1.   Billing errors and uncollected receivables skyrocketed, and sales people spent their time placating angry customers instead of cultivating new ones.

2.   Here, telephone solicitors use their phone skills to placate existing customers, troll for new ones and woo others away from the competition.

3.   More channels should placate customers and lower expenses will ease shareholder concerns -- if he pulls it off, Hindery deserves to take a victory lap.

4.   Sometimes, however, the company will cut the bill to placate the customer, PUC officials say.