Snakes In The Net (was Allnet Tries to Hide....)
Michael Fumich
right information track in the "500" number situation. He informed me
of the following.
Bellcore is the agency that handles prefix assignments for the 500
NPA. 500-200 & 500-938 are actually ASSIGNED to WKP Communications/
Long Distance. 500-738 is assigned to International Teleservices Ltd.
of Los Angeles CA.
Brian Cartmell of WKP made the application for the prefixes for both
companies, so they may be related. My source indicated to me that
there are certain guidelines to be followed with use of the 500 NPA by
companies, among them, that they are not to be used by "Adult Services".
He said he was aware of Mr. ("an old hand in that business") Cartmell
and WKP. My source also stated they were aware of WKP's reputation but
that they were assured by WKP that everything would fall within the
guidelines. My source said he would forword those guidelines to me and
I will post them here when received.
He was very disturbed by my report. He stated if there was a FORMAL
COMPLAINT and/or WKP was in violation of the guidelines, or they
willfully misrepresented themselves in the application, THE PREFIXES
CAN BE REVOKED!!! ;+)
So, ALLNET/Frontier et al may NOT be directly aware after all of what
is going on. Many times the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is
doing, and my impression is this was so filtered that they truly did not
know. They know NOW however :+), as the numerous calls from various VP's
indicate. So "tentative" apologies to ALLNET.
Pat, you are absolutely right in your analogy of the adult bookstore
and the "red light" district. I am not concerned about the content of
what they do, in fact I am a STRONG free speech advocate. But it
really galls me that these people polluted the 800 "block", and now
the "500" block of our neighborhood. You indicated in one response
that you thought it would be a good public service of TELECOM Digest
to expose these people. I AGREE!! I am willing to act as a clearing
house for this information, post file's and "alert" lists to the
archives, and to post findings and reports to this Digest. Interested?
One further note, (if you would indulge me for a few more lines) the
LAMEST phone call I received over the past few days was a d00d (sorry)
from "Bank One", whom I have no business relationship with whatsoever.
He said please call 800-939-3306 ext xxxx "it's important". WHY do you
suppose this number gets a reorder from pay phones and only works from
"regular" lines? WHY do you suppose there is no attendant, or live
person available anywhere or at any extension? (I don't have any
collection agencies after me.) Maybe that person will see this and
leave a more detailed message on my Voice Mail. Pretty lame attempt to
get a direct voice number (ANI) if you ask me. I wasn't born
yesterday!
Michael L. Fumich / E-Mail: <331...@mcimail.com> / Phone: 708-461-5770
[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Someone is looking for you apparently. You
may have been placed with an agency and don't yet realize it. Remember
folks, whenever you get a postcard or a call saying 'call this 800 number
to extension xxx' it is very likely the person or company sending it is
trying to get your phone number using ANI provided with 800 service. So
take care. You might want to call it from some number other than your
home. PAT]