I just received a call from Direct Fin Solutions who are representing Metropolitan Life.

Who the HELL gave them the right to call me on Personal Number? As a rule i NEVER grant permission to anyone to contact me. So what Direct Fin Solutions and Metropolitan Life are doing is ILLEGAL and SPAM.

Refer to the following post

The Protection of Personal Information Bill

The rational behind the Protection of Personal Information Bill in summary is to ensure that…

* Personal information must be obtained fairly and lawfully and disclosing the purpose (purpose driven)
* Personal information must be used only for the original specified purpose
* Consent is obtained as far as it is practical and offer an opt-out option (consent)
* Personal information must be accurate and up to date and deleted if requested (control)
* Personal information must be accessible to the subject
* Personal information must be kept securely and destroyed after its purpose is completed

(Hat Tip to Noto)

So here’s the deal, If anyone else has received calls from Direct Fin solutions, respond back here. Its high time SA companies stop abusing our information and do some REAL marketing (See: Inbound marketing & social media marketing). Companies that insist in intruding in the lives of potential customers are going to FAIL! in the future, it will not work! Lets take these guys to task!

Why? Well on anyone day with the amount of newsletters, subscriptions, groups, mailing lists i belong to i get in excess of 200 emails. I have 4 different mailboxes that i have acquired over the years. Some i dont bother checking more then once a week.

Otherinbox lets you easily create ‘throw away’ mailboxes. The creation of a mailbox is as simple as sending a mail to x@username.otherinbox.com. I would offer an invite, but thats already been given away

How has It helped me? Well, anytime i sign up for a new service or submit my email address i just use the Otherinbox email.

Another great use for it is tracking the responses on online classified ads. I was recently selling some items on local classified sitegumtree. I used otherinbox to track responses and to figure out what works with online classifieds and what does not.

You can do this by posting your test ad’s 3/4 and with each add create a different email address.

If you can get your hands on an invite, give it a spin!

P.s I wrote this post to get my hands on a Tee from OIB
P.P.s I still vouch for the app, even with out the tee
P.P.P.S Wouldnt it be cool if the T-Shirts worked like otherinbox email addresses? You could customize the T-Shirt to display any email you want depending on your mood? i.e opissofalready@ismail.otherinbox.com / callme-0821234567@ismail.otherinbox.com

You could, by adding Velcro and some little block letters… now theres an Awesome idea for future T-Shirts!

What irk’s me though, i repeatedly asked them to remove my name and not call me again, and yet they still call me. Few years ago it was someone trying to sell me insurance. It is all very Highly annoying, I asked the guy where they had got my number and he just hung up. Who is selling my details? What gave them the right? Did i agree to this?

Here’s a tip to marketers,
Sell to people who want to be sold to, do not force things down peoples throats.