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From: Miguel_Cruz@um.cc.umich.edu
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: How Can 411 Be Flagrantly Abused?
Message-ID: <1940@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 7 Dec 89 07:24:12 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 9, Issue 560, message 5 of 7

Mark Cohen in Digest 9.555 mentioned a commercial suggesting viewers
"dial 411" in order to contact the advertiser.
 
Mr. Cohen suggested that this was a flagrant abuse of DA and said he
called his telco to inform them of this travesty.
 
But I really don't understand what is wrong with this...

 A) it allows people from anywhere in the viewing area to find
    the number for the outlet/branch closest to them

 B) the phone company will charge the customer for the DA call.
    Customers know this; if they don't want to pay, they can
    use the phone book.
 
It seems remarkably straightforward.  Many advertisers do it, and I've
never heard of one getting in trouble, most likely because there isn't
a conceivable thing wrong with it.  Or is there?
 
Miguel_Cruz@ub.cc.umich.edu