Post by lpcalihawk on Oct 16, 2009 8:01:04 GMT -6
Insurance Brochure Leads To Phone Sex Line
Blue Cross Blue Shield Publishes Erroneous Number
POSTED: 8:38 am CDT October 16, 2009
UPDATED: 8:43 am CDT October 16, 2009
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa -- When Blue Cross Blue Shield of Iowa and South Dakota mailed brochures to thousands of seniors, a Council Bluffs woman was surprised that it helped connect her to a phone sex line.
Georgia Basch said the phone number the brochure encouraged her to call connected her with a service offering adult chats with "students, housewives and working girls."
Georgia Basch was surprised at what she heard when she thought she was dialing the number for and insurance company.
"I didn't know what to think, it just happened to fast," he said. "The first thing I thought is, I dialed the wrong number, so I dialed it again."
The brochure gave the number to let people call and speak to licensed representatives about their plans and policy renewals.
Basch said the opening line indicated it had nothing to do with health care coverage.
"(It said), 'Hello, Sexy. You want to get hot,'" Basch said.
The company said it mistakenly listed its service number as starting with the 1-800 toll-free prefix. The correct number starts with a 1-888. It is scrambling to send out a new brochure that leads seniors to a Medicare plan and not to something X-rated.
"(I was) kind of embarrassed," Basch said. "I was just glad I was here alone.”
Tens of thousands of seniors received the same information. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Iowa and South Dakota said the information was sent to current and prospective members. The company is not affiliated with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska.
"We obviously apologize for any offense that was taken by folks calling the wrong number," a representative of the company said during a phone interview. "We are taking steps looking at our stuff internally."
Basch said she wasn't offended, but she does worry that the adult line may have her personal information or may be able to contact her.
"Be real careful when you dial the phone," she said.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Publishes Erroneous Number
POSTED: 8:38 am CDT October 16, 2009
UPDATED: 8:43 am CDT October 16, 2009
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa -- When Blue Cross Blue Shield of Iowa and South Dakota mailed brochures to thousands of seniors, a Council Bluffs woman was surprised that it helped connect her to a phone sex line.
Georgia Basch said the phone number the brochure encouraged her to call connected her with a service offering adult chats with "students, housewives and working girls."
Georgia Basch was surprised at what she heard when she thought she was dialing the number for and insurance company.
"I didn't know what to think, it just happened to fast," he said. "The first thing I thought is, I dialed the wrong number, so I dialed it again."
The brochure gave the number to let people call and speak to licensed representatives about their plans and policy renewals.
Basch said the opening line indicated it had nothing to do with health care coverage.
"(It said), 'Hello, Sexy. You want to get hot,'" Basch said.
The company said it mistakenly listed its service number as starting with the 1-800 toll-free prefix. The correct number starts with a 1-888. It is scrambling to send out a new brochure that leads seniors to a Medicare plan and not to something X-rated.
"(I was) kind of embarrassed," Basch said. "I was just glad I was here alone.”
Tens of thousands of seniors received the same information. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Iowa and South Dakota said the information was sent to current and prospective members. The company is not affiliated with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska.
"We obviously apologize for any offense that was taken by folks calling the wrong number," a representative of the company said during a phone interview. "We are taking steps looking at our stuff internally."
Basch said she wasn't offended, but she does worry that the adult line may have her personal information or may be able to contact her.
"Be real careful when you dial the phone," she said.
