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From: trt@rti.UUCP (Thomas Truscott)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Charges for "unlisting"
Message-ID: <1774@rti.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 7-Oct-87 00:02:10 EDT
Article-I.D.: rti.1774
Posted: Wed Oct  7 00:02:10 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 11-Oct-87 04:09:04 EDT
References: <12339029180.10.WMARTIN@SIMTEL20.ARPA>
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: Research Triangle Institute, RTP, NC
Lines: 19
Approved: telecom@xx.lcs.mit.edu
Summary: How to avoid the charge for "unlisted" numbers.


In article <12339029180.10.WMARTIN@SIMTEL20.ARPA>, WMartin@SIMTEL20.ARPA (William G. Martin) writes:
> Does anyone know how the telcos now justify their charges for "unlisting"
> now that they also charge for Directory Assistance? ...

I can not answer this question, although "special processing"
and "loss of information => reduced value of phonebook" comes to mind.

The indirect question I *can* answer is "how can one avoid this extra charge?"
The answer is: list the number in someone else's name,
just have it billed to you.
Parents do this for their kids, you can do it for your pet cat.
At home we have a second phone line for a modem.
Our friends would call it by mistake until we changed its listing to:
	Unix, Guru  3916 Brixton Ln ........ 489-6289
The modem does not answer, so we don't worry about prank calls.
The telephone service person laughed and laughed, but sent it through.
	Tom Truscott
P.S. Out of paranoia, I never say "modem" when talking to the telco.