Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!casbah.acns.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: john@zygot.ati.com (John Higdon) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: COCOT Tip Message-ID: Date: 3 Mar 91 00:10:00 GMT Sender: news@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Mr. News) Reply-To: John Higdon Organization: Green Hills and Cows Lines: 26 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 172, Message 4 of 9 Originator: telecom@delta.eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Nntp-Posting-Host: hub.eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu Some time ago, I recounted the experience of trying to place a call to Pac*Bell from a COCOT. Pac*Bell's public numbers are of the 811-XXXX format and are free from Pac*Bell, GTE, and most independent telephones in California. I ended up talking to a "repair" person at the COCOT company who after browbeating by me placed the call. Today when picking up the mail, I discovered that Pac*Bell had neglected to send some things I had requested so I decided to call on the spot. The Meridian Ave. branch of the post office has two of the most vile COCOTs ever seen. They deny everything: cut off the pad on 800 numbers (so you cannot use Sprint), deny 950, deny 811-XXXX, and you cannot check your voice mail. There is no complaint number posted, but the card indicates that you can do all of the legally required things (you can't). Just for the helluvit, I pushed '0' for the Pac*Bell operator. This is usually a pointless exercise since the console indicates "COCOT" and there is nothing he/she can do for you. I said, "I would like to call 811-XXXX." She said, "Thank you", and the number immediately rang. How about that? John Higdon | P. O. Box 7648 | +1 408 723 1395 john@zygot.ati.com | San Jose, CA 95150 | M o o !