Direct calls to Santa being picked up in San Luis Obispo

Posted: Dec 5, 2011 9:26 PM by Nancy Chen
Updated: Dec 6, 2011 8:17 AM

The calls going into Advantage Answering Plus, an answering service based in San Luis Obispo, come from all across the country, but the sentiment for many of them is the same after the business opened a free Santa Hotline.

When children call in, they get a status update on how things are going at the workshop and then can leave a message for OI' Saint Nick. Parents can even get a copy of their children's messages by sending an email to the business.

"Well, Santa Claus needs some help," said Marty Imes, the project manager at Advantage Answering Plus. "And so we figure we'd give our callers and clients the opportunity to call the big man at the North Pole and get a message directly to him."

Advantage Answering Plus is fully staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for after-hour calls nationwide, but the Santa Hotline is something they started two years ago.

"It's pretty heartwarming to hear," Imes said. "It's really not just children, of course, leaving their request but also their heartwarming request for others, and that's pretty uplifting."

The hotline got 1500 calls last year and is expecting 2500 calls this year.

The following are some highlights from phone calls they've received:

Girl: "Hi, Santa. I'm just callin' because I want an iPod, just an iPod so you can watch movies on it."

Boy: "And I want new bling bling." Girl: "And I want a phone! And a computer." Girl: "And I want a phone and a computer and everything."

There is, however, acceptance Santa can't do it all.

"And I want Elizabeth to live with me," one girl said. "But I doubt that you'll make that happen."

There was also real concern about who made the nice and naughty lists.

"I would love to have those things," one girl said. "Thank you Santa, love you, bye. I hope I'm really good this year."

And when Santa's involved, it's clearly every kid for himself.

"Sometimes we've been naughty, not listening to our parents, but mostly Bryan," one boy said. "Bye, have a good day!"

The number for the Santa hotline is 805-546-1121.

You can also get a free copy of your message to Santa Claus by sending your name and phone number in an email to them at santa@advantage-plus.com.