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We did collect calls...

Would you like to accept a collect call from senior lot? Meant please pick me up from the senior lot. At some point, collect calling became possible for third parties, and they let the caller hear the other party answer so you knew you got the information to them.

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Remember the TV ads regarding telephone calls and collect calls?

"You have a collect call from ... 'we-had-a-baby-it's-a-boy' ... do you accept the charges?"

"No." [Hangs up]

"Who was it?"

"Jimmy and Susan. They had a baby. It's a boy."

[Buy our better value telephone service!]

Actually, it was warning about not cheating the phone company, and saving money by buying Geico instead.

Link to that ad: https://youtu.be/NxAWqyVY1Fg?t=9

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