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From: gillett@ceomax.enet.dec.com (Christopher Gillett)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Telemarketers: Saying No is Easy
Message-ID: <14115@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 28 Oct 90 22:07:54 GMT
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In article <13998@accuvax.nwu.edu> dpletche@jarthur.claremont.edu
writes:

>When the phone rings, I assume it is because someone has something
>marginally important, or at least interesting, to say; thus I drop
>what I am doing to answer the phone.  That is why I do not appreciate
>being interrupted by junk phone calls.
 
When I relocated to the east coast last year, NET (New England Telco)
sent me a letter with business reply mail postcard shortly after
switching on my service.  This letter said something to the effect of,
"if you don't want telemarketers contacting you, fill this out and
they'll leave you alone".  So, I supplied the requested information,
signed the card, and sent it in.  End of 90% of the telemarketer woes.
 
My assumption is that they have removed my name and telephone number
from a list that they sell to telemarketing outfits.  Maybe they do
some sort of blocking out here (doubtful), but whatever they've done,
I simply do not get telemarketer phone calls.
 
During the first year of having service, I've gotten exactly two
calls, one from one of the Boston daily papers, and one from a
recording.  I no longer get calls from all over the country from
people selling magazines, books, (hint: tell them you're blind :-)),
and other goodies.  I don't get calls from boilerrooms trying to jam
securities and other junk down my throat.  When the phone rings, it's
friends, family, or business ... exactly the way it should be.
 
So, my point is this: if your telco offers not to distribute your
name, then absolutely sign up.  This provides no protection from an
automated dialer that calls every number in an exchange looking for
people, but it can significantly reduce the number of junk calls you
receive.  And if you do happen to receive a call, just say "no
thank you", and if they don't hang up, then you should.  I have no
problem saying "no thank you, have a pleasant day", and then hanging
up.
 
What's interesting, of course, is that I get many more junk calls at
my office number than at home.  Even with the phone from home
forwarded (I always ask what number they've dialed).  Hmmm.


Christopher Gillett               gillett@ceomax.enet.dec.com
Digital Equipment Corporation     
Hudson, Taxachusetts              (508) 568-7172
Semiconductor Engineering Group/Logic Simulation Group
Disclaimer: Ken Olsen speaks for Digital...I speak for me!