312-499-5900

A lady called and asked for the CEO by his first name.  I told her he was not in and she refused to leave a name or number and quickly hung up.

A "lady?" named Carol called here and also asked for the CEO by name.  He said to get her # because he did not know her.  She was annoyed and asked in a very annoyed voice if I had a pen - I replied "of course I do - this is an office". She said she didn't need this "*^&%$".  I hung up when she used profanity.  she called back 1 minute later and called me "a piece of trash"!!!
I called them back and asked for a manager - I ws given the run around and then a very young man got on the phone. No satisfaction - but he did want my name, company & # - I refused.

They are a financial firm and they are constantly making cold calls to sell/pitch.  That's why you guys had that sort of conversation.

A guy called and he knew my name.  I am a CEO of a software firm and he said that he is following up on that we were looking for "capital".  I told him the company had been acquired and hung up. He said he was with Houlihan Smith

a guy called from this phone number asked for the person in charge of the company (he knows our company name by the way).  So I asked who is calling, he pulsed for a second then asked "is HE there?",  I told him SHE is actually out of town now and what is the nature of his business.  The moron did not answer my question and asked another one: "when is he... I mean SHE coming back?"  I lost my patience, and told him I have no clue because she is visiting a foreign country and it can take weeks."  then he hung up, before I had the chance to swear at him.  Why swear at him you might ask, because his tone was demanding, sounded like he's the #%*!ing boss.

i have had the same experance as all the other postings, thank god i checked these guys out. i have had my two days of meetings and BS and was quoted a price of $36,000.00 for a annaliss prior to selling my busness for me.
thank god for this web site!

It's an Investment Banking firm. Ask anyone of high repute in the business(Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs, Salomon Smith Barney, Morgan Stanley, etc), about their hours as an entry level associate, 7a-7p is considered a pleasure cruise.
Investment Banking is for bold, driven, take charge individuals, not wusses. If you're looking to engage an IB firm to do half-assed work, look elsewhere. If you're looking for a 30-hour work week, Starbucks might be more to your liking.

www.800notes.com and type in 312-499-5900, you'll be amazed!

www.ripoffreport.com and type in Houlihan Smith!

I receive calls from that number probably once a week and the guy "insists" that he has talked to my boss (President) before and I know he hasn't.  He also says, "I'll call him on his cell then."  Yeah right.  I just got a call from him and he pulled the same tricks but to no avail.  He left his # and I just called and spoke to someone named Kim and passed the message on to her to remove our phone # from their call list!  The guy that calls me all the time is "supposedly" Nick Passick" and always says it's in regards to a personal business matter.  I hope they'll stop calling now, and if they don't, I'll get in touch w/our local PUC.

They call a few times a week and have been doing so for about a year. Today I felt adventurous and I answered the phone. The guy was short with me and rude. All he wanted was to talk to the owner.
Is there a way to get them to stop calling?

Got a call this morning. *Tony* asked to speak to my boss private business matter.  Was quite rude when I said he was not able to take the call would you like to leave a message.  Didn't want to - will call back.
Unfortunaletly for him - i man the phones all day.  Looks like I'm gonna have some fun with *tony*.

they called asking for the CEO and I asked to take a message and "mike" responded with "i know you have to screen his calls, but I'll wait and stay on hold." I told him he would have to leave a message and he said "here's the message: i am on hold and want to speak with him." That's when I hung up. If he calls back I'll put him on hold and leave him there until he hangs up. At least I did what he said! A$$ hole.

The person is usually rude when he asks to speak to the CEO, I do not know why they are so rude...and when you asks them who they are with they respond with an attitude "Well is he available or not??" or give me a false name... I just put them on hold and let them listen to our crappy music.

My former employer was scammed out of business by these guys…unfortunately he was desperate and gullible. They called the CEO with the “we understand you need capital” routine and were flown to our office within 2 days. It sounded too good to be true from day 1, but the CEO and COO had swallowed the hook. Close to $40K later, we had a valuation document that looked great, complete with the resumes/biography of each of the key employees. The problem is that there was never any capital going to come our way. Originally they had promised we’d have access to the money in 4-6 weeks…several months later…nothing. The CEO and the COO became greedy from the first phone call and effectively pushed our main investor out of the valuation and finally out of the company.

Once the scam was complete and Houlihan had all of our cash reserves and we couldn’t afford to give them anymore to produce these pretty looking folders…they disappeared. No return calls, emails that were never replied to, contacts ALWAYS in a meeting, etc., etc. No money ever came to us (because there was never any in the first place) and after being drained, the owner of the company finally realized he’d been rooked and gave a tearfull goodbye to all the employees as he announced the closing of a business he had run for 18 years.

Houlihan will tell you that they CAN’T tell you how they got your name and number, just that somebody out there has their eye on you and is interested in investing or purchasing your company. They follow that by fluffing up a series of relationships/alliances they have with banks and firms that will swoop in and dump cash on you after the valuation is complete.

I could go on and on and I’d be pleased to answer any question anyone might have.

They call at least twice a week, asking for my boss by name. The caller we get  calls himself Damion. He is always rude and sounds like he is in a hurry, and is never forth coming. My boss doesn't know of them, even though Damion says the call is regarding "private matters". HA! They never get through and insist on calling and calling and calling AND being extremely RUDE. This company must be run by idiots if they this type of telemarketing, or any telemarketing works.

Same issues as above, some guy called "Ed Ziegers" called from this number saying he heard we were looking for Capital.  We actually are which is what got me :P  I wasted 10 minutes on the phone with the guy until i realized things started sounding fishy... he didn't know the proper company name and coulnd't say who his referral was.  I started digging around the web while he kept asking me questions then found this page.  What a waste of time.

When he started asking detailed financial breakdown and our cap table I didn't tell him anything then got off the call.

I'm the CEO of a tech company as well.

you idiots this is what all banks do. You think citi, wachovia, and any other institution just sit and wait for you smart people to come to them. No, the company who recieved a valuation. You ran out of money because you did not have any money. This is exactly why we are in a financial crises now. People pointing blam on each other people. Its your fault. YOu probably blame your forclosed house on the banks too.  Wake up people this is how the financial industry reaches the consumer. Yes these people are brief with a secratary, because they know how stupid you all are. You want them to tell you that they are calling to help your boss sell your company? You want a stranger to tell you that you might loose your job because your boss is ready to move on?

This number called asking for Keith our president. I said "He is in a mtg. can I take a message?" The caller responded with "I know you are just screening his calls please tell him so and so is on the line." I said "I most certianly was not Keith is behind closed doors, how can I help you?" The caller said he would "try back later", I am waiting for that call....

Tony called me as well and said I do not just call out of the blue .
Yeah right what a rude joker .