When’s the last time you picked up a phone call from a number you didn’t recognize, only to find that you have absolutely no interest in what the solicitor has to say but that, even worse, you provided absolutely no consent to warrant their call in the first place?

If this sounds like a familiar experience, it’s likely for one of three reasons.

1. 1. You purchased something from a morally questionable website online.
   2. A cold caller targeted phone numbers from a certain area code and yours happened to be one of them.
   3. You voluntarily provided your information to a website online in hopes of receiving more details on their service, a quote on a project you need handled or more specifically, a software development task.

We’re sorry to be the ones to tell you this (you may have suspected it already) but if Sally from Super SEO Mega Wonderful Services called yesterday because unbeknownst to you, you were “on her list,” it’s likely due to a recent transaction you made with an unsecured development company.

Instances such as these are far too common; you’re attempting to find competent, reliable and trustworthy contractors to get your work done and instead you’ve written your business number on the inside of a dirty virtual bathroom stall.

Information, after all, is a commodity.

When software development companies aren’t getting enough business or they simply see an opportunity, they’ll capitalize on the chance to turn whatever information they have into dollars. It can be in the form of the sale of an email address, a phone number, general demographics or even a physical address. While this is not legal, it can be very hard to regulate. Companies even go so far as to falsify written consent.

What this tells us about the world of online software development services, and what we all need to be wary of, is that when a site claims to be providing us a quote or consultation they sometimes know that their chances of attaining your business are so low (shoddy work and half-assed communication will do that) that the only way to stay in “business” is to commoditize whatever they can get out of you.

How can I avoid this?

As you likely are not and will never be interested in Sally’s services (sorry, Sally) you can take steps to ensure you never end up on her list in the first place.

1. 1. Do not accept “terms of use” without reading them.
   2. If a site looks sketchy, it likely is. Go with your gut.
   3. Speak to someone first; our own Atlantic Team, located in Tolland, Connecticut, is available 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST daily. The reason for this is twofold: so that both existing and potential clients know we hold ourselves accountable for their information, and that they have a consistent, solid human being to speak to when they need help or peace of mind.

Information is a commodity. You know what else is a commodity? Your time.

And Sally’s not entitled to any of it.

Images: morgueFile (1); Giphy (1)