Stop Unsolicited Faxes

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.

:)'

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 industry and government sites listed below.

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