From: malcolm@wrs.com (Malcolm Humes)
Subject: Re: MCI Telemarketing (was MCI = Morons)
Organization: Wind River Systems, Inc.
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 19:11:23 GMT


In article <1992Apr1.173030.10200@u.washington.edu> kevin@milton.u.washington.edu (Kevin Caskey) writes:
>>I like MCI!, and I liked Sprint too! It doesn't bother me a bit that in May
>>my wife can call her mother in Holland for 35cents/min (47 otherwise). ATT
>>can't even come close. BUT ATT calls my unlisted home tele no to market their
>>non-service. Great way to build a customer base. My no. is unpublished to
>>avoid marketting. Way to go! ATT . AND a previous post called MCI morons?
>>If you don't want to save when calling your friends, you don't need to give
>>MCI their Nos.

I missed the start of this, but I had a very frustrating time dealing with MCI
after a friend gave them my number. 1st they mailed me something asking me
to join, using my friends name. No big deal, I looked at it and tossed it. 
Then they started calling me. Repeatedly. On the first phone call I explained
that I NEVER BUY ANYTHING ON THE PHONE, and asked them to mail me detailed
info on their program and it's actual costs. Nothing ever showed up in the 
mail. A month or so later they called me again. I got a little upset and 
explained that I didn't want them calling me and wasting my time, but I would
consider their program if they would mail me details that explained the 
actual costs. Again they promised to mail me more info and never did. I think
they may have even called me again after the first two times. Anyway, months
after my two requests for them to mail me info I get a postcard from them 
offering me great discounts using their service. No substance. No rates. No
costs. No explanations of how the services work. Just an 800 number. I called
them to tell them I had requested info mailed twice before and never got it
and told them I thought it was absurd that they mailed me junk mail like this
without ever responding to my requests for real info and data. Again, nothing
was ever mailed to me that explained the programs and the actual costs. Way 
to go! They already wasted enough of my time that I won't listen next time 
they try to get my interest. 

I couldn't believe they never followed up on at least 3 requests to mail me
info. I guess they prefer phone sales tactics and just ignore the people who
won't talk to them on the phone. If they'd actually shown me something that
explained details instead of a postcard or glossy brochure they might have 
at least got me to listen. 

BTW, just because ATT called your unpublished number doesn't mean they got it
through any illegal means. They probably were just doing telemarketing by
calling every listing at a certain exchange. Probably didn't know it was 
unpublished until you told them.  Being unlisted or unpublished might cut 
down on phone solicitation but it won't stop it. Too bad. I hate phone 
solicitations, especially via auto dialing machines. But I'm always polite 
enough to explain that as a rule of thumb I never buy *anything* over the 
phone (unless I call the vendor myself). Hopefully this makes them think
twice about the futility of phone sales and contributes to the high turnover
in the industry.  

 -  malcolm@wrs.com 
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:10359 rec.autos:11166