think I’m still on the phone. They ramble on for two or three minutes before they realize that I’m not there. It’s so funny when you hear “hello, are you there? hello, are you there”. They finally clue in and hang up. I then hang up the phone and kill myself laughing. I’ve tried to be nice and I’ve asked them to remove my phone number on numerous occasions. Now, I just waste their time. I figure the longer they are on my phone, the less time they have to bug someone else.
Chatzylotz

I get these calls almost daily. I’m at the end of my rope. I got one just an hour ago. I told him to F****off, and that is not me. I’ve reported them to the CRTC, I pay extra to have call screening…when I got this latest call, I tried to put the number in my “block list”, and I was told it was already there. I don’t know what to do. I’m on the National Do Not Call list and that is absolutely useless. This has been going on for a couple of years….I have tried to talk to them calmly. I have screamed at them. I have begged them. They have heard me cry. Nothing works. I don’t know what else to do, other than ripping out my phone. Please if anyone has an answer, I would so appreciate hearing it. There doesn’t seem to be any solution to this. I have talked to Bell Canada and they tell me there is nothing they can do. My nerves are shot
http://twitter.com/zymsys Vic Metcalfe

Will do. They called to confirm on the Sunday before the scheduled visit, and after confirming everything mentioned that they noticed I was on the do not call list, and asked if I really wanted them to come out. I went off on the guy and hoped that they’d really remove me this time.

Today they tried to book another appointment. I played along again thinking this time I’d confirm no matter what until someone shows up. When they put me on hold to book a time the call dropped and he didn’t call back. Maybe I’m in their database now so that when they try to book they see that I’m hostile.

I hope it was just a dropped call though, because I’d love to hit these guys in the pocketbook by having them waste a visit.
Magendo

Last year I was harassed by these call to such an extent that I ended up swearing at the person and hanging up. This individual proceeded to call me back at least five times and when I finally picked it up he proceeded to swear at me.
This year it has started again and yes, I have also made them come out all the way to my home and waited at the front door to tell them ‘we do not have ducts’………
This weekend we once again told them to come over and we provided an address….this morning they started calling at about 9:00 a.m. and when the answering machine would pick up you could hear a recording of them speaking in an East Indian language. The calls stopped and again started at about 4: 00 p.m. and finally they left an actual message. The message is a ‘mish mash’ of an indian dialect infused with some english…..
Another call came in and this time an the east indian man disguised his voice to sound like a ‘woman’???? He provided the name of the company Air Duct Cleaning and the website http://www.airductcleaning.com and also a phone number 416 273-8852. If you call the number is goes into an answering machine, feel free to fill it up with ‘messages’. I have also contacted my local law enforcement 905 453-3311, I had just about enough of this, it is no longer funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!