Call In and Letter Writing

[Neo]

Thanks for the clarification Neo. Am I right in thinking that the Ask Off's still get written to and sent promo?

Zander

No, they're not meant to. I guess it could happen.

 

[Dulloldfart]

Thats right. You get listed as Ask Off, but remain in the system. If declared, you get listed as SP, or deadfiled SP. No names get removed. There's no ability to remove names from the computer system.

I left before this new system came online. How do they deal with errors, like someone puts in Alice Plummbottom at the same address as Alice Plumbottom, and Alice later sends back the two labels asking nicely to have the mistaken one deleted? I mean, I know in reality it often gets ignored, but surely the program allows such things to be rectified, doesn't it?

Paul

 

[Neo]

I left before this new system came online. How do they deal with errors, like someone puts in Alice Plummbottom at the same address as Alice Plumbottom, and Alice later sends back the two labels asking nicely to have the mistaken one deleted? I mean, I know in reality it often gets ignored, but surely the program allows such things to be rectified, doesn't it?

Paul

Yes you can correct this. You merge the applicable accounts.

 

[Dulloldfart]

Yes you can correct this. You merge the applicable accounts.

Great, thanks.

Does the same system contain EVERY public whose name and address they get? Like OCA mail-in test takers who don't even turn up for a test eval?

What happens with people who simply should not be in the system, maybe an out-ethics staff member takes names out of the telephone book or something?

Paul

 

[Neo]

Great, thanks.

Does the same system contain EVERY public whose name and address they get? Like OCA mail-in test takers who don't even turn up for a test eval?

What happens with people who simply should not be in the system, maybe an out-ethics staff member takes names out of the telephone book or something?

Paul

It contains all book buyers and above. No OCA names, that I am aware of. Although one could do this, if they had the name and address details. Even with book buyers, if they don't give their details then they are entered as No Name, or something else applicable. Every sale is entered on the computer system. It is a very time consuming and annoying way to sell a book. Name, address, telephone, email address, name of book, price, promotional code (never used this, but its there), where they were born (I kid you not), their home org. Apparently more fields keep getting added in an attempt to weed out duplicate names from the world wide database.

 

[Dulloldfart]

It contains all book buyers and above. No OCA names, that I am aware of. Although one could do this, if they had the name and address details. Even with book buyers, if they don't give their details then they are entered as No Name, or something else applicable. Every sale is entered on the computer system. It is a very time consuming and annoying way to sell a book. Name, address, telephone, email address, name of book, price, promotional code (never used this, but its there), where they were born (I kid you not), their home org. Apparently more fields keep getting added in an attempt to weed out duplicate names from the world wide database.

Thanks. I can understand the more-fields ideas to reduce duplicates. Date of birth is useful. Social Security Number I'm sure they would LOVE, but it's a bit hard to justify that. I wonder who actually works on weeding out duplicates--the CofS must have one of the worst reputations on the planet for ignoring request re mailing list errors.

Paul

 

[Lulu Belle]

I left before this new system came online. How do they deal with errors, like someone puts in Alice Plummbottom at the same address as Alice Plumbottom, and Alice later sends back the two labels asking nicely to have the mistaken one deleted? I mean, I know in reality it often gets ignored, but surely the program allows such things to be rectified, doesn't it?

Paul

There is something in the system which allows you to merge identities to get rid of duplicates. At least, there was when I was there.

 

[Royal Prince Xenu]

I left before this new system came online. How do they deal with errors, like someone puts in Alice Plummbottom at the same address as Alice Plumbottom, and Alice later sends back the two labels asking nicely to have the mistaken one deleted? I mean, I know in reality it often gets ignored, but surely the program allows such things to be rectified, doesn't it?

Paul

Unless the database was compiled by an SP programmer there WILL be at least a way of marking a file as "deleted", in the case of two very similar names at the same address, the program should also allow the spelling correction, and then self-delete the duplicate. However, this is not in the interest of CF stats, so it is unlikely to be implemented.

Policy on someone asking to be removed is very messy. Unless it is accompanied by enturbulation or legal threat, it is supposed to be handled as an ARC X by the Letter Reg.

Having CF properly computerized should make life easier where it becomes a legal requirement to block the sending of letters to a particular person, because that blocked name should block all duplicates across the planetary dissem network. But does it?