Cody; Look at the last line of this; you'l see it's been going on
all along maybe not the phone numbers..but maybe so too.
Next time you get any telmarket call, be nice and ask them how
they got your number..if they say out of phone book say oh no
my number is unlisted..only certain people have it and I would
like to know who is recomending you, as in giving you my number
I consider that a recomendation. If you can't tell me were you
got it please don't call back, This has been recorded and any futher
calls from your company and I'l file a harrasment case aginst,
BTW it only cost $35 in my county to file a case, and you don't
need a lawyer to do it. Just get a close copy of what you want
to file..change a few words and pay the filing fee.
If AOL calls me they will be subject to have to spend some big
bucks, even if I don't win. I keep a tape recorder right by the
speaker on my phone..as I record all brokerage calls
when I make any.
----------------------------
AOL Backs Off Plan to Sell Users'
Phone Numbers to Telemarketers
By David E. Kalish
AP Business Writer
Thursday, July 24, 1997; 2:42 p.m. EDT
NEW YORK (AP) -- Bowing to a surge of criticism, America
Online Inc. today dumped a plan to hand over members' phone
numbers to telemarketers for pitching everything from
automobile services to travel destinations.
However, AOL said it is considering having its own employees
call members to sell other companies' services.
Privacy advocates had slammed the plan to give out phone
numbers as an invasion of privacy, particularly since AOL had
previously told its more than 8 million members that it would
keep such information private.
AOL's arrangement with two major telemarketers -- and the
sharp criticism it aroused -- underscored the extreme sensitivity
of privacy concerns in an age when detailed information can be
spread quickly and easily.
AOL, in an online statement to its members, said that ``upon
further reflection, we today decided to change our plans'' and
would no longer rent out phone numbers.
The company had reached a $50 million marketing
arrangement last month with telemarketer CUC International
Inc. of Stamford, Conn. Tel-Save Holdings Inc. of New Hope,
Pa., made a similar $100 million deal with America Online in
February.
Before retreating from its position, AOL had said it would
make it easy for members to opt out of the plan before calls
were to begin in the fall. But privacy advocates said the move
didn't go far enough.
America Online, based in Dulles, Va., already rents outs its
members' names and mail addresses to marketers.
c Copyright 1997 The Associated Press
Back to the top |
