Phone books – how not to get them – revisited

Just got e-mail from James, who missed the phone-book opt-out discussion here last December, and spent a long, frustrating time trying to get the right number. He says Qwest books are due out in two months so it’s a good time to revisit this. Here’s the original post with numbers; James also offers this number that Qwest pointed him to: 800/422-8793.

8 Replies to "Phone books - how not to get them - revisited"

  • Craig April 2, 2008 (9:59 am)

    I am curious to know if anyone who has unsubscribed from getting phone books, still had them land on their doorstep? Here is the scene from my neighborhood in North Admiral the last time phone books were delivered. A white van filled to the roof with phone books slowly rolled down our street while three men quickly threw phone books as quickly as they could to every driveway and doorstep on the block. I told them I didn’t want one, but there was an obvious language barrier, one landed at my feet, and the van continued to roll down the street. The distributors were not working off of any list, so are the phone book companies just paying lip service with their opt out lines?

    Craig

  • Delivery Dude April 2, 2008 (10:05 am)

    Surely that Qwest number is a joke 800-422-8793. I just dialed it from my office phone…not funny.

  • Beasley April 2, 2008 (10:51 am)

    Not only do I still get phone books I don’t want, but they leave one at my front door and one at my back door! Annoying and wasteful.

  • Lynn April 2, 2008 (12:29 pm)

    The 800/422-8793 number worked great for me – just opted for the “talk to a real person” option and they took my info and said I’d be taken off the delivery list. Hopefully it will work – thanks for the tip!

  • Delivery Dude April 2, 2008 (12:47 pm)

    I called again and it’s legit. Maybe I dialed 1-888 the first time or something…it was an adult line.

  • fiz April 2, 2008 (6:23 pm)

    Took mine off the porch and heaved it into the recycle bin, felt really good.

    Also hid the one on my neighbor’s porch – they’re away on vacation.

  • Michelle April 2, 2008 (6:36 pm)

    I did a google search after I received my latest and greatest phone book last week and the original WSB story was at the top of the search results. Thanks so much for sharing not only with WS but everyone else out there in cyberspace!

  • miws April 2, 2008 (9:11 pm)

    Count me as another that despises all the phone books that get delivered that I never asked for, and never would.

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    I do so much of everything online now, that I really don’t need a phone book. However, I like haveing the Qwest Dex White and Yellow Pages, and the local WS Banana Pages, just to know they are there as a back up in a pinch.

    .

    To me, all others are just junk. We get them delivered periodically to my apartment bldg (with it’s “No Solicitors” sign). Sometimes they are piled up on the landing, outside, in front of the bldg, other times inside in the lobby, and even occasionally in front of each units door.
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    I’d like to see the offending companies charged with trespassing and littering, and have the appropriate fines and sentences handed down to them. I am also offended by the fact that I should have to take the time and trouble to “opt out” of something I never asked for. The one that really frosted me, and I can’t remember what it was for, but those that wanted to opt out, had to pay a dollar. Sure, it’s only a buck, but it’s the principle! :mad:

    .

    Mike

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