atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information Bell System, R.I.P.

I tried to call a guy who fixes automobile generators and electrical components. He's holding a repaired alternator for my Dodge pick-up, and I want to check if he's open today.

Here are the results of my multiple attempts to call him:

Verizon calls = immediate reorder.

Vonage calls = rings 12 times, followed by recording advising that all circuits are busy, and to try my call later.

Optimum Voice calls = immediate "number disconnected" intercept recording.

On none of these calls were SIT's transmitted, as required by tariff.

<sigh>

You can add COX voice manager lines to the list of ones that are not dependable like the old copper Bell System.

And what happens...we techs get irate calls from our customers blaming our equipment.

My brother who is an alarm tech told me that AT&T cellular will not pass tones (no end to end dtmf) after a call is completed so no way to input digits to an auto attendant, or other non IVR system.

Follow-up:

I drove by the place today. All signs removed, windows boarded up, "For Rent" sign on a stick at the driveway.

I guess I'm never gonna see my alternator again.

But aleast you can't blame the Bell System

Arthur, try speaking to the Landlord, he might let you in to see if your alternator is still there or at least give you a forwarding address for your shade tree mechanic. Worth a shot if your a glib talker. Im often quite amazed at what I can talk my way into and out of.

If there are any junkyards nearby, you can likely get another one for what you were going to pay anyhow.

Thanks for the advice. The building is completely vacant. The cops don't know where the previous owner is, and they have been collecting names and numbers of customers who want their stuff back. Their attitude is that the situation is a civil matter. I'm not about to hire a lawyer for $500 to write a letter to get a $100 alternator back.

Live and learn.

Derrick, from lots of personal experience I can assure you that AT&T wireless phones most certainly do pass DTMF on calls. You wouldn't even be able to reach 611 customer service and navigate their menus if this was true. I have an AT&T iPhone 4 myself, as well as a Sprint/Nextel iDEN i670 and both pass DTMF, so I'm not sure your brother told you that. Perhaps DTMF on calls was turned off? I know I can do that on my Nextel.

I think my post may have come off as rude and harsh, which isn't what I intended. I also left out a few words in my third sentence without realizing, which may have made it sound rude. I meant to put "so I'm not sure why your brother thought that."

My apologies.

I called the neighbor of the landlord, whose wife told the husband to look for the alternator in a box with my contact info. He looked, he found, he contacted, I got Mr. Alternator back. I'm so happy.

I love it when a plan comes together!