Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!netsys!vector!telecom-gateway From: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu (TELECOM Moderator) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Goodbye 415-976! It was nice knowing you! Message-ID: Date: 10 Jun 89 23:23:15 GMT Sender: news@vector.Dallas.TX.US Lines: 58 Approved: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 193, message 1 of 10 For a few days now at least, calls from Chicago to 415-976-anything have been getting intercepted at a switch in Chicago and rejected. I was unable to find a single routing which would work. 10288 (1 plus on my lines) immediatly cuts in after 1-415-976 without waiting for the final four digits -- "Your call cannot be completed as dialed. Please check the number and dial again, or ask the operator for assistance. Three One Two, One Tee" However the operator was also unable to complete the call, or explain why not. 10222 waited for the complete eleven digits, then said, "We're sorry. MCI does not complete calls to 976 at this time." (click) 10333 accepted all eleven digits, then intercepted saying, "Forty Four! Five Oh Three! Your call cannot be completed as entered. Please call Customer Service for assistance." (and it kept repeating) 10444 accepted all eleven digits, paused, then gave a spurt of dial tone from somewhere for a couple seconds, followed by two rings, and a report, (one voice saying) "Forty seven dash three" followed by a different voice saying "We're sorry, but your call cannot be completed. Please check the number and redial, or call Customer Service." 10888 accepted all eleven digits, then *Illinois Bell* responded, "The long distance company you have selected cannot complete your call at this time. Please try your call again later." Growing frustrated at my inability to call a service which I enjoy using sometimes, I tried a different tactic. The firm which employs me has a WATS extender which I am authorized to use when working from home. A local Chicago seven digit number connects me. Calling into the diverter and entering my password, I then dialed the three digits for the tie-line to our branch in New York. Getting their dial tone, I dialed their access code for WATS, and again tried to dial 415-976-my thing. This time, a *very funky* recording from somewhere -- I know not where -- cut in after the 415-976 part, without waiting for the final four digits, and told me, "again. The number you have dialed is not in service. Please check the number and dial" (pause) (repeat, beginning with 'again') Attempting to make the call from the nine-level trunks off the New York PBX got me a New York Telephone intercept similar to the one in Chicago. Although we have an office in Canoga Park, CA, I know for a fact that all 976 numbers are blocked at the PBX level there, just as we have all 1-900 and 976 numbers in area 312 blocked in our PBX here in Chicago. But I figured I would try it anyway. As expected, calling through the nine level local trunks out of Canoga Park blocked all 213-976 and 415-976 numbers. Forcing the call through 9-10288 + 1-415-976 out of Canoga Park got me through. Finally! As to be expected, the transmission was lousy, and I don't intend to bother dialing all those numbers in the future just to make the call. So I guess its goodbye 415-976 from outside the State of California! Patrick Townson