How to Get Upset
Pythagoras said, ‘In anger we should refrain both from speech and action’.
Someone else said, ‘Never send a message in anger’.
But they never had to struggle from sleep, stumble down the hall and switch their printer to fax mode – just to receive an unsolicited 10% OFF!!! toner cartridge offer.
Buddha said, ‘Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned’. I prefer this idea, so couched my coal thus:
Dear Team
I just received an unsolicited fax about your firm.
This annoying waste of time is deadly to your brand.
The fax number and ID at the top of the fax have been (intentionally?) truncated, making it impossible for me to enter them at www.stopfaxingme.org
My fax number is XXXX XXXX.
I’d like to get off your distribution list today.
Shall I contact the Communications Ombudsman, or can you handle this yourselves?
Regards
P.
J
This email was informative and concerned. It showed that I’d tried to resolve the issue myself. It had a clear call to action and a relevant, tangible consequence for inaction. The response was remarkably swift and pleasing:
Yes I will remove this number.
Regards, Customer Service
This is rare win. Usually, if I voice the faintest objection about anything, I’m ignored, derided, insulted, threatened and/or punished. Complaining has become a dangerous affair. Even tooting your horn at someone who cuts you off can get you shot.
To control your communication lines, channel your anger constructively and diminish your chances of drama, I recommend the following industry and government sites. They’ve been set up to discourage people from abusing your fax, phone and snail mail.
If you know of other sites or (non-violent) strategies to maximise the peace we need to run our businesses, please drop us a line.
Sweet dreams!
Paul Hassing, Founder & Senior Writer, www.thefeistyempire.com
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Firms ignore Do Not Call laws at their peril, as this news article shows: http://business.theage.com.au/business/westpac-ignores-do-not-call-laws-20090316-8zdi.html
Fabulous post Paul! Helpful and amusing.
Oh My Goodness!
I received yet another fax this morning, and it’s not soo much the cost that bothered me, rather I got excited thinking it was news of some sort (communication in construction is pathetic but I digress) can you imagine my poor little heart when it’s just a can of spam?
No website.
Similar websites needed a 4 digit code.
So I found you. My awesome awesome spam fax saviour!
I got a reply within minutes.
We will have your details removed immediately.
Apologies for the inconvenience.
Regards,
Customer Service
—–Original Message—–
From: Dani@heremail
Sent: Tuesday, 17 March 2009 11:35 AM
To: sales@the silly company that thought this was a good idea
Subject: Fax Marketing
Importance: High
Dear Team
I just received an unsolicited fax about your firm.
This annoying waste of time is deadly to your brand.
The fax number and ID at the top of the fax have been (intentionally?) truncated, making it impossible for me to enter them at http://www.stopfaxingme.org
My fax number is (02) xxxx xxxx
I’d like to get off your distribution list today.
Shall I contact the Communications Ombudsman, or can you handle this yourselves?
Regards
Dani
That is fabulous news, Dani! I’m so pleased you got value from this post. Thanks for sharing your story; it makes all the effort worthwhile.
yes, brilliant – & should be “no fax” form letter. So right to channel anger into constructive criticism. Thank you.
Thank You for sharing this… it is so true…just when you get everyone to sleep and you find yourself stepping into the perfect dream…The fax rings…NO I don’t need my carpets cleaned, help with my credit nor do I want to buy a computer! Thanks anyways.
Keep sharing your wisdom.
Most Humbly,
Marcia
Thank you for making the pilgrimage from Twitter, Valerie and Marcia. I appreciate your comments very much and look foward to keeping in touch.
GO Paul!
Can I please copy and paste your brilliant little reply? Sadly the irony and sarcasm may have gone over the recipient’s head, but who cares if it worked!
Yippeee I’ve got a solution. Yet again thank heaven for Twitter!
Great to meet you, Chris. Please use and distribute as you see fit. You may fire when ready!
nice stuff
Nice one Paul. I don’t have a fax machine but I am plagued by unsolicited phone calls (mainly offering me debt solutions – which I don’t need in any event) – I usually leave the phone off the hook and let the message trundle on in the hope that it is costing the caller (probably not – they’re probably on some block deal with the provider). I must get round to finding out how I can prevent getting these calls in the first place. When there is a human being at the other end I am very curt as I put the phone down – my wife says I should be more pleasant as they are just doing their job – but what a job eh! – ringing people who don’t want their calls!
Good to meet you on Twitter Paul.
Cheers
Arthur
Thank you kindly, Arthur. I also used to be rather curt to the humans, until I saw ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. Now I’m more circumspect. Having registered with Do Not Call, however, I’ve not had a chance to test my newfound empathy!
I like the quotation of Buddha. Thanks for your post about anger.
Thank you, Sikantis. I don’t know if Buddha imagined being quoted in this context, but the intent is pure. By the way, I love your Esteem News site; what a wonderful concept (and execution)!
Great post Paul and thanks for the links. I’ve turned my fax machine off for the last three months because of all the fax spam. Maybe I can turn it back on again now!
Good on you, Kate. Yes, these measures really work. I’ve had nothing but kosher comms for many months; it’s bliss!
Latest info @ http://bit.ly/171Gbb ‘The controversial Do Not Call register will be extended to include businesses and fax numbers under an initiative announced in the federal budget.’ Yay! Thanks to SmartCompany’s excellent newsletter for this story. Subscribe at http://www.smartcompany.com.au/ It’s a ripper!
Have you lately been getting phone calls from strange firms offering to collect your unpaid client invoices? This latest development may interest you:
http://www.smartcompany.com.au/advertising-and-marketing/20090513-anger-over-plan-to-extend-do-not-call-register-to-business.html
It seems to have ignited quite a debate.
NEWS UPDATE: ‘The number of complaints from consumers about the Do Not Call register has plunged 60% in the last year, according to data from the Australian Communications and Media Authority.’
http://www.smartcompany.com.au/telecommunications/20090707-do-not-call-complaints-plunge.html
please help me my fax machine runs day and night with ad material my fax is 0740680681
Telstra fined for breaching Do Not Call laws: http://bit.ly/vj8aJ
Hi Paul,
I have copied your “quip” hehehe. I am at work going thru over 50 faxes that I need to return fax to have them remove me. Of them I have the same problem with about 10 of them having “missing return number”. I believe your nice little message should get my point across.. Thanks Paul!
Kim : D
Good on you, Kim! Thanks for letting us know what you’re up to, and please let us know how you get on. We love hearing how these stories end. Best regards, P.
It’s me again! I can’t believe the quick responses I received in reply to your letter. Within the hour almost. As a receptionist, this is turning into my most valuable email draft. So simple, yet so effective. You rock Paul!!!!
Dear Kim, that is so ace! Thanks very much indeed for taking the time to fill us in. Come back soon and tell your friends! Best regards, P.
Breaking news:
http://www.smartcompany.com.au/advertising-and-marketing/20090915-including-business-numbers-on-do-not-call-register-will-mean-big-compliance-costs-for-companies.html