Called phone companies today, land and cell lines

[uppityperson]

I spent part of today calling phone companies, both land and cell providers. Everyone I talked with knew what I was talking about, asking "is this about the NSA thing?" Several of them told me that they were just lowly employees and had been instructed to say they were unable to say anything about it, but agreed that writing the CEO's and/or home offices would be a good idea. One asked for further info, if I'd heard anything else. One said "Mr.bush said he could not confirm or deny that this had happened, we will just need to wait and see." All thanked me for calling, very politely.

I heard Mr.bush on the radio saying he wasn't spying on us, just trying to prevent another 911 from happening by monitering who al Qaeda talked with calling into and out of the USA. It just got very very personal for all of us 200,000 million terrorists here in the USA. People are waking up, hearing the disconnect.

[Redstone]

1. Man, those poor grunts at the telco call centers must be suffering tonight

with all kinds of fatigue and headaches.

I feel sorry for them. They're just the spear-carriers, and never made any of the decisions for which they're being made to pay today and in the days to come.

And hasn't it always been so?

Redstone

[uppityperson]

2. They sounded a frazzled as always, I was nice and they responded nicely

"you have to realize that I am only a representative and they don't tell me what is going on..." I talked with 1 mulling over what to do and we came up with writing the CEO/head whatever. Yes, bet they are very busy, repeating over and over and over. It was interesting that they all knew just what I was talking about, and funny the recording while waiting to be connected "may be recorded for learning purposes." I was very polite, since they are just employees. It has always been so, yes.

[Redstone]

7. I knew you'd be polite.

Redstone

[tulsakatz]

8. this call may be monitored........

when you call a company and you hear that, what it means is that their supervisors may be monitoring the call to make sure they are doing their jobs correctly. It really has nothing to do with what the customer is saying.........they just want you to know that someone else may be listening to your call.

And really, with this new NSA thing.........there's really no longer a need to tell someone that someone else is listening. They tell you the call is monitored for legal reasons. Since we now know that other people are listening, it seems to me that there is no longer a legal problem with that. I may be wrong but that's the way it seems to me.

[uppityperson]

11. I know, I just found it extra amusing today.

Another telecommunications representative said "now we know big brother is listening".

[smtpgirl]

3. OH and the Telco spying by the NSA

was a ruse to drive all of the Telco call centers to China & India

[AllieB]

4. I used to work in a PR firm. I suggest that you call the PR depts

or Corporate Communications dept. They are the public face of the company, and interface directly with senior management. I wouldn't bother the poor schmucks in customer service or billing.

[uppityperson]

6. I asked ATT if they had an ethics division I could speak with

told them another company had a special office that took reports from employees and customers and passed them on. They said no, they didn't.

[AllieB]

9. I would call corporate comms

Selim Bingol, VP Corp Comms, AT&T/SBC: [phone]

Verizon's VP of Corp Comms and Public Policy, Tom Tauke:

[phone]

Jeff Battcher, VP Corp Comms, BellSouth: [phone]

SVP Corporate Communications, Bill White, Sprint/Nextel: [phone]

Corporate Communications, Director, Consumer Communications, Sprint/Nextel: Kelly Campana [phone]

Corporate Communications, Director, Public Affairs, Sprint/Nextel: Leigh Horner [phone]

[uppityperson]

10. Good numbers, thank you.

[Ladyhawk]

14. Thanks. If I could nominate a post, I would. :)

Perhaps you should start a thread with this information?

[uppityperson]

15. Will you please post these numbers tomorrow in their own post?

I know some people are up now, but please do it in the daytime or keep kicking so people will see. Thank you.

[AllieB]

16. I did on Friday morning. Here's the link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1156443

[uppityperson]

17. thanks, missed that, off to kick it.

[tulsakatz]

5. I work in customer service

for a car rental company. I'm sure the people in customer service at those phone companies had a horrible day today!! I feel sorry for them.........and they are right. They only know as much as their superiors tell them. I'm sure they were given special instructions for dealing with customers today. The most that they can do is take your complaint and possibly make a report on the situation.........it will still be up to their superiors about how to deal with it.

I do believe the best thing would be to go to the CEO..........if they get several million people complaining directly to the CEO, that would carry a LOT of weight!

[AllieB]

12. I feel sorry for them too

it makes more sense to talk to the department that can send the messages on to management.

[peacetalksforall]

13. I'm feeling down for these employees. They didn't ask for this. Should

enough people sue and the truth is revealed, their jobs may be in jeopardy. It is always the leaders who let us down.