HAMER@ruby.vcu.edu (ROBERT M. HAMER) (09/28/89)
I think that aspects of this issue have been discussed on the digest before, and if they have, if the moderator would point me to the appropriate issues, I will FTP them (unless the question is of sufficient general interest that it might bear discussion). My daughter just left for college (hooray). When she left, my wife gave her our Sprint Fon Card number so that she could call us (probably a dumb move, or at least not well thought out). We got our first post-daughter-departure Sprint bill yesterday. In addition to two or three calls to us, there were calls to friends and relatives all over the country. To state the specifications first, without contaminating possible solutions with my own thoughts, I would like her to be able to call us at our expense, but I have no particular desire to pay for any other long distance calls she chooses to make. I think I have read discussions in this digest about (a) a relatively cheap residential 800 number, and/or calling/fon/credit cards that are valid only to call one number. Anyone have any suggestions? [Moderator's Note: The AT&T Calling Card with a restricted PIN is known as the "Call Me" Card. It is free for the asking, and the PIN is limited to calling only the number to which it is assigned; in this case, that would be your home phone. They issue a plastic card with this PIN, but it is pointless to hand it out. You would simply tell your daughter that henceforth to call *you, and you only* she would dial zero, plus the area code and your number. When she hears the tone, dial only the four digits of the (new, and restricted) PIN, followed by the # sign to speed the call on its way. Attempts to call other numbers with that PIN will fail. Of course, you'll need to tell Sprint to cancel your existing full service PIN and issue a new number which you don't give your daughter, otherwise she may continue using the old one anyway. Anyone who has knowledge of the restricted PIN can use it in the same way, to call your number only. If calls are placed through some AOS outfit, there is no guarentee of course that the restriction on the PIN would be honored, but you will find that out soon enough and can refuse payment if necessary. PT]