MRC%PANDA@SUMEX-AIM.ARPA (Mark Crispin) (08/06/86)
Here in Pacific Bell land, I have 5 phone lines to my residence. Three are flat rate (1 voice, 2 data); the other two are measured since they are only used for incoming data connections. They're quite happy to offer flat rate and measured to the same residence. What they won't do is offer lifeline (the cheapest rate) and some other service. Now, here's what pisses me off. I only want my voice line listed, but they are charging me for unlisted service on one of my data lines. They claim that you have to pay for unlisted service for at least one of your lines. I'm also paying a couple of bucks a month to have busy transfer between the data line I give everybody the phone number for and its backup. I guess I'm getting back in my own little way. Out here they charge you to have the lines collected into a single bill (you can get two lines put together on one bill at no charge if they are on the same exchange). Since I pay my bills by electronic banking, it is no skin off my back to pay for each line separately. Pac Bell has to pay a few extra pennies to bill me 5 times a month. Maybe someday they'll learn and make consolidated billing a free (or preferably discounted) service.
CMP.WERNER@R20.UTEXAS.EDU (Werner Uhrig) (08/11/86)
RE: They're quite happy to offer flat rate and measured to the same residence when I asked SWB here in Austin, they did not cede that option. But then, I think I did not try to push the matter with any higher-ups which (now it seems) I should have done. RE: Now, here's what pisses me off. I only want my voice line listed, but they are charging me for unlisted service on one of my data lines. They claim that you have to pay for unlisted service for at least one of your lines. I solved that problem by having the numbers listed with fictitious names without a street-address. try: QWERTY, NOANSWER if you want to be conspicuous. no extra charge. [Hear hear! -Elmo]
mo@well.UUCP (Maurice Weitman) (08/11/86)
In article <8608102105.AA09209@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> MRC%PANDA@SUMEX-AIM.ARPA (Mark Crispin) writes: >Here in Pacific Bell land, I have 5 phone lines to my residence. >[...] >Now, here's what pisses me off. I only want my voice line listed, but >they are charging me for unlisted service on one of my data lines. They >claim that you have to pay for unlisted service for at least one of your >lines. >[...] >I guess I'm getting back in my own little way. >[...] Here's a better way to get back at the tarriff-quoting, beaurocratic bimbos: beat them at their own game. Tell them you want the other lines listed in some fictitious name. I've got mine listed in W.C. Fields's character's names. Here's your chance to be R. Milhouse Nixon, Che Guevera, Y.A. Boguslisting, etc. My understanding is they've got to do and it's free. Some day they'll catch on and stop charging for things that don't cost, or actually save them money. Til then, we can play their silly games, can't we?