John Higdon <john@zygot.ati.com> (12/29/89)
Quote from my latest Pac*Bell bill:
"Now you can order Commstar Features* automatically -- anytime! Place
your order for Call Waiting, Three-Way Calling Speed Calling/8 or Call
Forwarding 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Interacting with this
computerized system is easy -- just dial 811-7050 from your touch-tone
telephone.
WE'RE MAKING THINGS EASIER sm
* Commstar Features are available in most areas.
** You may have to dial a "1" before dialing this toll-free
number."
After playing a little with Pac*Bell's automatic custom calling
feature ordering, I feel that it's an idea whose time should never
come. What would stop me or anyone from ordering every feature on the
accounts of people we don't like? That's a rhetorical question since
the answer is obviously nothing.
The session goes something like this:
You are welcomed to the service and are told to take a powder if you
have a rotary phone. Then you are asked for the area code and number
of the phone that the order applies to. You get a list of the features
and are told to enter the numbers of the features you want turned on.
The voice then reads back the features you selected, then give you the
one-time charge and the monthly charge for the features you ordered.
The safety may be in the fact that Pac*Bell now confirms by mail all
orders. If, however, the "victim" is out of town, then he will find
new features on his telephone when he returns. Or at least new charges
on his bill. The only other protection would possibly be to record the
caller's (person who places the order) number, which is quite possibly
what's done. The number (811-7050) rings into a DMS which give three
ringbacks then no-answer-forwards to something else. The calling
number would be available to the system from any FGD compliant office.
When I tried to use the system to order on one of my own lines, it
wouldn't accept the order. This could be because: 1) My accounts are
passworded or 2) all of my lines are Commstar II-equipped
(mini-centrex).
I wish Pac*Bell would put its energy into real stuff like CLASS...
John Higdon | P. O. Box 7648 | +1 408 723 1395
john@zygot.ati.com | San Jose, CA 95150 | M o o !