ace@lever.com (Tommy AcE) (10/11/90)
A friend in Colorado who just changed his phone number reported to me
the following curious policy in effect there (presumably, this also
applies when new service is established):
The telco (U S West) gives you a list of three dull
phone numbers you may choose from.
If you don't like any of the three, you can pay $50 for the
privilege of choosing from a telco-selected list of five
numbers which are more interesting-sounding; these might
end in something catchy, like 2211, 0909, or whatever.
In addition to the $50 one-time charge, you pay $3 every month.
If you don't like the idea of choosing from a list of three
or five numbers, you can request the number of your choice
for a mere $200, and $10 per month thereafter.
This clinched it for me; I'm definitely not moving back to Colorado
now. And I thought the $1.50 a month I pay for my number here in
PacBell-land was ridiculous.
It used to be (at least in my limited observations) that many telcos
would allow subscribed-selected numbers for free when practical. The
thought of not charging for something must have become too abhorrent,
and fees for the privilege were created. Evidently, it then became
abhorrent to U S West that the fees were nominal when they could be
exorbitant, and now you have the current situation.
Tom Ace
{pyramid,sun}!hoptoad!lever!acejohnp@hpgrla.gr.hp.com (John Parsons) (10/16/90)
> A friend in Colorado who just changed his phone number reported to me > the following curious policy in effect there (presumably, this also > applies when new service is established): [ details of gouging deleted... ] I just ordered new service north of Denver last week. A month or so ago, I called US West's biz office for info, and they told a similar tale regarding number selection: 1st list of three available numbers is free, successive three-number lists at $10/list, or request a specific number and be charged ~$70 if it's available. No mention of perpetual monthly charges. So last week when I actually placed the order, the rep said, "Your new number will be 772-xxxx." "What if I don't like that number?" I asked, playing dumb -- not too difficult for some of us :) -- "Just a moment," then a list of three other numbers, all 772-xxxx. "Gee, I was hoping to get one in the 678 exchange so it would be similar to my existing number." (I don't want wrong numbers from callers with cheap bouncey keypads, either). "One moment...", then a list of three 678- numbers. I picked one. No mention of extra fees. I wish I'd remembered to ask the rep's name. > This clinched it for me; I'm definitely not moving back to Colorado > now.... Tom, even if phone service was $100/mo more costly here in CO than in CA, I wouldn't move back. I'm saving much more in mortgage costs, auto insurance, etc., AND I prefer skies that are blue ;-) Cheerio, John Parsons