sundance-communications.com/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information Outbound Caller ID on PRI

We recently cut over a medium-sized hospital to a new system with three PRI's from their previous Centrex service. That was actually the easy part.

The problem we are having now is that Verizon is sending the BTN (billing telephone number) outgoing calls (XXX-XXX-2429) as their caller ID. This is a ficticious number that can't be dialed instead of than the main number for the hospital which is one of their DID's (XXX-XXX-2000).

Our switch has the ability to send any number we want as the CPDN (calling party directory number) and it's configured to do this, but Verizon has not opened up the ability for us to send this information in their switch programming. We have asked them for this at least five times and they claim that it has been done, but it hasn't.

Their switch is a 5ESS with 5E9 software. Usually when we have PRI's from CLECs, they have DMS offices and this ability is there from the get-go. Even CLECs using 5ESS switches allow us this capability. It's just PRI's that we get from Verizon where we have this problem.

What I need to know is does anyone know what Bell Atlantic calls this feature? Even though they are technically called Verizon, they still operate under the Bell Atlantic policies. This blocking has to be something to do with their default programming on a company basis, not due to the limitations of the 5ESS switch itself. I know it can be done, but I don't know what they call it so that their business office will understand what I am looking for.

At present, the phone number that's displayed for the hospital's outgoing calls is their "fake" BTN which is not even a working number. People see it on their caller ID and try to call it back, but they just get a recording.

Any ideas on what I should be asking for?

:shrug:

I'd PM the lady at Auditel in the Telephone service forum. She may some insight into the terms Verizon uses. WE just always tell the LEC and CLECs that the customer premise equipment will modify outbound caller ID and that's been good enough in the SBC/AT&T region.

I had the same problem with a POTS-to-PRI cutover I did for US Courts. Their carrier was TDS Metrocom. I do not recall exactly what the problem was or how they fixed it, but it did take them awhile before someone figured it out.

The feature that lets the PBX populate outbound Caller ID is "Calling Party Number Screening"
Mike

Some carriers require that the number you are trying to insert be setup as a BTN. Usually you can have more then one BTN in an account. Often billing rules are tied to this number, such as class of service on PRI’s. Alot depends on how the carrier has their switch setup.

EV what brand/type of PBX did you install in the medium size hospital that you are having caller id problems on ? Is the number displayed on the called party ID the BTN ?

One fast letter from an attorney pointing out the fact that number will not be answered in an emergency and holding them fully responsible as of the date/time of the receipt of the letter will get somebody at Verizon moving their ass very fast.

Have it sent certified mail/return receipt. They hate those.

Why should you jump through hoops for the idiots at Verizon?

What was wrong in the brain that chose Verizon for PRI circuits?

Good Grief Charlie Brown, you never use a LEC if you can avoid it.

Bunnie, it was the customer's choice to go with Verizon, certainly not ours. We tried dilligently to get them to go with a much less expensive plan with a CLEC but they wouldn't budge on their decision. They are starting to think about it now after all the trouble they have had with them.

OBTW: Yes, the BTN is what is being displayed to the called party. We have our switch configured to send the correct number (it's a Vodavi XTS600).

Ed, have you tried telling Verizon to simply switch the number to XXX-XXX-2429? At least it would get the CID to be an actual working number.

Then, if needed, you could try later to get them to CPDN working. BTW, Norstar refers to this as OLI. (Maybe someone speaks Nortel at Verizon.)

Good luck!
Larry

No, Larry I have not. The 2429 number is the BTN and isn't physically a working number. I would be happy to get them to change it to anything else, but it's falling upon deaf ears at this point. It looks like we are going to have to escalate this to the next level, which is ridiculous. It's such a simple request.