Path: utzoo!telecom-request Date: Thu, 2 May 91 12:44:34 EDT From: John R Hall Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Has Anyone Heard of This? Message-ID: Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Sender: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 325, Message 4 of 8 Lines: 49 The 312-292-9000 number is indeed for American Consumer Services at 2320 North Damen in Chicago. John, you really missed out on a great opportunity. Your "C5" validation number was good for one of the following gifts: 1. 32" Sony Color TV 2. $2,500 Cashier's Check 3. 2 fully-paid r/t tickets to Jamaica 4. $1k Savings Bond In addition, the computer showed that you were eligible for a bonus gift! The bonus gift was a seven-day vacation to Orlando with two round trip ticket vouchers and "competitively priced" hotel accomodations at selected hotels through their designated travel agent. The only catch to this was that you have to pay $199.98 to join their Buyer's Club which sells things such as life/health insurance, auto club, tires, etc., etc. Oh, and you would have had to make a decision on the spot since the computer "will erase this transaction after you hang up" and you won't be eligible for the gifts. I stopped by on the way home last night to visit them. They are in a 1/2 block long old red brick building with glass-blocked windows so you can't see inside. Located in the same building is the Toledo Body Shop (with a cardboard sign on the door pointing to another entrance for American Consumer Services). Sure enough, their name is on the door, but curiously the doors were open even though the place was empty except for one man I saw there. I only poked my head in far enough to see a big room with modular partitions and desks set up in the back. Connected to this building in the back is a Cellular One phone installation place. There's also a big sign saying "The Carpet Place" with the same entrance as ACS. There's also a big "Available" sign on the building with a number but no realtor name. I think ACS make take their phones off-hook at night, since there was no conversation on the 9000 number according to the operator. Their "Customer Service" number is 312-292-9015 and did answer with voice mail saying their business hours are 9-5 Central time. John [Moderator's Note: Admittedly, my tests were only during the overnight hours. If they take thre phones off the hook at 5 PM central time, that might explain why John got busy signals if he called during (his) late afternoon or early evening. PAT]