Heather from Credit Card Services

What’s the deal with "Heather from Credit Card Services"?

"Hi, this is Heather from Credit Card Services calling about your credit card account. There is no problem with your credit card. It appears that you are now eligible for a significantly lower interest rate on your account. However, this offer is about to expire, so please press 1 now to be transferred to a live representative who can assist you in securing your lower interest rate."

Heather and her cohorts - Anne, Tiffany, Rachel, Michael, Sarah and others - from "Credit Card Services" have been annoying people for years with their illegal robo-calls. The scammers behind the sales pitches claim to have special relationships with credit card issuers. They guarantee that the reduced rates they offer will save you thousands of dollars in interest and finance charges, and will allow you to pay off your credit card debt three to five times faster. 

But, is it true? Can "Credit Card Services" actually lower your interest rate?

NO! It’s a scam! If you press "1," you’re connected to a scammer who will ask for your credit card number and other personal information. Their promises aren’t true. There are no guarantees for permanently lowered interest rates.

Some things to be aware of...

1) If it's a robo-call it probably a scam.  According to the Federal Trade Commission if the robo-call is a sales message and you haven't given your written permission to get calls from the company on the other end, the call is illegal. In addition to the phone calls being illegal, their pitch most likely is a scam.

2) Are you listed with the National Do Not Call Registry? If so and you receive a marketing call, it is absolutely a scam. Legitimate businesses screen their call lists against the National Do Not Call Registry. Legitimate businesses won't call you, but scammers still will.

What should I do if I get these calls?

Don’t give out your credit card information. Once a scammer has your data, they can charge your credit card for their own purchases or sell the information to other scammers.

Don’t share other personal financial or sensitive information like your bank account or Social Security numbers. Scam artists often ask for this information during an unsolicited sales pitch, and then use it to commit other frauds against you.

Hang up. Don’t press any buttons on your phone. Don’t press 1 to speak to someone - or to be taken off the call list. You’ll just get more annoying calls.