hamilton@aztec.osbusouth.xerox.com (Bruce Hamilton) (03/14/89)
I was recently at the Louisville (KY) Convention Center. I tried to call an 800 number to use the audiotex service that tells me where the nearest ATM is. First I tried two coin phones. Both connected me to the 800 number, but then disabled the keypad! If I pressed a key, the earspeaker would go dead, as if I had gone off-hook. Finally I tried the adjoining non-coin, credit-card phone. It worked fine! Is this some sort of conspiracy by AT&T & South Central Bell to prevent me from calling, say, US Sprint's 800 number and then dialing out? A guy at the convention thought it might have been related to the recent enabling of 800 numbers on the pay phones in question. This definitely seems like a bug, given the WIDE presence of 800 audiotex systems. I'm curious as to whether this problem is widespread. [Please reply by e-mail since I only scan comp.dcom.telecom occasionally.] --Bruce CSNet: Hamilton.osbuSouth@Xerox.COM UUCP: xerox.com!hamilton.osbuSouth [Moderator's Note: But readers who answer, please carbon replies here also.]
prindle@NADC.ARPA (Frank Prindle) (03/16/89)
I recently got very annoyed while trying to use a COCOT in a public place for an emergency call (not 911, but a call to notify someone's relative of an emergency). Not having any coins handy, I proceeded to use my (non-Bell) calling card which requires I dial a toll-free 800 number, then key in my PIN and the number I was calling. Naturally, you-guessed-it, the 800 call went through, then the keypad went dead. The call could not be placed. Fortunately, the management was handy and found me another (private) phone to use for the emergency situation. Upon complaining to Bell of PA, I was informed that the BPA tarrifs do not require that a COCOT be able to complete calling-card calls! (the phone was in violation on three other counts however: 1) no service number posted on phone; 2) no phone number posted on phone; 3) charged $.85 to call 1-800-555- 1212.) My point is that there are even more important reasons (than calling a tone activated service such as a locator or a bank) that the tone-pad should continue to work - namely any calling card except AT&T/Baby-Bell is likely *not* to have an operator intercept to manually handle situations where no tones can be generated. I feel that the consumer should be able to rely on any public phone (with a tone pad) to provide all the capabilities he normally uses on a public phone. Disabling the tone-pad at any time during a call substantially reduces these capabilities. I guess they expect everyone to carry around a pocket tone generator in case a phone doesn't work right. Sincerely, Frank Prindle Prindle@NADC.arpa
e118-ak@euler.berkeley.edu (e118 student) (03/18/89)
I've run into the same problem with pay phones operated by AT&T (their blue phones that don't take coins or cards). It infuriates me. I can see no legitimate purpose in disabling the keypad. One "800" number I frequently use is to my bank's computer, to see if a check or deposit has cleared. The experience with the AT&T phones has been mostly in Calif., but they seem to have changed their mind, at least in some areas. Personally, if I can possibly help it, I use no pay phone other than a genuine Pacific Bell. --Linc Madison = e118-ak@euler.berkeley.edu I have no connection to any company, except for the little brown phone rumored to be hiding under the pile of stuff on my floor.
jimmy@seas.ucla.edu (Jim Gottlieb) (03/22/89)
In article <telecom-v09i0094m06@vector.UUCP>, prindle@NADC.ARPA (Frank Prindle) writes: > Naturally, you-guessed-it, the 800 call > went through, then the keypad went dead. The call could not be placed. My business partner has just reported that this behavior is standard practice on AT&T-operated COCOTS. When he called to complain, they explained that this was to prevent him from using other carriers. Well, isn't that nice. And so thanks to AT&T, he was unable to check his voice mail or make any other calls that require the caller to enter tones. -- Jim Gottlieb E-Mail: <jimmy@denwa.uucp> or <jimmy@pic.ucla.edu> or <attmail!denwa!jimmy> V-Mail: (213) 551-7702 Fax: 478-3060 The-Real-Me: 824-5454 [Moderator's Note: AT&T's voice-mail version of AT&T Mail has noted this problem in the instruction manual, and advises placing calls through the operator -- even though its an 800 number -- when calling their service. PT]