Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!bu.edu!telecom-request
From: emanuele%overlf@princeton.edu (Mark A. Emanuele)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Dealing With Telemarketers
Message-ID: <69302@bu.edu.bu.edu>
Date: 25 Nov 90 05:25:46 GMT
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Organization: Overleaf, Inc.
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Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 844, Message 5 of 5


I recently got a call from a company called "T.H.E. Phone Company"
telling me that I could save a bundle if i switched to a new long
distance "program", I asked them if they were AT&T.

Response: We're The Phone Company.

Again I asked if they were AT&T (my long distance carrier). 

Response: Hold on one second while I get my supervisor.  

Supervisor: Can I help You ? 

Me: What is the name of your company? 

Supv: The Phone Company. 

Me: No, your corporate name.

Supv: "T.H.E.  Phone Company, Inc."

Me: CLICK !

I wonder if AT&T or NJ Bell know about this fraud!


Mark A. Emanuele          V.P. Engineering      Overleaf, Inc.
500 Route 10 Ledgewood,   NJ 07852-9639         attmail!overlf!emanuele
(201) 927-3785 Voice      (201) 927-5781 Fax    emanuele@overlf.UUCP


[Moderator's Note: I'm sure they know about it. The problem is there
is no copyright or prohibition on the phrase 'The Phone Company', so
there is no way telco can stop them. These days, neither NJB or AT&T
are *the* phone company, but merely two of several which can call
themselves that. Here in Chicago we had a fellow who incorporated his
business as 'The Phone Company', and his pitch was for a maintainence
agreement you signed on a one year contract for him to fix your phones
when they were broken, ala Illinois Bell's 'Line Backer' program. IBT
screamed about it, but it was only when the Consumer Fraud division of
the Attorney General's office caught him claiming to be part and
parcel of IBT in one of his calls tape recorded by their agent that
they were able to shut him down. His monthly invoices even looked
*identical* to IBT's -- even with 'other charges and credits' !! His
bills did not say IBT, but they did include the old Bell System logo
of the bell inside the circle, which I guess belongs to no one now.  PAT]