Comments on anti206: Telemarketer Blacklist

phone # (801) 618-2020This is a call from Pacific ...

2008-09-24T23:30:00.000-04:00

phone # (801) 618-2020

This is a call from Pacific Crest Research, info below:

Matt Hewitt
President
Pacific Crest Research Corp

Home address:
Household: Gloria, Lynn, Mj
3467 N 2500 W
Ogden, UT 84404-8623
Direct line /Mobile:(801) 866-4882

Just stumbled upon this while trying to find the P...

2008-03-24T14:46:00.000-04:00

Just stumbled upon this while trying to find the PCR website. I worked for Pacific Crest Research and I can answer any questions you may have.

The company is based out of California, but also has an office in Ogden, Utah which is where I worked.

TNS stands for Taylor Nelson Sofrees.

Most of the calls we made we hardly mentioned PCR and most often TNS. We did political research for the upcoming election and caucus madness. There was an ongoing year long study for car insurance in the name of TNS.

The company has recently expanded its Ogden, Utah location but is still working out of the same address.

All interviewers read from scripts which are agreeably biased at times.

Also another tip, the "I'm on a do not call list" line doesn't work with these people. The excuse they always asked us to use was that the Do Not Call list is for solicitors and the company is not selling anything.

The company lacks a database for their own Do Not Call list so sadly enough you must request this for every survey they call you for.

My suggestion to everyone here is:

1. Ask if there is a reward for the survey; some are pretty short and not a bad way to earn a quick buck. If there's a reward and you decide to proceed be sure to ask how long it is first and then decide rather or not it's worth it to you.

2. Immediately ask to be placed on the Do Not Call list for this survey, and attempt to make it clear you do not want them to call you again.

3. If things get rough, or an interviewer is acting like an ass ask to speak with a manager.

4. If they do call your cell phone let them know immediately (unless you've decided to participate) because I am also led to believe this is illegal and should not happen.

Any other questions just post them here for me and I'll try to answer them. It's been nearly a year since I've worked there but the absolute dread of the experience is burnt permanently into my mind.

GODSPEED.

Got these calls not only from this phonenumber bu...

2007-03-19T15:55:00.000-04:00

Got these calls not only from this phonenumber but more and ID shows up as different states.. Pick up they don't say anything Called back nothing either.. get sick and tired of these calls every day.. we got per day like ten calls and don't even care if it's during the day or nights

these are the different calls they made to my phone.
washigton 206-666-7278
oregon 503-493-0142
iowa 712-429-0236
arizona 623-238-6013
georgia 678-969-5999

What can I do against these calls .

Horse Sense: Push polls reveal ugliest underbelly ...

2006-10-08T04:22:00.000-04:00

Horse Sense: Push polls reveal ugliest underbelly of partisan politics

Charles S. Johnson
Horse Sense

HELENA - By now, thousands of Montanans have had their lives interrupted by phone calls with an annoying recorded message posing as a political poll.

Although purporting to be a poll, this call's real intention is to trash Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jon Tester. It seeks to "push" you toward voting for Republican incumbent Conrad Burns if you weren't so inclined.

And that's what these odious calls are called - "push polls." These calls are offensive no matter which side pays for them. If you tell the robo-call you plan to vote for Tester, the automated voice asks if you would change your mind if you knew that Tester voted to increase your taxes by millions of dollars. Burns, the voice says, has always voted against tax increases. And on it goes.

Push polls are now part of the political bag of dirty tricks used around the country. They're relatively cheap, with computers in the boiler rooms in the Washington, D.C., suburbs dialing the numbers.

Interest groups backing Democrats as well as Republicans have used them around the country. However, I'm unaware of any push polls aimed at helping Tester this year.

One of the first uses of the push polls in Montana came shortly before the November 1992 election. A group that could never be tracked down made push-poll calls to spread scurrilous and false rumors about Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dorothy Bradley. She lost to Republican Marc Racicot by a narrow 11,000 votes.

In the 2000 Republican presidential primary in South Carolina, push-poll calls asked voters, "Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for John McCain for president if you know he had fathered an illegitimate black child." McCain and his wife had adopted a Bangladeshi girl. The beneficiary of these calls was George W. Bush, who went on to win that key primary on his road to the GOP nomination and then the presidency.

Bankrolling the current anti-Tester push poll is a Cincinnati group known as Common Sense 2006, which hired a Virginia company to place the automated calls. These recorded calls, of course, are illegal in Montana.

Common Sense 2006's executive director, Zeke Swift, told the Great Falls Tribune that it opposes abortion rights and gay marriage and supports limited government and taxation. Thus, Burns is the intended beneficiary of the effort.

Burns and Republicans have denounced the push-poll effort, as have Tester and Democrats. Yet the phones keep ringing.

Groups like Common Sense 2006 are known as independent expenditure committees. By law, they must operate independently from candidates' campaigns and without any coordination.

Many people find it a stretch to believe a push-polling group and its chosen candidate's campaign aren't working hand-in-glove. But if any coordination exists, the two are breaking the law.

Candidates could face serious legal troubles with the Federal Election Commission if that happens. The Internal Revenue Service could yank these advocacy groups' tax-exempt status if they break the law.

Two Montana political science professors with polling experience denounced the anti-Tester push poll in particular and push polls in general.

"It's not a poll," said Craig Wilson of Montana State University-Billings. "It's an attempt to move you toward Burns."

Wilson, who with another professor runs the MSU-Billings poll, added, "The problem with push polls is that they give legitimate polls a bad name."

Push polls are relatively cheap, but Wilson questions their value.

"I think it's really kind of marginal, and they make a significant number of people mad," Wilson said.

Christopher Muste, a Uni-versity of Montana political science professor who worked on polls at the Washington Post, said research shows push polls have a mixed record.

"In general, they have found they have fairly little effect," Muste said. "People do them because they're desperate."

If done really well, push polls can have some impact, he said.

"They're mostly effective not in changing people's minds in terms of whom they're going to vote for, but in depressing the turnout of the person who's being attacked in the push poll," he said.

Four national groups - the Council of American Survey Research Organizations, the American Association for Public Opinion Research, the National Council on Public Polls and the American Association of Political Consultants - have denounced push polls, he said.

So what should we do if we get more irritating push-poll calls?

Hang up the phone. That's always the best solution for irritating telemarketing calls.

Sorry about some of those insults. I wasn't in a ...

2006-09-24T01:41:00.000-04:00

Sorry about some of those insults. I wasn't in a good mood that day and when I saw this I had to go off. I'm not a high level employee so I don't know anything about 'push-polls' as I don't choose what types of surveys we run or conduct. I do notice some of them are 'not right' if you catch my drift and I hate conducting those as an employee myself. If it was up to me I wouldn't choose to run those because any person with a brain can tell the surveys aren't unbiased. I'm not attacking everyone here. There were just some comments that I found outrageous which I'd rather not mention. We just don't conduct 'political' surveys, we do conduct some for 'services' every now and then. I 'hear' that our owner makes 'bank' on these and my wage: $8.05. Not bad for a late teens student now in California at least until 2008 or my needs increase. Again sorry for insulting some of you, while for others I'm not taking back SQUAT!

I have had repeated phone calls. I got two today....

2006-09-21T00:34:00.000-04:00

I have had repeated phone calls. I got two today. This site has great info.

A good phone to reach them is 801 627 6340.

690 west 1100 south ogden UT 84404

Posted at aapor.org Survey Practices That AAP...

2006-09-20T03:08:00.000-04:00

Posted at aapor.org

Survey Practices That AAPOR Condemns

AAPOR joins the Research Industry Coalition and the National Council on Public Polls in condemning certain misleading practices sometimes performed in the name of research. In no case are the following practices deemed legitimate or acceptable elements of professionally conducted research.

Conducting a so-called "push poll," a telemarketing technique in which telephone calls are used to canvass potential voters, feeding them false or misleading "information" about a candidate under the pretense of taking a poll to see how this "information" affects voter preferences.
So-called "Push polls" are not polls at all. They are a form of political telemarketing whose intent is not to measure public opinion but to manipulate itto "push" voters away from one candidate and toward the opposing candidate. Such polls defame selected candidates by spreading false or misleading information about them. The intent is to disseminate campaign propaganda under the guise of conducting a legitimate public opinion poll.

As members of AAPOR, a professional organization which relies on public cooperation to gather information that is useful in formulating public policy as well as in understanding the public's preferences for products and services, we condemn these practices in the strongest terms.

Response to themaster24, that Pacific Crest Research is not an illegal organization. Since "push polls are not polls at all. they are a form of political telemarketing" you are not exempt from the DNC. Thus your calls are illegal.

Let's hope you don't speak for the company. Calling the people who post here "dumbasses" and "stupid". Also, nobody has "cussed" anybody in this forum.

By the way,no need to shout.

I don't speak for the company those are just my vi...

2006-09-17T20:39:00.000-04:00

I don't speak for the company those are just my views

Legitimate Market Research companies are exempt fo...

2006-08-24T02:00:00.000-04:00

Legitimate Market Research companies are exempt for DNC legislation. You can visit www.cmor.org for more information.

I also received a call with the same number in the...

2006-08-24T01:20:00.000-04:00

I also received a call with the same number in the caller ID box as the number. I followed the above advice and reached a real person "Lonny" ...and asked to be remived from their list. I am on the DNC list for home and cell. I also am a military spouse, and have lived in Fairfield,CA while we were stationed at Travis AFB, Ca. I will pursue this further with the the powers that be.

I just called 707-432-0374 and pressed 0 and got a...

2006-08-24T00:24:00.000-04:00

I just called 707-432-0374 and pressed 0 and got a real person right away (even at 9 pm). I told the woman to take me off their list - so we'll see how that works.

I don't think we should be blaiming Doug for doing...

2006-08-17T15:33:00.000-04:00

I don't think we should be blaiming Doug for doing his job and creating a website domain for them. I would hope when there domain is up for renewal that he would recosider offering services to Pacific Coast. I received call after call to and it is VERY irritating to say the least. I called Pacific Crest at 707-432-0374 connected myself to the Calling Floor by dailing 1. The first person I got in touch with heard me cleary but as soon as I started explaining that I wanted our number removed he acted as if he could not hear me and hung up. I called back spoke with a lady that was very nice lady and asked her to remove our number. She was also very nice and apologized. She did tell me that they do surverys for hairdressers and beauty salons. Which explains why I was receiving the calls...Our phone number is one digit from a local beauty supply shop and we often get calls for them. I hope asking them to remove my number does some good and this problem gets resolved for myself and others. However I still feel blaiming this on the person that issed a website domain is not fair. And as I said before hopefully they will reconsider registering thier domain when it expires in 2007.

According to www.ss.ca.gov, California's secretary...

2006-08-13T20:42:00.000-04:00

According to www.ss.ca.gov, California's secretary of state, the corporate info for pacific crest resources is:

PACIFIC CREST RESEARCH CORP
Number: C2492288 Date Filed: 1/21/2003 Status: active
Jurisdiction: WASHINGTON
Address
101 ARIZONA ST
TRAVIS AFB, CA 94535
Agent for Service of Process
MATTHEW JOHN HEWITT
101 ARIZONA ST
TRAVIS AFB, CA 94535

I live in California and get a call from this number every Saturday and Sunday. I have yet to pick up the phone and they never leave a message.

Travis Air Force Base seems a very funny place to have a corporation. I would think that only military personnel could have an address on an AFB. Travis AFB is also located in Fairfield, CA. For those of you not familiar with CA geography, Davis, CA is also near Fairfield. These jerks are all working within the same area so the inforamation given on their contacts seems accurate.

Steve, Why not contact a lawyer and band together...

2006-08-02T17:56:00.000-04:00

Steve, Why not contact a lawyer and band together with all who had their rights violated by being called regardless of being on the National Do Not Call List. Sounds like a class action law suit might put these guys out of business. I am not a big proponent of law suits but sometimes people need to be protected. This seems to be one of those times.

I just got a 3-ring hang-up from these creeps. I ...

2006-07-22T14:06:00.000-04:00

I just got a 3-ring hang-up from these creeps. I live in CA and I will go after them. Please provide any additional info.

To Doug doug@heestandconsulting.com
You are the registrant. You can terminate the site. Take responsibility or get out of town.
You took their money, didn't you?

I also found this doing a Lexis/Nexis search:CALIF...

2006-07-19T18:01:00.000-04:00

I also found this doing a Lexis/Nexis search:

CALIFORNIA FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAMES

DBA Name: PACIFC CREST RESEARCH CORP

Business Address: 1745 ENTERPRISE DR
FAIRFIELD, CA 94533-5867

Telephone: (707) 437-3642

Type: DBA

Filing Date: 4/4/2003

County: SOLANO

Business Description: RESEARCH SERVICE

Contact Name: MATT HEWITT

Industry Classification Code: 873206

I'm not sure how up to date this is.

hey all, I work at a dental office and jesus chris...

2006-07-12T12:59:00.000-04:00

hey all, I work at a dental office and jesus christ! everday atleast 10 times a day i get the call from "Customer Care #206-278-9296" which was on your list.. wtf do i do about it, its driving me nutts. i pick up and i hear a click hang up. Ive called back but the number takes me to a voice mail and its full.. w/e Im so sick and tired of it, what do i dooo!!!
Its 12:56pm eastern time.. they just called AGAIN!

Here is the phone # for Pacific Crest:707-432-0374...

2006-05-25T23:12:00.000-04:00

Here is the phone # for Pacific Crest:
707-432-0374

Sorry Doug, Now you know how we feel. Maybe you'll...

2006-04-22T04:01:00.000-04:00

Sorry Doug, Now you know how we feel. Maybe you'll think twice before you act as a front for an illegal company next time. Why don't you post the number of the guy who signed your check and I'll remove your info. I'll probably remove it anyway but why not give us a hand?

Hi, my name is Doug Heestand. I own a small IT co...

2006-04-21T12:04:00.000-04:00

Hi, my name is Doug Heestand. I own a small IT consulting firm and we have done some computer work for Pacific Crest Research in the past. We also set up their website and registered their domain so that's why our name appears there. Anyway, for the people who see fit to call me and harrass me, or send emails to me, I have nothing to do with this company. You might as well harrass the plumber that fixes their toilets or their bank or their night cleaning crew.

Sadly, I'm now a member of this club. They call a...

2006-04-11T19:12:00.000-04:00

Sadly, I'm now a member of this club. They call and call, but hang up when I answer the phone. No name on Caller ID, just a phone number. I also am on the National DNC list. I hope that these comments work against them when someone finally gets around to suing them.

same thing, call and call - hang up when answered....

2006-04-06T17:28:00.000-04:00

same thing, call and call - hang up when answered. i googled and got this site, googled and found their website pcrcorp.net (just a front screen) looked up the domain ownership on domainit, and here it is!

Domain Name Owner:
Pacific Crest Research
1745 Enterprise Dr.
Fairfield, CA 94533
US

Administrative Contact:
Heestand, Douglas [DH-79]
811 Arthur St.
Davis, CA 95616, US
Phone: 530-792-7407
Email: doug@heestandconsulting.com

Technical Contact:
Heestand, Douglas [DH-79]
811 Arthur St.
Davis, CA 95616, US
Phone: 530-792-7407
Email: doug@heestandconsulting.com

Billing Contact:
Heestand, Douglas [DH-79]
811 Arthur St.
Davis, CA 95616, US
Phone: 530-792-7407
Email: doug@heestandconsulting.com

Record Information:
Domain Record Created: February 13, 2004 21:23
Domain Record Updated: December 18, 2005 05:24
Domain Record Expires: February 13, 2007 21:23

DNS Information:
Name Server: ns1.heestandconsulting.com
Name Server: ns2.heestandconsulting.com

same thing, call and call - hang up when answered....

2006-04-06T17:27:00.000-04:00

Why are there so many complaints iluvme ? Well, be...

2006-04-03T00:34:00.000-04:00

Why are there so many complaints iluvme ? Well, besides calling prople on the National DNC list,calling cell phones, not having the companies name on the caller ID,calling people and not connecting to a live operator, and calling people after they have asked to be added to your DNC list.You pretend to poll people but instead use "a telemarketing technique in which telephone calls are used to canvas potential voters,feeding them false or misleading information about a canidate." Yea, why would anyone complain? By the way, how did you end up at this site?

Hey i actually work for Pacific Crest Research in ...

2006-04-02T21:01:00.000-04:00

Hey i actually work for Pacific Crest Research in Fairfield, CA...Why is there so many complaints? I don't see whats the issue with my company, if you don't wish to be called then simply request that we put you on our do not call list and its simple as that!!!!!!!