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Conference turris::womannotes-v2

Title:ARCHIVE-- Topics of Interest to Women, Volume 2 --ARCHIVE
Notice:V2 is closed. TURRIS::WOMANNOTES-V5 is open.
Moderator:REGENT::BROOMHEAD
Created:Thu Jan 30 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 30 1995
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1105
Total number of notes:36379

832.0. "Phone moans" by ULTRA::WRAY (John Wray, Secure Systems Development) Tue Oct 17 1989 23:30

    I'm not sure why I'm entering this in WomanNotes - Maybe it should be
    in the primordial scream note (or was that a different conference?) -
    but anyway.....
    
    Why does MCI keep cancelling my calling card?????
    
    I first started using MCI because they gave me frequent-flyer miles. 
    Those of you who know me will know why this is important to me (for the
    rest of you, my SO lives in the UK).  Anyway, since last February, MCI
    have de-activated my calling card 4 times.  It appears they have two
    separate databases of subscribers, one on which calls are connected or
    rejected, and another one which the MCI operators have access to.
    
    On all but one of the times when my card has been disabled, the
    operators' database has shown it as valid.  I have been given all sorts
    of excuses for this ("Well, maybe someone made an international call on
    your card....",  "There are some card numbers that the operators'
    database doesn't like",  "It's working, honest" (the fact that I can't
    get through on it is apparently irrelevant to the operators - that my
    card showed up as "VALID" in their database was all they were concerned
    about),  "Well, I only work here part-time").
    
    The last straw came last week, when I was stranded at Baltimore-
    Washigton International airport, and had to make a call to a contractor
    to get a ride to my hotel, and MCI wouldn't let me use my card.  Sure
    it showed up as valid in the operators' database - the fact that the
    system refused to let me make a call was immaterial to the MCI operator
    I eventually managed to talk to:  "Sure I can connect you - if someone
    at your home phone number OKs it! (my being at Baltimore rather than at
    home in Mass. didn't seem reason enough why I would find it difficult
    to OK a call - The operator wouldn't accept my answering machine's
    British accent as proof that I'd accept the call charges).
    
    So, what do I have to do to stop MCI cancelling my card?  This evening
    I finally applied for an AT&T calling card (I almost told them I'd take
    one if they'd cancel their Unix program), but it does seem as though
    it's a straight choice:  Either take the cheap alternative with no
    support, or take AT&T in spite of their prices, and expect decent
    service.
    
    Which is suprisingly similar to the message AT&T's trying to get
    across in their most recent ad campaign.  Maybe they have a point.....
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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832.1MCI Problems InternalATPS::GREENHALGEMouseWed Oct 18 1989 10:0132
    
    John,
    
    Are you speaking with an MCI operator at the time of the call or with 
    an operator at MCI Customer Service (1-800-444-4444)?  I've always had
    good luck with their Customer Service people.   At the same time, I do 
    know that MCI has been having problems internally.
    
    About 2 months ago I received a call from MCI Security in Washington,
    DC to verify that I had used my calling card within the 30 minutes
    prior.  I hadn't and was then notified that someone had just placed
    approx. 20-25 calls to NY on my calling card number.  Since I have
    given no one my calling card number, I was a bit surprised to say the
    least.
    
    After the initial call from MCI, I've had opportunity to speak with MCI
    Security & Investigations in the NY office several times.  Apparently
    there is an MCI employee who has accessed other customers' cards as
    well.  In my last conversation with them it seemed as though they were
    sure who had made the calls and corrective action was being taken.
    
    Despite having $36 in calling charges on my bill that I didn't incur, I
    wouldn't trade MCI for AT&T for a moment.  The fact that I received a
    call within 30 minutes from their Security office in DC notifying me of 
    someone utilizing my card number said a lot to me.  AT&T doesn't
    provide that kind of service nor would having the $36 been so easily
    dismissed from my bill with AT&T.
    
    Try MCI Customer Service again.  If you don't get anywhere after that
    then maybe AT&T is the best way for you to go.
    
    
832.2SSDEVO::GALLUPwherever you go, you're thereWed Oct 18 1989 12:5320

	 Every six months Sprint sends me to a collection agency for
	 the $200+ they say I owe them.  Seems when I cancelled my
	 Sprint Card, someone else got the same number and made some
	 calls that they never paid for....(this was 6 months after I
	 cancelled my card)

	 Every six months we go thru this cycle of being sent to a
	 credit agency, clearing up the matter, then it starts all
	 over again.....last time I sent a steaming letter to the
	 President of Sprint....

	 perhaps it's finally cleared up.

	 BTW...I've never had a problem getting phone calls cancelled
	 off my AT&T card.

	 kath    

832.3Use the one that worksASABET::K_HAMILTONKaren Hamilton - Activist!Thu Oct 19 1989 10:514
    AT&T works every time, and it can be used from anywhere to anywhere.  I
    accepted a collect call from a friend last Sat. because she couldn't
    call me from NH using her MCI card.
    
832.4QUARK::LIONELFree advice is worth every centThu Oct 19 1989 10:5913
    Re: .3
    
    In most places, you can get the operator of the major long distance
    carrier of your choice by dialing an access code.  AT&T's is 10288
    (10ATT), I think MCI is 10222 and Sprint is 10333.  However, Sprint's
    card (which I have and haven't had problems with) uses an 800 number
    for access, which you can get to anywhere, even for local calls.
    
    Calls from foreign countries to the US is another matter.  I was
    surprised to see in a recent article in Travel and Leisure that
    AT&T's rates appeared to be LOWER than MCIs!
    
    				Steve
832.5MISERY::CORDES_JASet Apartment/Cat_Max=3Sun Nov 05 1989 20:2410
    Re:  832.1
    
    AT&T does provide that kind of service.  I am the credit card 
    administrator for WRO and we use AT&T cards.  I get calls from
    AT&T that card #........ has had x amount of attempts on it.
    The usually ask me to verify it with the cardholder and then we
    decided whether to reissue the card with another number or whatever
    needs to be done.
    
    Jan
832.6calling card scam in the Bay AreaLEZAH::BOBBITTinvictus maneoThu Dec 21 1989 11:4846
    This came to me off the net....
    
    -Jody
    
Subject: a scam. 
 
 
    
- ------- Forwarded Message
    
Just thought I'd alert everyone to this scam, which, I have learned,
is making an appearance in the Bay Area these days. (California)
 
I was awakened at 3 AM this morning by a phone call from an authoritative- 
sounding man from A T & T.  He said he was investigating possible
fraudulent use of my calling card.  He said someone was using my card to
make overseas calls, asked me if I knew so-and-so (the person's alleged
name), and eventually asked me to read my calling card number back to him.
 
I must admit that despite my alleged NY street smarts, I actually put on my
eyeglasses and got up from bed to go find my calling card.  However, luckily,
the physical movement jarred my brain and I realized the story didn't quite
make it--and I "couldn't find the card." 
 
This morning I called A T & T.  I was the 7th person from San Francisco 
to report this to the representative I spoke to. 
 
The caller is such a good impersonator that everyone else who'd reported it had
given him the number.  He calls at night, when your wits aren't sharp.
And he pulls you in by saying the person's trying to make calls right
now--you get sucked in by feeling he's trying to protect you and you want to
cooperate.
 
Of course, any real phone company would have your calling card number and not
need to ask you for it!  But if you're not a suspicious, paranoid ex-New Yorker
or take awhile to wake up, it could be easy to get stung.
 
 
Nina
 
- ------- End of Forwarded Message
 
 
------- End of Forwarded Message
 
 
832.7SUBSYS::NEUMYERThu Dec 21 1989 14:569
    
    
    The rule is "NEVER GIVE OUT PERSONAL INFORMATION ON THE PHONE"
    
    	If its a legitimate request for information you can always return
    a call or go the the office. This goes for more that credit card
    numbers.....
    
    ed