Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Sprint has remedy for telemarketers

Ruthe Deskin

Thursday, March 22, 2001 | 8:19 a.m.

Ruthe Deskin is assistant to the publisher. Reach her at deskin@ lasvegassun.com.

At long last consumers will have an opportunity to rid themselves of pesky, unwanted telephone calls.

A system called Sprint Privacy ID is being offered to local subscribers. Detra Page, media relations manager for Sprint Western Region, supplied me with a brochure explaining the program. To a neophyte it sounds rather complicated.

I haven't been able to master the new Sun phones that do everything but baby-sit. You must have caller ID in order to use the Privacy ID system.

For those who sympathize with telemarketers, be assured it doesn't put them out of business. They are only being cut off from customers who would hang up in exasperation in any circumstance.

The Privacy ID is not a free service. You still have to pay to keep unwanted solicitors from using your phone to conduct private business.

Call Sprint if the idea has appeal.

While on the subject, the National Right to Work Foundation is taking advantage of telemarketing.

A recent call asked if I would listen to a message from Sen. Bob Smith, a Republican from New Hampshire. Ordinarily I would hang up, but I was curious and agreed. Sen. Smith (at least I was led to assume it was him) came on with a diatribe against the AFL-CIO, John Sweeney and organized labor.

It sounded like all-out war was being declared. And, yes, they wanted a donation to help in this mighty battle against the forces of evil unions.

Jerry Tarkanian's Fresno State basketball team didn't make it to the Sweet Sixteen, although I, and other old Rebel fans, was hoping it would happen.

We wanted one last hurrah for the popular coach who gave us the glory days of UNLV basketball.

As an afterthought on the subject of basketball: Why not add Lionel Hollins' name to the list of possibilities for UNLV coach?

A friend sent me the book "Rumor Has It" by Bob Tarmarkan. It's a compilation of hearsay, hoaxes and lies -- rumors we have heard from childhood and often accepted as fact until the hoax is exposed.

Oprah Winfrey wouldn't include it on her book list, but it's a fun read, with a moral: False rumors can have damaging effects.

How can we ordinary folks be expected to understand and interpret the maze of instructions on income tax return forms?

In a recent investigative report on TV, five accountants from reputable firms were asked to figure the same return. They came up with five different conclusions for the selected taxpayer. The cost of preparing the return varied from $152 to more than $500. In one case the taxpayer owed $5,000. Another return had the taxpayer getting a refund.

All of which proves even the most accomplished accountants have trouble understanding the tax laws.

So how can the average citizen without a math degree cope with the IRS? Tax returns are not the only forms that baffle. Try understanding medical bills from insurance companies, health providers and Medicare. We live in a world where even the cleverest mathematicians have trouble making two plus two equal four.

Reader Bill Morgan refers to reading a tax return as science fiction.