Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ucf-cs.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!decvax!mcnc!duke!ucf-cs!giles From: giles@ucf-cs.UUCP (Bruce Giles) Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Bell [non]Operating Companies Message-ID: <1326@ucf-cs.UUCP> Date: Sun, 17-Jun-84 02:07:00 EDT Article-I.D.: ucf-cs.1326 Posted: Sun Jun 17 02:07:00 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 21-Jun-84 02:26:16 EDT Organization: University of Central Florida Lines: 42 Am I alone, or is local telephone service in this country rapidly approaching the quality of its postal service? Not once, not twice, but at least three times in the last two weeks I have dialed a local number, had the phone ring once or twice then ***BEEP*** THE NUMBER YOU DIALED MUST BE PREFIXED WITH A `ONE'. PLEASE HANG UP AND REDIAL THE NUMBER. ***BEEP*** All subsequent attempts reached the same message immediately, and of course, when I try dialing the local number with with a preceeding `1', I get ***BEEP*** THE NUMBER YOU DIALED MUST NOT HAVE A `ONE' BEFORE IT. PLEASE HANG UP AND REDIAL THE NUMBER. ***BEEP*** Finally, out of exasperation, I called the operator and told her I was getting the above messages (sidenote: first time I received a `yeah, sure, I know you're really a lazy bum...' response; last time it was a `oh, that #*!$ machine is acting up again!!!'). They always split after the first ring, not waiting in case the message sneaks up on me (like the first time), but fortunately I have gotten through. On top of this, I have also had uncountable misdirected calls (for example, I call 234-5678 and reach 234-5679) and other minor annoyances that rapidly add up to a major headache. Over all, I would say BellSouth is still above USNail, but rapidly closing. It can best be said as: I WANT MY MAMA [BELL]!!!! bruce giles {decvax, duke}!ucf-cs!giles