could not dial an emergeny # on vonage tonight.

Posts: 109 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Jun 21, 2005 Posts: 109

i tested today again an could not get thru dialing 1-800....i dropped the 1 and did get thru but it was to the new jersey office. i guess they would be as good as the texas office i am supposed to get.

Posts: 2257 · Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 11:43 am Post subject:

a-dhold wrote:

i tested today again an could not get thru dialing 1-800....i dropped the 1 and did get thru but it was to the new jersey office. i guess they would be as good as the texas office i am supposed to get.

Ah. That would explain it, then. I've been using cell for so long I never dial the "1" any more. Causes me all sorts of issues on the rare occasion I have to use a land line. Wink

I suspect the outbound 800# calls are all going out of the New Jersey point of presence, which would make a lot of sense given that Vonage would have the largest number of phone lines there (at their corporate offices), and most 800 #'s are good across the country.

For things like Poison Control and "localized" 800#'s, WATTS 800 #'s that are only good in a single state, and specialized in-state system like the "500" number system set up here in Maine, it would be REALLY nice to have them routed through a local Point of Presence, though, since they won't work anywhere else.

Posts: 25 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Jul 19, 2005 Posts: 25

Natehoy, problem is, 800-222-1222 is a number that is set to route to your state's Poison Control Center. If Vonage is routing to NJ, then there is a problem with the WATTS setup with the CLEC that owns the number.

As I had stated, also calling your local Emergency room is an alternative if you cannot get through to the Poison Control# or 911. Voip still has some growning pains and as they are found, they should be corrected quickly, instead of being put on the back burner.

Posts: 2257 · Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 1:33 pm Post subject:

brownizs wrote:

Natehoy, problem is, 800-222-1222 is a number that is set to route to your state's Poison Control Center. If Vonage is routing to NJ, then there is a problem with the WATTS setup with the CLEC that owns the number.

Yes, I agree, hence my post above: "For things like Poison Control and "localized" 800#'s, WATTS 800 #'s that are only good in a single state, and specialized in-state system like the "500" number system set up here in Maine, it would be REALLY nice to have them routed through a local Point of Presence, though, since they won't work anywhere else."

In this case, Vonage is apparently routing 800#'s through New Jersey, so the CLEC for the numbers is in New Jersey, therefore you get the New Jersey Poison Control Center. If, as I suggested above, Vonage were to route them through a LOCAL Point of Presence, then the number would be coming from your local POP and would therefore be routed to your state Center.

Quote:

As I had stated, also calling your local Emergency room is an alternative if you cannot get through to the Poison Control# or 911. Voip still has some growning pains and as they are found, they should be corrected quickly, instead of being put on the back burner.

I'm not suggesting anyone let Vonage put anything on the back burner. I'm suggesting alternatives for Vonage customers to have on hand. Pushing Vonage to get the problems fixed is something that needs to be done, I'm not arguing that.

But I'm also not going to rely on Vonage to fix it immediate for my three-year-old daughter's safety. I have all of my local emergency (with non-emergency backup) numbers written down. I also did this when I was on a Cell phone, and way back in the distant past when I had a landline, I did the same thing (because "911" itself was new technology with growing pains back then.)

My first suggestion was "call customer service.", followed by other suggestions on how to make YOURSELF safe while you waited for Vonage to help.

Posts: 57 · Full Forum Member Joined: Dec 16, 2005 Posts: 57

I still make it through to the Oklahoma Poison Control Center. I wonder why that is. I guess Vonage might be routing my calls through a local POP? I'm not very up on all this phone technology, bu t that's just what I'm guessing.

Posts: 168 · Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 5:54 pm Post subject:

I gave it a try. I got the New Jersey Poison Center and a live person. Eek

The only other time I had a problem with an 800 number was when I had to call Delphi because my My-Fi had died and it was still under warranty. I got through just fine but when I picked the number to the department I wanted it recycled me to the starting menu. After trying several times I tried my wireless phone and got through with no problem.

Posts: 30 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 30

So basically once I get my Vonage phone and every 2 weeks afterward..I should call every poison control, 911, emergency number I can find to make sure it is working so that if one of my 5 children happened to come into a life threatening situation I can be assured my call will go through??

I don't plan to use this as my primary number..anyone who does needs to rethink their decision and get in touch with their LAND-LINE phone company.

Most phone companys...if you talk to the customer-relations (not customer service)...will offer you a free LOW-USE number that has unlimited incoming and pay by the minute out going service...I would certainly pay 30cents a minute to call 911. But I was personally told they would give me a free land-line with my broadband service if I chose to go with vonage...Standard customer service offered nothing like this.

Posts: 168 · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 9:50 am Post subject:

I really don't see what the concern is. First 911 is totally different then the 800 number problem. Second if it's poison control do you really think that a person in New Jersey is going to have less info then the person in your area?

There is no need to worry about 911, it works, it's just a good idea to call 933 to check to see if your upgraded to E911 every couple of weeks.

Posts: 30 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 30

Well...after reviewing the number they assigned me and actually trying to dial it...I can't even use the service...its long distance from my area.

So I am trying to cancel but nobody is home at Vonage today..would have been nice to stop the shipment of my product.

Posts: 57 · Full Forum Member Joined: Dec 16, 2005 Posts: 57

you can request a number change... and you can probably get a rep that will do it free. if not it's just 10 dollars. just be more careful next time.