So today we had a rant about Standard Bank and their automated call service offering harassing you with their latest offering. It turns out we are not alone in our contempt for these unwanted and unwelcome intrusions into our daily lives. Fear not, good people, we have a solution.

In this country we have a little something called the Direct Marketing Association of Southern Africa (DMASA). The reason why you should pay these guys some attention? Well they have, on their page, a service called the Do Not Contact Me list, otherwise known as the Opt Out Register.

On the right hand side of their home page you will see the icon in red that reads ‘Opt Out’. Read the disclaimer and click on the link towards the bottom of the page to fill in your details. Once you have done that all the direct marketers who are members of their association will stop contacting you within 6 weeks of your registration.

Yes folks, six weeks sounds like a long time but if it stops those pesky calls we will give it a bash. You know what would have been nice? An ‘Opt In’ feature, rather than a process whereby we have to make an effort to stop being bothered on our private lines.

And yes, Standard Bank is on the members list which you can read HERE.

Our thanks to Jinné van Wyk from the DMASA for the assistance in this matter. Those of us who are tired of this nonsense salute you.