(703) 574-4450

We have received multiple calls per week for more than a year from 703-574-4450. Reverse phone look up reports a business in Sterling Virginia. Frequently have more than one per day. Never leaves a message. When answered (we have done that twice in the past year, the second time by accident) we simply hear some one breathing (not heavy breathing, but it is obvious that some one is on the line) who does not answer our words. Last Saturday had 6. Have had at least 13 in the last 6 days. Have had this number blocked on our phone for at least three months (rings once, caller ID is recognized by our phone and phone hangs up automatically). Call volume has increased significantly since then. Others have identified the true source as Meyer Teleservices at 1-800-676-9233. We called that number and asked that our name be placed on its do-not-call list. I suspect my request will be honored. Apparently the company's business plan is to make as many calls as fast as possible - blocking your number simply makes it faster for the operator to make a technically complete call (it was answered, since there was a hang-up, rather than busy, so the operator does not have to wait or hang up himself). If the phone is answered, the operator stays silent so the person called will hang up quicker. I suspect that this company's business plan is to market its services, at a very low rate per call, to relatively unsophisticated political and non-profit organizations who do not realize that they are being taken for a ride. If the calls are for political and non-profit campaigns, the company is not subject to the heavy financial penalties for ignoring the do-not-call list. Some writers think that this is a political fund-raiser, since there have been a few political pitches; I suspect that those operators were true political enthusiasts who chose to ignore the Meyer Co. policy, not realizing that saying anything that identified the sponsor to the person answering would subject the

703-574-4450 3:52pm 24 Sept 2010