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From: DREUBEN@eagle.wesleyan.edu) (DOUGLAS SCOTT REUBEN)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Portland, CT Non-ATT 800 Calls
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Date: 7 Oct 90 06:05:40 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 715, Message 5 of 8


I recently tried calling that 800-666-6258 number from a payphone in
Portland, CT. (203-342 exchange). The exchange 'sounds' like an older
X-bar, (1Xbar?)  but it may even be a really awful sounding 5Xbar. I
dunno...

Anyhow, it seems that you CAN'T dial a non-AT&T 800 number from
Portland, at least from payphones.

After I dialed 800-666-6258, I got a recording saying my call can't be
completed. So I called the SNET operator, who tried it, and it didn't
work either. She told me to call "00", so I got the AT&T Op., he said
"Hmmm..we can't seem to complete this call ... I wonder ..." I then
cut in an said "I think it's an MCI 800 number, is that a problem for
you?", and the AT&T op said "Hmmm ... could be ... we have lots of
trouble with some of the other 800 numbers."

I tried calling MCI at 800-444-4444 (I think that was the number
listed in the book...) but of course, that didn't work either...

Just out of curiousity, I tried a Sprint 800 call (800-877, right?),
and guess what? -- that didn't work either!

Maybe all the other LD co's should get at least one AT&T 800 so that
callers from such older exchanges can reach them! :-)

Again, this was from a coin phone, so maybe this isn't a major problem
if residence phones can dial MCI/Sprint/whatever 800 numbers
properly.


Doug

dreuben@eagle.wesleyan.edu
dreuben@wesleyan.bitnet