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Google Voice problem.

showcase 66

New Member
I set up a google voice number about 1-1/2 -2 weeks ago and have come into a problem. Locally, we have 3 companies who offer business and home land lines. I have tested all three companies phone systems to call this number and the cable company's system will not call the number. It says "we're sorry, they number you are trying to reach is not a valid number"

I stopped into the cable company this morning to pay a bill and asked what the deal was and they told me it was an issue on my side with google. I can not figure out how to contact google to find out about this.

Anyone else using google voice have this problem?
 

Locals Find!

New Member
I set up a google voice number about 1-1/2 -2 weeks ago and have come into a problem. Locally, we have 3 companies who offer business and home land lines. I have tested all three companies phone systems to call this number and the cable company's system will not call the number. It says "we're sorry, they number you are trying to reach is not a valid number"

I stopped into the cable company this morning to pay a bill and asked what the deal was and they told me it was an issue on my side with google. I can not figure out how to contact google to find out about this.

Anyone else using google voice have this problem?

Your cable company is blocking the number. Pure and simple. I would venture to guess they have a competing phone service and are discouraging your use of google voice.
 

signswi

New Member
Yep, many ISPs now are blocking VoIP. Should be illegal (monopolistic for one thing) but it's not and won't be until we can get legislation stating that ISPs must function as dumb pipes. Which at this rate, will never happen.

Get used to it, more and more packet shaping and service blocking is on the way.

You could set up a VPN to another connection and go through that, or use software like Zfone or Twinkle to encrypt the connection which often allows you to get around packet shaping and service denial.

May also be worth taking a spin through the Google Voice Forum to look for solutions.

Or, it could just be a straight number blacklist as Addy suggests, the cable ISP may just have blacklisted all of the blocks of numbers Google has for Google Voice. That would be really outrageous though.
 

Locals Find!

New Member
Yep, many ISPs now are blocking VoIP. Should be illegal (monopolistic for one thing) but it's not and won't be until we can get legislation stating that ISPs must function as dumb pipes. Which at this rate, will never happen.

Get used to it, more and more packet shaping and service blocking is on the way.

You could set up a VPN to another connection and go through that, or use software like Zfone or Twinkle to encrypt the connection which often allows you to get around packet shaping and service denial.

May also be worth taking a spin through the Google Voice Forum to look for solutions.

Actually google voice is not VOIP its actually more of WATS line service. Old school tech with a modern twist. So the cable company is not legally allowed to block it.

I would report your cable company to the FCC and watch how fast that mysterious blocking goes away and the cable company claims it was a software issue they were unaware of.
 

showcase 66

New Member
Thanks for the info. I have had about 10 people call in and complain to the cable company about not being able to get a hold of me. 3 of them can call me with that number but the rest can not. The first 3 that called in, they were told that the number was a known blocked number but they would release it for them if it was someone they knew.

Stupid. I am going to check into it with the FCC to see if that might work.
 

showcase 66

New Member
I can call any number just fine. My parents have the cable phone line and we have tried to call my gv number as well as my brothers from down in Phoenix. It wont call to either number. I even tried to call adtechia's number and it still wouldnt go through.

Getting a little irritated by this.
 

Locals Find!

New Member
Suddenlink

PM me the name and number of your cable company and I will file a complaint too. They have no right to be blocking my number. I am sure impeding business across state lines has got to be against some federal law.

Send me the info please so I can pass that on to my attorneys to look into.
 
Last edited:

300mphGraphics

New Member
Have you tried dialing with the 1-area code-number? We've discovered a lot of people using google voice or out of the immediate area cell phone providers have this challenge. People think here in Northern AZ that they have a 928 area code you don't have to do the 1-area code thing, but some systems require it. We've saved several companies from printing useless materials and signage because they weren't aware of the situation.
 

showcase 66

New Member
PM me the name and number of your cable company and I will file a complaint too. They have no right to be blocking my number. I am sure impeding business across state lines has got to be against some federal law.

Send me the info please so I can pass that on to my attorneys to look into.
Will PM you in a minute

Have you tried dialing with the 1-area code-number? We've discovered a lot of people using google voice or out of the immediate area cell phone providers have this challenge. People think here in Northern AZ that they have a 928 area code you don't have to do the 1-area code thing, but some systems require it. We've saved several companies from printing useless materials and signage because they weren't aware of the situation.

Tried everything. with just 928 to 1+928 even without the area code. Still not working.
 

showcase 66

New Member
So I get a call from a guy from Sudden link about an hour ago wanting to know my problem with the phone number. I explain everything and have him listen to the message on my speaker phone when I would get the error. He said now that he has tracked it, he should be able to find out why it wasnt working. 30 minutes later he calls me back and says he believes they have found the problem and have corrected it.

Just picked up my mail from the PO Box and had a letter from Sudden Link. Dated March 9th 2012.
"We are in receipt of the Informal Complaint ("Complaint") you filed with the Federal Communications Commission. We will respond to the Complaint within the next 30 days.

Please Feel Free to contact me if you have any questions.

Very truly yours,

Michael J. Zarrilli
Vice President Government Relations
& Senior Counsel. "

Coincidence it was corrected on Monday after they sent out a letter.

Me think not.

But it is now working. I called 3 clients and they called me back and its working. for now.

Hope it stays this way.
 

Bill43mx

New Member
Since it got results can you let us know the procedure you followed to file the complaint? We've had similar issues with Verizon and a Magic Jack number.
 
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