Can't call Purolator or UPS

[TSellers]

Tried to call them just now and call will not go through: 1-888-744-7123

Had to use my calling card to phone them.
(Edit): In fact my calling card did not work, says "number is restricted".

But if I use my cell phone it then works.

Ditto for the UPS number 1-800-742-5877

[FONGO_steve]

Do you have caller-ID block enabled by any chance?
Don't need the 1 when dialing either

I could reach them from both KW and Toronto freephoneline accounts I have. If you wanted to PM me your number I could always try your account too

[TSellers]

I've never wanted to block my number so it shouldn't be.

I have a feeling it has something to do with the 'restricted' part I get when I use my calling card.

THe calling card is a Primus line I believe.

Anyway I'll PM you my number and we can test, not a big deal, I used my cell phone to schedule a pickup, but at $.20 a minute it would be nice not to hvae to do it that way too often.

[TSellers]

Interesting.

In light of the service interupptions today, I just tried that number again at 7:30 PM MDT.

This time I get, "The number is not available in your area".

[Pirate]

As far as I know, FPL is only intended for PERSONAL use. If you call any "business" related numbers, it might be blocked.

[FONGO_kris]

Not block, but monitor useage.

You're right Pirate, we try to make it clear but alas we cannot force people to look at the banners

Screenshot-1.png

[Pirate]

Actually, just curious, what happens if a person works from home? Will that classify as home or business? What if they use their "home" phone, to call other businesses that also work from "home"? So basically, they are calling from a "home" phone, to another "home" phone. Wow, this is getting complicated. Maybe FPL should just keep one eye closed and be a bit more lenient.... hehehe

[FONGO_steve]

Actually, just curious, what happens if a person works from home? Will that classify as home or business? What if they use their "home" phone, to call other businesses that also work from "home"? So basically, they are calling from a "home" phone, to another "home" phone. Wow, this is getting complicated. Maybe FPL should just keep one eye closed and be a bit more lenient.... hehehe

If they're a registered business, but based out of a home, then it is still a business. These people will pay a business class phone bill with Bell Canada and require business-class DSL service with any DSL provider too.

If "Bob" works for another company, but often works from his home office, then he is not classed as a business.

[zombie999]

Not block, but monitor useage.

You're right Pirate, we try to make it clear but alas we cannot force people to look at the banners

Screenshot-1.png

Don't you guys (as CLEC) get paid for calls to toll free numbers? So more calls, more cash for you?

[TSellers]

As far as I know, FPL is only intended for PERSONAL use. If you call any "business" related numbers, it might be blocked.

That's an absurd concept, E.G.:

I was in that instance trying to call Purolator and UPS to pick up at my residence and return a faulty router that ironically I bought in the first place to solve ongoing FPL problems. There are many reasons why someone would call UPS for personal reasons, why would that be blocked?

Also means you could not call and order a Pizza, call Costco and check if they have stock on something, Call Home Depot or other retail outlets, call your insurance company, etc., etc., all because they are business numbers? C'mon now!

[FONGO_steve]

As far as I know, FPL is only intended for PERSONAL use. If you call any "business" related numbers, it might be blocked.

That's an absurd concept, E.G.:

I was in that instance trying to call Purolator and UPS to pick up at my residence and return a faulty router that ironically I bought in the first place to solve ongoing FPL problems. There are many reasons why someone would call UPS for personal reasons, why would that be blocked?

Also means you could not call and order a Pizza, call Costco and check if they have stock on something, Call Home Depot or other retail outlets, call your insurance company, etc., etc., all because they are business numbers? C'mon now!

We don't block any outbound calls in our calling area

I somehow missed your PM of those two 800 numbers back from when I asked. My inbox was swamped that day with a conversation with another user and I just noticed your msg now with your other one.
-- were you still having the issue? If so I'll test this today quick for you

[TSellers]

Thanks Steve,

I just tried them both. The UPS number worked. I tried 888-744-7123 and it said that number was not available in my area.

[zombie999]

Both UPS and Purolator numbers work from my FPL line and from my US lines.

However when called from a line with an invalid caller ID (10000000000), UPS number works but Purolator (1-888-744-7123) does NOT. So it's likely that your FPL is sending an invalid caller ID or more likely an invalid ANI.

[TSellers]

Thanks for that. Could that be something overlooked in the settings in my ATA?

[zombie999]

ANI is controlled by the switch so you can't change that. There is a setting to block caller ID in the ATA but as FPL does not support it, it shouldn't make a difference.

Call this number and see if it read your number correctly:
1-800-437-7950

[TSellers]

Interesting:

I called it twice, one with the 1- and one without just for interest, both time I got a fast busy signal.

So then I call it using my FPL line but via my calling card. The calling card provider says, "the number you are calling is restricted".

So finally I try it using a cell phone on TElus and get the fast busy signal again.

[FONGO_kris]

zombie999, it is not that we do not support it. It is that we do not allow it at this time, because of some undesirable usage of the caller id block feature which in turn made us re-think giving the users the ability to freely use it without putting any restrictions on it. (ie. You dial 911 with CID block and they see either Private or our BTN! So we disabled it until we can reprogram 911 not only to dial Northern911 but disable any "number formatting" as well.)

[TSellers]

Just had another I cannot call:

Telus: 888-811-2500
(Number is not available in your area).

In the end I had to call them on my cell phone.

[Bloodsong]

Just dialed that one...

"Welcome to Telus, are you calling for your home or business?"

[TSellers]

Thanks Bloodsong,

So I just tried it again, and it tells me the number is not available in my area.

ANyone have any idea what could be causing this?

Obviously for some people they can get these numbers, while I cannot.

Is it my location?

[zombie999]

zombie999, it is not that we do not support it. It is that we do not allow it at this time, because of some undesirable usage of the caller id block feature which in turn made us re-think giving the users the ability to freely use it without putting any restrictions on it. (ie. You dial 911 with CID block and they see either Private or our BTN! So we disabled it until we can reprogram 911 not only to dial Northern911 but disable any "number formatting" as well.)

That's cool. I don't have a problem with that. My point was that even if OP wanted, he could not block his caller ID.

[zombie999]

ANyone have any idea what could be causing this?

Obviously for some people they can get these numbers, while I cannot.

Is it my location?

Telus: 888-811-2500 also works from my FPL and from US lines. So unless you are calling outside of USA & Canada, it should work.

Does your FPL number show up when calling some one else?

What IS your location?

[zombie999]

Try this number and see if it works:
1-800-444-4444

[TSellers]

Thanks zombie,

Tried that 800 number and also get the rapid busy tone after a bit of a silent wait.

I'm in Alberta, and my number does show on caller ID if I make a call.

Seems like we have a bit of a mystery on our hands, compounded by the fact I seem to be able to call some toll free numbers but not others.

Additionally I forgot to mention that the Telus number that I cannot dial now, I was able to dial about a month ago, at that same time I could not call that UPS number, but now I can.

[TSellers]

Just gave the above numbers another try.

Now I can connect to 800-437-7950 which is the MCI service that reads back your ANI, which it does correctly.

Still cannot connect to Purolator or Telus:

888-811-2500
888-744-7123

Steve or Kris, do you have any suggestions as to how best proceed to invesitgate this further?