A Small victory for the ordinary Joe.
Discussion
Good for him:
[quote=The Guardian]When taxi driver Ashley Gibbins called the helpline of NTL hoping to have broadband installed, he was told, that all its operators were busy right now, but if he cared to hold the line his call would be dealt with as soon as possible.
So Mr Gibbins held. And held. Then held some more. Eventually, after an hour, Mr Gibbins decided he had had enough. He put the phone down and decided to wreak revenge.
By chance, Mr Gibbins discovered he could alter NTL's recorded message, and after he'd tinkered with it people seeking help were met with something altogether more blunt.
"Hello, you are through to NTL customer services," they were told. "We don't give a fuck about you, basically, and we are not going to handle any of your complaints. Just fuck off and leave us alone. Get a life."
NTL did not see the funny side and called in the police. Magistrates in Teesside, however, may have had similar experience on corporate helplines themselves.
Mr Gibbins, 26, from Redcar, Cleveland, was acquitted at Teesside magistrates' court on Tuesday of an offence under the Communications Act 2003 of making a grossly offensive message.
The magistrates decided Mr Cleveland's rant was merely offensive, and did not make the "grossly offensive" standard required for prosecution.
A spokeswoman for Cleveland Crown Prosecution Service said Mr Gibbins admitted he had left the message but denied it was grossly offensive.
"He did accept that he was responsible. The main question was whether the message was deemed to be offensive or grossly offensive.
"The judiciary heard all the issues before them and they decided in this particular instance that it was not grossly offensive," said the spokeswoman.
NTL's media centre put the Guardian on hold, suggested we try another number and then declined to comment.[/quote]
[quote=The Guardian]When taxi driver Ashley Gibbins called the helpline of NTL hoping to have broadband installed, he was told, that all its operators were busy right now, but if he cared to hold the line his call would be dealt with as soon as possible.
So Mr Gibbins held. And held. Then held some more. Eventually, after an hour, Mr Gibbins decided he had had enough. He put the phone down and decided to wreak revenge.
By chance, Mr Gibbins discovered he could alter NTL's recorded message, and after he'd tinkered with it people seeking help were met with something altogether more blunt.
"Hello, you are through to NTL customer services," they were told. "We don't give a fuck about you, basically, and we are not going to handle any of your complaints. Just fuck off and leave us alone. Get a life."
NTL did not see the funny side and called in the police. Magistrates in Teesside, however, may have had similar experience on corporate helplines themselves.
Mr Gibbins, 26, from Redcar, Cleveland, was acquitted at Teesside magistrates' court on Tuesday of an offence under the Communications Act 2003 of making a grossly offensive message.
The magistrates decided Mr Cleveland's rant was merely offensive, and did not make the "grossly offensive" standard required for prosecution.
A spokeswoman for Cleveland Crown Prosecution Service said Mr Gibbins admitted he had left the message but denied it was grossly offensive.
"He did accept that he was responsible. The main question was whether the message was deemed to be offensive or grossly offensive.
"The judiciary heard all the issues before them and they decided in this particular instance that it was not grossly offensive," said the spokeswoman.
NTL's media centre put the Guardian on hold, suggested we try another number and then declined to comment.[/quote]
"Hello, you are though to the Dick Turpin`s band of brothers, sorry I mean the safety camera partnership. We are a group of ruthless scum sucking pondlife - sorry, I mean how can I direct our call?
Press 1 to admit to being a driver - you will instantly be debited £60 to save us the effort - we`ll get you in the end you know.
Press 2 for career information
THATS THE SQUIGGLY LINE ON THE TOP MIDDLE BUTTON.
Press 3 to request a camera. Please note, we are currently only operating on dual carriageways with good visibility and no junctions. We are unable to provide services near to schools as most of our operators have court orders preventing them from being within 500 metres of children.
replace receiver now if you intended to complain about us or question what exactly our contribution to road safety is.
Please don`t ask for any assistance as we do not care - we only want your money.
Goodbye and far queue."
Press 1 to admit to being a driver - you will instantly be debited £60 to save us the effort - we`ll get you in the end you know.
Press 2 for career information
THATS THE SQUIGGLY LINE ON THE TOP MIDDLE BUTTON. Press 3 to request a camera. Please note, we are currently only operating on dual carriageways with good visibility and no junctions. We are unable to provide services near to schools as most of our operators have court orders preventing them from being within 500 metres of children.
replace receiver now if you intended to complain about us or question what exactly our contribution to road safety is.
Please don`t ask for any assistance as we do not care - we only want your money.
Goodbye and far queue."
Brilliant. I reckon quite a few of them can hear you when you're on hold. A few times I've been shouting in the phone and I'm sure that they pick it up when you've totally lost the plot, I remember saying "FFS, put your bloody coffee down and answer the 
phone" and when the woman picked it up I was totally at a lost what to say!
Good effort for him.
phone" and when the woman picked it up I was totally at a lost what to say! Good effort for him.
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