DREUBEN@eagle.wesleyan.edu) (DOUGLAS SCOTT REUBEN) (07/26/90)
Although I totally agree with John Higdon's post about COCOTs and the CPUC which appeared in the Digest a few days ago, I must differ on one point: I have actually found a COCOT that allows 10xxx access! And it is NOT one of those "converted" Pac*Bell payphones which Pac*Bell decided to abandon and hand over to some slimey COCOT/AOS outfit... If anyone is driving south from Sacramento on I-80, to the right, about seven miles before the Vacaville (err ... the "Nut Tree") exit, there is a Chevron and Unocal-76 gas station. (I think those were the two...) There are always lots of trucks there. There are actually TWO real-life COCOTs on the Chevron property that allowed 10xxx access every time I tried. (Of course, less than two feet away on the Unocal lot there were those ex-Pac*Bell COCOTs which blocked all 10xxx calls...). So there do exist at least *two* COCOTs in the USA that allow 10xxx access. I can just see the people at FCC Informal Complaints in DC using that as an example, saying "See, we got a few working ... don't rush us!" Yeah ... right... Actually, for those not familiar with COCOTs in California, all COCOTs (at least the ones I've used) use Pac*Bell for their local calling card and operator services, and you only get into the problem of blocking when you want to make a long distance call. Of course, many of them still disable the Touch Tone pad after you enter your card number, so you can't make sequence calls or tone in digits to voicemail or an answering machine. It also seems that all Safeway stores in the Bay Area now use private payphones, as I couldn't find any Safeway with a real Pac*Bell phone on their property. (However, the one off of I-80 in Truckee has a couple of Pac*Bells.) Accordingly, I just shop at Lucky's! Doug dreuben@eagle.wesleyan.edu dreuben@wesleyan.bitnet
john@bovine.ati.com (John Higdon) (07/26/90)
"DOUGLAS SCOTT REUBEN)" <DREUBEN@eagle.wesleyan.edu> writes: > It also seems that all Safeway stores in the Bay Area now use private > payphones, as I couldn't find any Safeway with a real Pac*Bell phone > on their property. (However, the one off of I-80 in Truckee has a > couple of Pac*Bells.) > Accordingly, I just shop at Lucky's! And just where will you shop when YOUR local Lucky's installs COCOTs by U.S. Commercial Telephone#Corp. (sic)? These are most vile. Pad dies after call completion. No way to get AT&T operator. No way to reach repair/refund except 8 to 5 weekdays. Wants $1.05 for 811-XXXX (free call). No 950. I have written a strongly worded letter to Lucky headquarters. The COCOT at my Safeway, on the other hand, is somewhat easier to live with. Pad stays active. Phone is easily tricked into giving the AT&T operator. Allows 811-XXXX. Repair/refund available on weekends. 950 allowed. If it comes down to the battle of COCOTs, Safeway wins! John Higdon | P. O. Box 7648 | +1 408 723 1395 john@bovine.ati.com | San Jose, CA 95150 | M o o !