DREUBEN@eagle.wesleyan.edu) (DOUGLAS SCOTT REUBEN) (10/07/90)
I recently tried calling that 800-666-6258 number from a payphone in Portland, CT. (203-342 exchange). The exchange 'sounds' like an older X-bar, (1Xbar?) but it may even be a really awful sounding 5Xbar. I dunno... Anyhow, it seems that you CAN'T dial a non-AT&T 800 number from Portland, at least from payphones. After I dialed 800-666-6258, I got a recording saying my call can't be completed. So I called the SNET operator, who tried it, and it didn't work either. She told me to call "00", so I got the AT&T Op., he said "Hmmm..we can't seem to complete this call ... I wonder ..." I then cut in an said "I think it's an MCI 800 number, is that a problem for you?", and the AT&T op said "Hmmm ... could be ... we have lots of trouble with some of the other 800 numbers." I tried calling MCI at 800-444-4444 (I think that was the number listed in the book...) but of course, that didn't work either... Just out of curiousity, I tried a Sprint 800 call (800-877, right?), and guess what? -- that didn't work either! Maybe all the other LD co's should get at least one AT&T 800 so that callers from such older exchanges can reach them! :-) Again, this was from a coin phone, so maybe this isn't a major problem if residence phones can dial MCI/Sprint/whatever 800 numbers properly. Doug dreuben@eagle.wesleyan.edu dreuben@wesleyan.bitnet