Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!wuarchive!decwrl!hayes.ims.alaska.edu!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request
From: johnp@hpgrla.gr.hp.com (John Parsons)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: The Cost of Numbers
Message-ID: <13769@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 15 Oct 90 20:10:17 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 743, Message 10 of 11


> A friend in Colorado who just changed his phone number reported to me
> the following curious policy in effect there (presumably, this also
> applies when new service is established):

    [ details of gouging deleted... ]

I just ordered new service north of Denver last week.  A month or so
ago, I called US West's biz office for info, and they told a similar
tale regarding number selection: 1st list of three available numbers
is free, successive three-number lists at $10/list, or request a
specific number and be charged ~$70 if it's available.  No mention of
perpetual monthly charges.

So last week when I actually placed the order, the rep said, "Your new
number will be 772-xxxx."  "What if I don't like that number?" I
asked, playing dumb -- not too difficult for some of us :) -- "Just a
moment," then a list of three other numbers, all 772-xxxx.  "Gee, I
was hoping to get one in the 678 exchange so it would be similar to my
existing number."  (I don't want wrong numbers from callers with cheap
bouncey keypads, either).  "One moment...", then a list of three 678-
numbers.  I picked one.  No mention of extra fees.  I wish I'd
remembered to ask the rep's name.

> This clinched it for me; I'm definitely not moving back to Colorado
> now....

Tom, even if phone service was $100/mo more costly here in CO than in
CA, I wouldn't move back.  I'm saving much more in mortgage costs,
auto insurance, etc., AND I prefer skies that are blue ;-)


Cheerio,

John Parsons