zweig@cs.uiuc.edu (Johnny Zweig) (01/12/91)
I have had my AT&T Universal card for six months now (if memory serves; I ordered it the same day I read about it in comp.dcom.telecom) and have continually had trouble getting the number to work with _any_ long distance company other than AT&T. This includes MCI, Sprint and a couple of other carriers in the US and Canada. My understanding was that there was some kind of mechanism for distributing calling card numbers (my Illinois Bell number for my home phone works fine) -- does anyone know why the numbers for AT&T Universal VISA cards aren't distributed? It seems kind of like a you-must-use-AT&T-long-distance-you-measly-mortal ploy to me (since I have 10ATT0'ed on numerous occasions to save my 10% at phone booths).
dave@westmark.westmark.com (Dave Levenson) (01/13/91)
In article <16006@accuvax.nwu.edu>, zweig@cs.uiuc.edu (Johnny Zweig) writes: > I have had my AT&T Universal card for six months now (if memory ... > phone works fine) -- does anyone know why the numbers for AT&T > Universal VISA cards aren't distributed? It seems kind of like a > you-must-use-AT&T-long-distance-you-measly-mortal ploy to me (since I > have 10ATT0'ed on numerous occasions to save my 10% at phone booths). Why would anybody give you a free credit card unless there was something in it for the giver? Yes, they get the spiff from the merchant who accepts it, but the real reason they wanted to blanket the country with these cards, and the real reason they offer you a toll discount when you use it, is that it keeps your toll traffic on their network. It wouldn't be accomplishing its real purpose if it allowed you to use if on anybody else's network, would it? Dave Levenson Internet: dave@westmark.com Westmark, Inc. UUCP: {uunet | rutgers | att}!westmark!dave Warren, NJ, USA AT&T Mail: !westmark!dave Voice: 908 647 0900 Fax: 908 647 6857
richarbm@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Bryan Richardson) (01/13/91)
In article <16006@accuvax.nwu.edu> zweig@cs.uiuc.edu writes: >...I ordered it the same day I read about it in >comp.dcom.telecom) and have continually had trouble getting the number >to work with _any_ long distance company other than AT&T. This >includes MCI, Sprint and a couple of other carriers in the US and >Canada. >My understanding was that there was some kind of mechanism for >distributing calling card numbers (my Illinois Bell number for my home >phone works fine) -- does anyone know why the numbers for AT&T >Universal VISA cards aren't distributed? It seems kind of like a >you-must-use-AT&T-long-distance-you-measly-mortal ploy to me (since I >have 10ATT0'ed on numerous occasions to save my 10% at phone booths). Most calling cards issued are issued in connection with a particular line or billing number; The calling card number is of the form:NPA-NXX-XXXX-PINN. Upon request and for internal use, calling card numbers are generated where the first four digits are not N(0/1)X-N. Looking at my Universal Card, I see that the same thing holds true of the calling card number there. I suspect two reasons for non-acceptance by other IECs: 1.) The most likely is that the number is not distributed to other IECs to prevent customers from dialling using other IECs -- where you're sure not to get your 10% and perhaps a whole lot worse (AOSs). 2.) The other databases performing the validation are unable to accept numbers which do not conform to N(0/1)X-N as the first few digits. (This is probably unlikely, as they undoubtably wish to provide similar 'security.') Bryan Richardson AT&T Bell Laboratories and, for 1991, Purdue University. Disclaimer: Neither AT&T nor Purdue are responsible for my opinions.
heiby@mcdchg.chg.mcd.mot.com (Ron Heiby) (01/15/91)
When I got my Universal "welcome" packet, the brochure strongly implied that only AT&T would recognize the calling card number associated with the card. I had the opposite reaction to that of Johnny Zweig. I thought, "goody! Now I won't accidentally get ripped off by some AOS!" Just in case, I called the 800 number on the card to make sure I was reading it right. The person at the other end was very friendly (as on the other two times I've called them), but wouldn't commit to the number being good *only* for AT&T. She maintained that it was still my responsibility to listen for the "AT&T" identification and/or use the 1-0-ATT prefix. Can anyone confirm that the Universal card's calling card number is valid *only* for AT&T service? celoni@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu (Jim Celoni) writes: >A caveat about the Universal Card: the magnetic stripe has the credit >card number, not calling card number, so if you swipe it into a public >phone, your credit card will be billed *by whatever carrier the phone >wants to use*, and even if it's AT&T you won't get the 10% off. I don't think that this is accurate. I believe that the stripe contains both numbers on it. I believe this because when traveling last week I decided to test the theory that both numbers were there by inserting it into an AT&T hotel lobby calling card phone. (Pretty nifty phone. Black. "data" port for a modem. LCD alphanumeric display. card slot.) I inserted my card and it asked me for my PIN, just like for a normal calling card. I don't think it would ask for a PIN if I had used a regular MC/VISA card. I called the Universal folks to ask them about it. They were very nice, misunderstood my question, but their answer was informative. They told me that many public phones were not yet programmed to know about the Universal card, and for those it would be important to key the number in manually. Of course, they also reminded me to listen for "AT&T". Ron Heiby, heiby@chg.mcd.mot.com Moderator: comp.newprod
roeber@cithe1.cithep.caltech.edu (Frederick Roeber) (01/21/91)
In article <16074@accuvax.nwu.edu>, heiby@mcdchg.chg.mcd.mot.com (Ron Heiby) writes: > ... I inserted my card and it asked me for my PIN, > just like for a normal calling card. I don't think it would ask for a > PIN if I had used a regular MC/VISA card. Oh, yes it might. Many credit cards have PINs for use in ATMs or POS boxes. (Often these purchases will show up as `cash advances' on your bill.) All of my credit cards have PINs I can rarely remember. Frederick G. M. Roeber | e-mail: roeber@caltech.edu or roeber@cern.ch