Bringing up an old subject: to those of you who work on chatlines, text lines, adult stuff etc...

[Tamz77]

My friend and I (both single mums) are looking into working as adult phone/text operators ('telephone actresses' as they're called in some parts lol) and I know this has been a subject for discussion on here before (not sure if this is the right forum for it, apologies if not). We're both pretty tied to home (her due to incapacity, myself due to being a full-time single mum) and it seems a convenient way to earn, but I was wondering, what exactly are the earnings from this? I've been doing a bit of google research but some agencies seem a bit iffy, eg the Text121 site which is a huge company with lots of information and easy application forms...however it does not actually give a rate of pay anywhere! Is this because these things are usually rip-offs? If there's anyone with prior experience of this we'd be grateful for any advice regarding the mechanics of this type of employment, thanks.

Are you sure you want to do smething like this? You have children, remember. Imagine if they found out what you did for a living? Sure, it's convenient but I think you have to retain some degree of respectability. Sorry if this sounds preachy but it's what I think.

I agree with branflake. Also, you have to consider just how revolted you might be by the person to whom you are talking and their nasty thoughts. Wouldn't touch with the proverbial bargepole myself.

If I knew someone who did this for a job then I wouldn't think they weren't respectable. I'd think good on them for doing a job that isn't nice to earn some money.

I could see that point over emptying bins, StripeyKnickersSpottySocks, but chatline work doesn't really need to be done, and doesn't make the world a better place, surely.

Tamz didn't ask for anybody's moral opinions on the matter. She was asking if anyone has any experience.

There did used to be a girl on here who did this job, but I think she may have left a while back.

It's a job. Some folks don't have the luxury of getting a job others would consider 'nice'. Whose business is it anyway? She wants to work and pay tax and it's legal.

I don't have any experience, Tamz, but bumping for you.

i have no experience either but i don't like the sanctimonious tone of some of the responses to a simple request for advice and hope someone can help you Tamz, good luck!

Tamz

There was a really huge thread on moneysavingexpert about this some weeks ago - useless at links, but it might be worth a look.

Well she can't empty bins can she if she's tied to the home!

blimey she isn't suggesting this job because it sounds fun fgs. Sorry Tam no experience but you sound like you are going in with your eyes wide open, good luck.

brave OP

have you read this?:

netmums.com/coffeehouse/showthread.php?p=939057

I'm tempted now!

bad mother;s club have quite a few members who do this iirc.

They may be better for advice than here tbh.

No you're right it doesn't make the world a better place but nor does the office of US president most of the time lol. Thanks for all replies anyway I will check out the links etc.

Hi Tamz, I downloaded the info from 121 and I am seriously considering it now! DP says he is ok with it too. Have you applied to anyone yet?

I had a friend who used to do this. She got to be very good at it (it meant she could get rid of her callers very quickly and go back to watching corrie). However, although she made a reasonable amount of money from it, it did mean working through the night. With kids I don't really think that's much of an option. She also said that if she hadn't already been married that it would have put her off men for life. I listened in once or twice when I was there and some of them are really sick and twisted. I would only recommend it if you really can't do anything else. How about some mystery shopping, buying charity shop junk to sell on ebay? Not judging you at all, but I know from what my friend said that it's just not that some of the calls can be very disturbing and frightening.

I did this for a couple of months in my gap year before I had dc as there wasn't much out there jobwise. (Judge away, it's not the worst job I've ever had. I once did sales- ugh) So I'll give you the rundown.

You normally work at your own pace and when you want to (although the company I worked for requested a minimum of 10 hours a week) you don't have to talk about things which make you uncomfortable, and you will never have to talk about anything involving kids, you can immediately terminate the call if they talk about that. Same goes for if they're abusive. You don't have to deal with that. It's not to say you won't have icky calls- there are some oddbods out there.

Moneywise, it's not good UNLESS you have the time and dedication to do it full time. I think I was paid per minute, I can't remember exact figures, but I think I figured out that if you had a man on the phone for an hour it worked out at about £7.00 or thereabouts. Keeping a man on the phone for an hour doesn't often happen, they're usually gone in under 10 min.

It's pretty shit work. You may enjoy it at first as it's new and exciting (and funny, my god, the things some people are into! I was once asked to do an impression of Madonna, begging for it up the bum! That was bizarre) but it soon gets irritating, and for me, demoralising. You either get very good or very bad. Personally, I just gave it up after a few weeks as it wasn't my cup of tea and I found a "proper" job.

If you want to know anything more specific ask away, don't know what you want to know.

I'll be honest with you though, I have NO IDEA how you would do this with kids around. Were you thinking of doing it when they were in bed? Some men like you to be LOUD.

I see your point fedup but this isn't talking in the phone,it is sms via the computer.

Oh right, well that's different! I'd say go for it then, nothing to lose. No idea what the money is like for that kind of thing.

God - this has got to be the most depressing thread on here. Come on, there's got to be something else you can do that won't make you hate and despise men and lose your own self-respect. It WILL have an impact on your kids, however subtle. I don't care about being moral and preachy.

I have plenty of self respect thanks, I have also researched it and it is an assumption that you are making about it involving talking to dirty old men. I also don't find this thread as depressing as the ones about mssing children, murdered teenagers and violent spouses. Maybe that's just me.

You're right, of course, about there being other more depressing threads. I stand by the rest of it though.

Believe me the men I've known in real life have been enough to put me off forever, I don't think any anonymous phone weirdo could make it worse.

I have one son who's 4. I was planning to work when he was in bed, obviously not when he's in the same room playing at my feet.

wildwoman I've done a bit of research and the pay level does seem to be somewhere hovering around 6 - 8 quid an hour. But then to talk dirty for a full hour....it's probably harder than it sounds, I'm wondering now whether it would actually be worth the effort. Also you have to watch out for companies that don't pay for the first minute/all the texts you send etc. The moneysavingsexpert link was useful. What do you think?

I think I'm going to try 121, the pay is pants but there isn't another way of earning that I can think of that I can do while the kids sleep. I couldn't do the actual phone stuff which as I understand is better paid but the texting would be fine. I think if you try it and don't like it/find it a con there isn't going to be any harm is there?