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In Florida, and literally anywhere else these days, it is very difficult to get a phone number that you want any more. Most easy numbers are taken, and it is extremely difficult to get a phone number that nobody else has had in the past. Here is a call that went something like this:
SC: I need my number changed due to harrassing calls, and you'd better get me something that's easy.
Me: I'll be glad to help you, and I'll see what easy numbers we have.
SC: It needs to all be one number.
Me: Yes, maam, that's how I'll do your order.
SC: No, you don't understand. It needs to be all one single digit.
Me: You mean, you want all the digits to be the same?
SC: Yes.
(Pause here. Now, for this to happen in the same area code being there was only one at the time, there are only nine possibilities, assuming the first three digits are all the same number. 111 is not a possibility, and neither is 888. So this left actually seven)
Me: Maam, I'm sorry, but the database shows that all of those numbers are taken by other customers.
SC: You need to get me one of those.
Me: I cannot give you a number that is in use by someone else.
SC: Sure you can. You just call them up and tell them to give up that number.
Me: Maam, I cannot do that. It is against PSC regulations.
SC: Well, what other easy numbers do you have?
(Pause again. This woman had me go through nearly twenty numbers before settling on one she liked. We only were supposed to pull up ten at one time)
SC: OK, now I need to know if anyone has ever had that number.
Me: Well, most likely, someone has had it before.
SC: I CAN'T BE STUCK WITH A NUMBER SOMEONE ELSE HAS HAD!
Me: Well, I cannot be certain unless we pull old records.
SC: Then do that.
Me: I'm sorry, but that would take a few days to compile. There is a good chance any number you choose once was in use by someone else.
SC: YOU NEED TO FIND OUT! I CAN'T HAVE SOMEONE ELSE'S NUMBER!
Me: Maam, if you don't mind me asking, what kind of harrassing calls are you receiving for you to be making these requests?
SC: I keep receiving calls from telemarketers! (Pause - nothing else. No mention of abusive husband, boyfriend, nothing)
Me: Well, you need to realize changing your phone number doesn't guarantee anything against telemarketers. Most of your information is public.
SC: You need to make it private!
Me: I can change your number and make it non published if you'd like. However, there is an extra monthly charge, and fee to change your number, and you need to also realize that your number still can come up on one's caller ID.
SC: I can't have that, plus I shouldn't have to pay for this if I'm receiving harrassing calls like this. I also think my privacy is being violated if people can see my number when I call them! (She had previously had her number changed five times, and all five times, she had the fee waived)
Me: I'm sorry, but we cannot continue waiving a legitimate fee like this. We would only do it in cases of domestic violence and/or abuse. We don't do it because of telemarketers.
SC: Fine! I'll take xxx-xxx-xxxx! I'll also be reporting this to the PSC!
It was ridiculous. All because I wouldn't make empty promises to her, nor would I cave in to giving her another charitible service. It should also be noted that this lady had caller ID, because she hated not knowing who was calling her. Yet, she thought her privacy was being violated whenever she called someone that could see her number. By the way, no PSC complaint was ever filed, and she paid the bill, after a manager refused to waive her ordering fee.
SC: I need my number changed due to harrassing calls, and you'd better get me something that's easy.
Me: I'll be glad to help you, and I'll see what easy numbers we have.
SC: It needs to all be one number.
Me: Yes, maam, that's how I'll do your order.
SC: No, you don't understand. It needs to be all one single digit.
Me: You mean, you want all the digits to be the same?
SC: Yes.
(Pause here. Now, for this to happen in the same area code being there was only one at the time, there are only nine possibilities, assuming the first three digits are all the same number. 111 is not a possibility, and neither is 888. So this left actually seven)
Me: Maam, I'm sorry, but the database shows that all of those numbers are taken by other customers.
SC: You need to get me one of those.
Me: I cannot give you a number that is in use by someone else.
SC: Sure you can. You just call them up and tell them to give up that number.
Me: Maam, I cannot do that. It is against PSC regulations.
SC: Well, what other easy numbers do you have?
(Pause again. This woman had me go through nearly twenty numbers before settling on one she liked. We only were supposed to pull up ten at one time)
SC: OK, now I need to know if anyone has ever had that number.
Me: Well, most likely, someone has had it before.
SC: I CAN'T BE STUCK WITH A NUMBER SOMEONE ELSE HAS HAD!
Me: Well, I cannot be certain unless we pull old records.
SC: Then do that.
Me: I'm sorry, but that would take a few days to compile. There is a good chance any number you choose once was in use by someone else.
SC: YOU NEED TO FIND OUT! I CAN'T HAVE SOMEONE ELSE'S NUMBER!
Me: Maam, if you don't mind me asking, what kind of harrassing calls are you receiving for you to be making these requests?
SC: I keep receiving calls from telemarketers! (Pause - nothing else. No mention of abusive husband, boyfriend, nothing)
Me: Well, you need to realize changing your phone number doesn't guarantee anything against telemarketers. Most of your information is public.
SC: You need to make it private!
Me: I can change your number and make it non published if you'd like. However, there is an extra monthly charge, and fee to change your number, and you need to also realize that your number still can come up on one's caller ID.
SC: I can't have that, plus I shouldn't have to pay for this if I'm receiving harrassing calls like this. I also think my privacy is being violated if people can see my number when I call them! (She had previously had her number changed five times, and all five times, she had the fee waived)
Me: I'm sorry, but we cannot continue waiving a legitimate fee like this. We would only do it in cases of domestic violence and/or abuse. We don't do it because of telemarketers.
SC: Fine! I'll take xxx-xxx-xxxx! I'll also be reporting this to the PSC!
It was ridiculous. All because I wouldn't make empty promises to her, nor would I cave in to giving her another charitible service. It should also be noted that this lady had caller ID, because she hated not knowing who was calling her. Yet, she thought her privacy was being violated whenever she called someone that could see her number. By the way, no PSC complaint was ever filed, and she paid the bill, after a manager refused to waive her ordering fee.
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