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Psychic On The Line

Channel 4's Heather Van Nest Investigates Psychic Hotlines

You may have called Miss Cleo for fun, the free offer, or for guidance to get through tough times. Channel 4's Heather Van Nest obviously is not a spiritual adviser, but she said that she can predict you probably didn't know about Miss Cleo's troubled past. It includes hundreds of complaints, and now a new accusation of harassment and intimidation.

Tapping into a technique she claims dates back thousands of years, Miss Cleo boasts of extremely accurate readings. A so-called trusted spiritual advisor, astonishing even the most critical disbelievers.

"The cards never lie. Learn the truth about your life with a free tarot card reading," Miss Cleo's commercial advertised.

But one one-time caller, who doesn't want her name known, said forget the fortune telling at 4.99 a minute expect to fork over a fortune.

"When I called her number they said the first three minutes are free, then you'll hear a sound and you can hang up at anytime. I did not hear a sound. It cost me $88," the one-time caller said.

Then she got another surprise, a call back.

"I got harassed. They asked me to spend more of my money," the caller said.

Not only once, she said that they called back at least a half-dozen times, even offering to give out Miss Cleo's private number.

"'You didn't finish your reading and we have some information regarding you,' and I said, 'I don't want to call back.' I said, 'do you understand the word no?'" the caller said.

"And they continued to call?" Channel 4's Heather Van Nest said.

"Yes," the caller said.

The experience left her a bit shaken and worried, especially because an illness forces her to stay home.

"When Channel 4 looked into Miss Cleo's past, it was clear to see this wasn't the first complaint against Access Resource Services, the company behind the so-called psychic.

Eyewitness News found almost 1,400 complaints in the last three years against the company. According to the Better Business Bureau, it has changed its name at least 19 times.

"Most of those complaints relate to the fact that consumers think they get a few free minutes when they call her. They time themselves, so they don't have to pay for the call, but they get billed anyway," Better Business Bureau spokesman Tom Stephens said.

And guess who might be on the other end of the phone?

Florida's attorney general investigated other psychic phone services owned by the same multi-million dollar company and found that many former employees were homeless and had never been tested for psychic ability. They say the only skill that mattered was keeping callers on the line.

Miss Cleo kept our caller on the phone for 20 minutes and she said that it wasn't even entertaining.

"Did she give you any insight into your life?" Van Nest said.

"No. Just to go back to the church and pray," the caller said.

Florida's Attorney General's office fined Access Resource Services almost $70,000. As part of a settlement, the company did not admit guilt, but did agree to change its business practice. Now the attorney generals office may look into whether this latest complaint violates that agreement.

If you'd like to file a complaint against this company, you can contact the attorney general's office at 1-850-487-1963.

Channel 4 talked to an attorney representing Miss Cleo and he said that the return calls are not meant to intimidate or harass just to solicit more business. He told Van Nest that the number of complaints is a small amount compared to the calls they receive.

Van Nest asked if Miss Cleo is a paid actress and he said no. He said that Miss Cleo and her psychic associates are real psychics. He said that they signed sworn statements declaring they have psychic abilities.

Florida isn't alone in the investigation. Pennsylvania is also suing the company for allegedly deceptive practices including putting customers on hold and charging them for the time.

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