rborow@bcm1a09.attmail.com (02/22/91)
Well, it finally happened! After finally getting bombarded with sales pitches from the reps whom I call (you read it right: I'm doing the calling to clear up my account, inquire about it, etc.), Illinois Bell has decided to get into the act. Now, I'm used to the big LD carriers incessantly pitching their wares at me, but now I have to hear it from my little, ole telco. I called IBT recently to inquire about my balance due (seems like with a bunch of adjustments recently I got lost), and after all was said and done, the otherwise friendly rep. went into this scripted diatribe about how they have this new service called "multi-ring service". She rambled off all the features and benefits, at which time I proceeded to ask her if this was the same as distinctive ringing (answer: no). She went into another explanation of what exactly distinctive ringing is and did (of course, my flu-infested mind was now totally befuddled). After much interesting (?) talk, she tried to get me to purchase these custom-calling features. I politely explained to her that I have enough such features (four of them) presently on my bill, and that I'm really only [very] interested in automatic callback, call screening, and caller ID. She very nicely looked in her system to see if my exchange had yet been converted to provide those services. Unfortunately, none were presently available, although she said auto callback would be ready June 1st. She even offered to contact me at the end of May to order it to be up and running by the 1st of June. I was gratified, and I'll be even more surprised if she does indeed contact me in three months as promised. This is the first time Illinois Bell -- during a customer-initiated call -- had lain upon me a repertoire of sales pitches, from their Linebacker service to their custom-calling features. While not upset about it (not yet, at least), I was admittedly taken back by it. Oh well, the never-ending world of telecommunications. Randy Borow Rolling Meadows, IL.