eddy@jafus.mi.org (Eddy J. Gurney) (02/01/91)
Ahh ... the wonderful problems all these merger create ... On Monday I called Telecom*USA and ordered Residential 800 service. Or so I thought. Apparently the representative with whom I talked was not aware that they were no longer taking orders for that service, and today I received a call from them telling me to contact MCI. Gee, how nice! So I called MCI, and as I suspected, the so-called 800 number you are issued is basically just a shared number among a large number of customers. (Anyone know how many?) They say it is much like a "calling card", where you dial an 800 number, and after the "bongggg", enter a four digit code. (This would allow at least 8000 people to use the same number, even if they didn't offer codes like "0000", "1111", etc.) This is what I was trying to avoid by going with Telecom*USA. I called Telecom*USA back, and they said there was nothing that could be done. The _very_ polite woman explained that that service has not been available for some time, and said she was sorry that she was unable to help resolve my problem. I asked if her supervisor could approve it, and she said no, that because Telecom*USA merged with MCI, all requests for any type of service connection had to be routed to MCI. So it appears I'm out of luck, unless any readers know of other LDC's that offer residential 800 service at reasonable rates? (Preferably without a shared 800 number.) I figured it was too good to be true! 8-) Eddy J. Gurney, N8FPW -- eddy@jafus.mi.org -- The Eccentricity Group [Moderator's Note: That is really a shame. I guess I should consider myself very lucky I got my numbers from Telecom*USA before they made the changeover. I agree with you the idea of adding a code to the number being dialed sounds pretty bogus. My two 800 numbers just ring straight through to me. Even someone at a rotary dial payphone can use them with ease. You might ask about 800 numbers from Cable and Wireless. They offer user-programmable 800 numbers I believe. PAT]
markh@squirrel.labs.tek.com (Mark C. Henderson) (02/02/91)
In article <16587@accuvax.nwu.edu> eddy@jafus.mi.org (Eddy J. Gurney) writes: >Ahh ... the wonderful problems all these merger create ... >So it appears I'm out of luck, unless any readers know of other LDC's >that offer residential 800 service at reasonable rates? (Preferably >without a shared 800 number.) US Sprint offers 800 numbers for $10/month + usage billed in six second increments. This is a real 800 number (not the shared scheme described above). Note that they also offer the ability to get a number that can be reached from anywhere in the USA and Canada. I don't know if MCI's service allows Canadian access. Mark C. Henderson, Computer Research Laboratory, Tektronix, Inc. MS 50-662, P.O. Box 500, Beaverton, OR 97077, U.S.A. INTERNET: markh@crl.labs.tek.com (alternate: mchenderson@attmail.com) Tel: +1 503 627 6280 Fax: +1 503 627 5502 AT&T Mail: !mchenderson
john@bovine.ati.com (John Higdon) (02/02/91)
"Eddy J. Gurney" <eddy@jafus.mi.org> writes: > So I called MCI, and as I suspected, the so-called 800 number you are > issued is basically just a shared number among a large number of > customers. (Anyone know how many?) They say it is much like a > "calling card", where you dial an 800 number, and after the "bongggg", > enter a four digit code. (This would allow at least 8000 people to use > the same number, even if they didn't offer codes like "0000", "1111", > etc.) This is what I was trying to avoid by going with Telecom*USA. You might just want to bite the bullet and get a REAL 800 number (and forget the "residence" garbage). I have had a REAL 800 number (with its own pair, etc.) that covers the state of California for about five years now. It has saved me thousands of dollars over standard rates and that doesn't include all the "alternative billing" arrangements that would have otherwise had to be made to call home. I realize you are not in CA, but there might be a similar arrangement available where you are. You are limiting yourself considerably when you shop for "residence" services. Remember, residences can have business service, but not the other way around. Sometimes for a particular application, a "business" service might be more suitable for one's needs. You must also evaluate YOUR real needs. If you want an 800 number for toy purposes, it is possible that there would be no plan that would be "cost-effective". In my case, I put 30 to 40 hours on the line per month that would just have to be carried some other way if the line did not exist. There is a real need; therefore it is cost-effective. John Higdon | P. O. Box 7648 | +1 408 723 1395 john@bovine.ati.com | San Jose, CA 95150 | M o o !