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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Can We Get Rid Of Lawyers And Insurance Agents, Too?

Doug Floyd Interactive Editor

Telemarketers continue to fare poorly in Bagpipes’ decidedly unscientific popularity poll, but a defender has answered the bell.

“I’ve noticed many of your respondents would like to pass a law making telemarketing a crime because it is ‘annoying,“‘said Deborah Lawrence Hale of Greenacres. “Well, I find many attorneys and insurance sales people annoying, too. Can I get a law passed banning insurance companies and the practice of law?”

Hale said she has several intelligent, well-educated acquaintances who lost high-paying professional jobs to downsizing.

“When they hit the job market, they discovered there was a glut of job seekers in their profession (mostly computer-related). It is difficult to feed a family on unemployment insurance and it’s hard on the ego.”

At least two of Hale’s friends resorted to telemarketing jobs while searching for something better.

“They were happy that there were job opportunities out there for them,” said Hale.

Banning telemarketing would increase unemployment in the Spokane area, she said.

“These businesses provide job opportunities for many of our neighbors. It’s a tedious, demeaning job and it doesn’t hurt to be polite to these people.

“I have had only one or two problems with telemarketers over the last 10 years or so,” she said. “A little courtesy goes a long way.”

Hale added that one of her friends worked as a telemarketer several years ago - selling subscriptions to The Spokesman-Review.

All of that is of little solace, though, to a couple of other readers, both of whom got some relief - but not enough - by writing to the national Direct Marketing Association in New York.

“I detest telemarketing and I have written to that outfit and I have gotten off most of them (calling lists),” said Ruth Heumier, Spokane.

“But tell me how to get off the local telemarketing things. Windshield repair, auto glass shops and carpet cleaners are the worst offenders, although I get too-frequent calls from photography studios.”

“I have written to that New York address and it helped a little bit,” said Nadine Presta of Spokane. “I would do anything to have telemarketing outlawed in this state. I can’t tolerate phone soliciters any more.”

, DataTimes MEMO: “Bagpipes” appears Tuesdays and Thursdays. To respond, call Cityline at 458-8800, category 9881, from a Touch-Tone phone; or send a fax to 459-5098 or e-mail to dougf@spokesman.com. You also can leave Doug Floyd a message at 459-5577, extension 5466.

“Bagpipes” appears Tuesdays and Thursdays. To respond, call Cityline at 458-8800, category 9881, from a Touch-Tone phone; or send a fax to 459-5098 or e-mail to dougf@spokesman.com. You also can leave Doug Floyd a message at 459-5577, extension 5466.