RE: FN-FORUM: NEW CORPORATE TELEPHONE PREFERENCE SERVICE (CTPS)

date posted 22nd July 2004 12:53



Erm - I'm not sure that everyone is complaining about legislation to =
stop
it, it's more a case of questioning the 'blanket' method that's being
employed. I personally dislike making cold calls, but I do it =
occasionally.
A prime example is a new 'boutique' style hotel that's recently opened =
hear
me - they're not advertising a web site and it's quite possible it's one =
of
those 'things' on their 'to do' list. If I make a quick phone call to =
them
and ask if they'd be interested in receiving some information about our
services they can either say Yes or No. If I were to simply send some
unsolicited information in the post there's a good possibility it won't
reach the right person or end up unread in the bin. I'm not sure =
whether
the guidelines laid out make it clear whether it will be permissible to =
call
a company to establish who deals with a particular aspect of their =
business
in order to send them information by mail.



The sort of rates they're charging seem to me to be disproportionate to =
the
cost of running what is surely no more than a basic database of =
telephone
numbers and related company names. I'd have no objection to a service =
of
this nature being effectively self-funding with revenue set to cover
business overheads. At its minimum cost basis it means every single
business in the country that may wish to make the occasional phone call =
to a
potential customer will have to pay =A3375.00 per annum for the =
privilege.
Perhaps stealth tax is not the most appropriate wording to have used as =
I'm
not sure quite where revenue will end up - whichever way you look at it =
it's
still yet another bit of inappropriate red tape. =20



Precisely!!



No - not bitter and twisted - just someone with their eyes open!!



Sure - all of us get fed up with these banal calls made by someone =
reading
from an idiot card but, as is too often the case with such initiatives, =
it's
too general in its guidelines and allows for no distinction between
blanket/random telemarketing activity and minimal targeted business
solicitation.

Taking it one step further - what about sales reps for companies that =
wish
to call someone to make an appointment to discuss their business
requirements. They can't. The whole approach of this is going to =
stifle
business growth and it stinks.