Dave Levenson <dave@westmark.westmark.com> (09/21/90)
Here at Westmark, the number on the second line in the hunt-group that
serves our modem pool was assigned to us about three months after its
former subscriber had requested a number-change to unlisted.
While I was installing the modems, it began to ring. I answered from
the butt set, and explained to the caller that the Schwartz family no
longer had that number. This happened several times during the first
hour. I called NJ Bell and advised them that the number they had just
assigned was perhaps not yet "ripe for reassignment" and asked them
for another. Because it is the second line in a hunt group, we don't
care what its number is, and nobody else needs to know. NJ Bell
replied that they'd charge us $50 for a number-change. I replied that
in that case, I'd keep the number and let them deal with the resulting
confusion.
Repair service has called four times in the past year, apparently when
a caller complained to them that they were trying to call Mr. Schwartz
and got a loud tone (modem answer tone) on the line. On each
occasion, I explained to the repair agent that the line had been
re-assigned, no-longer belongs to anybody named Schwartz, and is now
part of a group of data lines.
I'm still willing to let them change the number if they're willing to
do it gratis, but they aren't. I haven't heard from repair service
lately, so perhaps the callers have finally learned.
Dave Levenson Voice: 908 647 0900 Fax: 908 647 6857
Westmark, Inc. UUCP: {uunet | rutgers | att}!westmark!dave
Warren, NJ, USA Internet: dave@westmark.com
AT&T Mail: !westmark!dave