IDIOT OF THE WEEK!

And the award goes to Dun and Bradstreet for their efforts and making business better for everyone, everywhere.

Ok, here's how this story goes. In 1999 when I first started "selling" little pieces of my writing, I got a business license for tax purposes. I named it Dancing Word Productions, you know, a catchy little title that made me stand out. I had business cards made and handed them out at conferences or to whomever.

So, a couple of years ago, I get a call from D&B wanting more information on my "business". I told them that I wasn't in business, that I was a freelance writer and there was nothing they needed to know about me. And I hung up.

Well, today I was googling myself just to make sure my website is up there and what do I find but a company called Manta and also D&B, and they are selling reports on my "business". For $9.95 you can get basic information on me, for $139 you can get a crap load of information on me. (Not that there is any.) But wait, it gets better. I'm not a freelance author. I'm a dance studio and fine arts organization. So they say.

So, I call D&B. The Manta business has NO phone number listed (gee, how convenient). I get a D&B rep on the phone, tell him my story, ask him to remove my listing. Oh, no, they won't remove my listing. I'm a business. In fact, they are legally able to sell my listing and they are sending me the documents that prove that they can! But, they will change the listing so it shows "author" rather than dance studio.

OK, D&B, what is your problem? I don't do business with anyone. When I sell a book, I'm a private contractor. I got the freaking license for tax purposes ONLY, not to do business, not to be listed on your site, not to have my address and phone number sold to some dance catalog business. What is your problem?

So, the moral of the story is this: I have no clue! Life sucks? D&B sucks? I'm not sure.