OK, so I have FIOS at home, the package with telephone, internet, and TV. Starting on Monday evening at 6:45ish I got a one ring call...picked it up and no one was there. The same thing happened at 8:30ish PM. I thought it was odd, but whatever. So it happens again at 1:30, 1:45, 5:30, 5:50...always the same thing, one ring and then nothing.

On Tuesday it happens again in the evening so I *69 it. The lady on the other end says she is not doing anything...I *69 again when it happens a second time, same lady, same story. So I turned the ringers off my phones that night.

Wednesday and it is the same pattern. The lady calls Verizon and they call me and confirm that she is not calling me...but they do not know what is happening. Verizon is "looking into it" and will call me with details, supposedly. It continues to happen 2 more times before 10pm, and then I turned the ringers off.

For all I know this could be happening all day but since I am not home I have no idea.

Anyone have any clues?

Details:
1. I have one FIOS line
2. Power is not going out or fluctuating
3. No caller ID as it only rings once, but *69 always goes back to the same lady.
4.Verizon says she is not calling me.


Thanks!

Steve

This probably should be in the Complaint Department rather than asking us to figure it out. I have no idea what's happening and Verizon should be taking care of it.

-Hal

Verizon...

On a PRI and some other systems you can set what you want to send as your caller id. To me it seems likely that a company somewhere has a dialer programmed incorrectly with this woman's phone number as the caller id being sent out on the Q.931 which is why it's coming up for you with *69. Similarly, some VoIP providers allow users to change their CPN which has the same effect. There are a few companies out there who have dialers that like to ring once and then disconnect either intentionally or no. I had one number that would pretty consistently come up.

Your chances of having Verizon figure out what's happening if it's a network problem on their end (which I actually believe to be unlikely) is slim to none. Contacting the harassment department is your best first step, but if you get tired of getting nowhere with the telco you may want to complain to them enough to give you selective call rejection for free due your complaint, and then put that number on the list.

Honestly it's a lot easier than trying to stop it any other way....Verizon will eventually come back and either say they don't know what is going on (with the hopes you'll just go away) or say that they can't stop people from calling you on a public network.

I wonder if FiOS supports Call Trace. Just for kicks, try this:

After receiving the harassment call, immediately hang up. Next, dial *57 (you must do this before any other call comes in). Hopefully, you will hear a recording with instructions for completing the call trace.

Even though this may wind up being a technical issue and not the work of a prankster, Call Trace might aid their troubleshooting.

Also, have you considered contacting the Verizon Nuisance Call Bureau at 800-257-2969? They are the primary contact for these kind of complaints (harassing, nuisance, threatening, obscene, misdirected faxes or computer calls).

So, whatever was wrong seems to have been worked out. I never received a call from Verizon, but it has not happened again for a few days. I am just happy it stopped!


That was my first thought too....and is still what I am leaning towards what happened.

Unfortunately call trace through * codes does not work on FIOS (at least that is what they told me, and when I tried anyway it did not work). That was a good idea though! Thanks for the help! :toast:

Steve

Steve, you're going to regret saying that it has stopped. But, I'll bet you realized that as soon as you posted the fact! John C.

Unfortunately call trace through * codes does not work on FIOS (at least that is what they told me, and when I tried anyway it did not work).

Interesting. I wonder what else FiOS doesn't support in comparison to regular service. It would be nice to know when advising customers.

-Hal

Yeah, I am still holding my breath for that 2:00am phone call again!

I will update if I hear anything.....or if it happens again!

Steve

Why wouldn't a standard feature such as call trace not work with FiOS? Regardless of the transport medium it'd still be going back to the same switch in the end and that's where your feature sets are if I'm not mistaken.

That's very interesting to me. It's not stated that the feature doesn't work with FiOS either:

https://www22.verizon.com/ForYourHome/CustomerSupport/Guides/UG_VAS_West.pdf

I also always ASSumed that FiOS was just a transmission medium that went back to the same switch in the CO as copper and naturally maintained the same features. Then again I have yet to see Centrex over FiOS.

-Hal

Hal, let's remember that Verizon is building the FIOS network as a entirely separate and unregulated system that is completely independent of their LEC networks. Number portability is allowing existing customers to keep their local numbers. They are using soft switches that are completely independent of the regulated industry part of doing business.

If Verizon has their way, which I'm sure that they will, they will build the FIOS network big enough to where they can start jacking people around on rates like cable companies can. They will be able to do this since FIOS has nothing to do with LEC responsibilities or regulations.

Verizon will grow FIOS, sell it off to a holding company or even a completely independent investor. Their LEC operations will become nothing but a transport medium for CLEC business. They will just sit back and watch the dollars fly at the expense of the poor folks who saw their introductory FIOS package rates as being irresistible.

Now these people have forever removed their account from the regulated LEC network. They can't go back. They are now puppets on the string of an unregulated service provider. Like Vonage, they can charge absolutely, positively anything that they want for FIOS services and there's nothing that their customers can do about it.

U-Verse from "the new at&t" is just as bad. Don't be surprised to see U-Verse and FIOS sharing the same bed within five years. There is NO money left in the regulated part of the telephone industry. These companies are selling their customers off as quickly as they can to reduce their visible profits as an LEC. It's all a game at the gullible customers' expense.

If any customer insists upon using FIOS, U-Verse or their local LEC's equivalent, all I can say is that you should urge them to keep at least one line at the premises on copper. That way, they have not completely (and contractually) removed themselves from the regulated network. With working copper still connected to the premises, there's a chance that a customer can go back to POTS. You also need to insist that when customers order their phone service that they insist upon copper and not FIOS facilities. If they make no preference, they will be stuck with FIOS by default.

Once the number of copper customers reaches a certain threshold, Verizon will deem these markets to be unprofitable and pull out of the territory like they did in New England last year.

Indeed what you wrote is true, Ed. However, the customers still have a play in their pocket: Cell phones. If the LEC (Verizon in this case) jacks prices up too much then customers can viably leave them and have no home phone at all. I could also leave their TV and internet if I wanted to as I am on a month to month payment rather than a year contract. Also with the competition of "digital phone" and internet packages from the cable companies Verizon should hopefully be kept in check....

Steve

Ahh, but that is where they get you...it does not say that it DOES work with FIOS

Steve

Interesting. I did not know that they were operating FiOS in that manner.

And Tampasteve, touche.

Here's another example of how they are not only corralling their customers into a separate entity, but once they have them in the pen, they call all of the shots with regard to what the customers can get over their unregulated facilities. Not only do they rope a customer into being their customer for life, but equal access rights go right out the window since they no longer have to follow regulated utility guidelines as mandated by the FCC. Remember, they are now effectively a "communications" service provider, not a regulated telco.

FIOS, UVerse and FTTN, (among others) customers will no longer have the right to choose the service provider of their choice. Something to think about!

Take a LOOK .

It's worth noting whether or not you have FiOS Digital Voice, or standard POTS calling. I'd hope the VSC for trace works with FiOS POTS.

One terminates in the cloud, one terminates on a real ESS.

I've had similar DMS issues. However the normal fix wont apply to your situation.

Are you receiving other calls normally? or do they ring trip aswell?

Guys, this thread was started three years ago!

I'd hope that the calls have stopped by now!!

Andy is new to the board and is prolly still finding his way around--tenex too has just 13 posts.

I've never been offended by old topics being opened back up as some still apply.

And for the topics that no longer apply...well, they're part of the "proving ground"--if you will--for the new guys.

I give 'em a wide berth.