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Number Blocking

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badazponydrvr

IS-IT--Management
Jul 10, 2006
17
US
Ok guys, I need some advice. This is going to be a bit of a long post. I had posted on here before about blocking a malicious number from our system. The reason for this was because this number kept showing up on our bill, but it is not a customer of ours. After doing some research, I have found that this number is classified as a "fax blast". I have talked to my service provider (cox) which has told me that since we use a PRI that they will not/Can not block the number on their switch and that it is up to me to block the number internally on my system. We use IPO DS460. I know how to block numbers with it, thanks to the helpful folks here, and I know the blocking works as it has been tested successfully with multiple numbers. The problem is, I am almost 100% certain that whoever uses this number is projecting a different CLI than cox shows on the bill. I don't have a call logging system to cross check the times that the calls came in on the bill verses what shows up on a call log. The call never makes it to an agent, and I don't have enough people in my small company to sit and monitor call status all day every day watching for these calls. I am being charged for these calls. My thought is, since this is a fax number trying to call in that since there is no communication on the other end, it just hangs up for anywhere from .30 to 10 mins which is costly when it happens 3 or four times a day. I need to know if anyone has had experience with any issues of this nature and what to do. Cox will not refund our money and tell me that it is my responsibilty to block the number internally, but short of blocking out and entire area code, if any numbers even register when the call comes in, I am at a loss. You guys always come back with the most simple resolutions to these issues, and Im hoping it will be the same now. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
 
google tells me a fax blast is like fax spam?

So i don't see how this would be costing you money?

if you know what times the calls are coming in, i would run monitor and then search back against the logs for the number you have. it will show you what is going on.

ACSS-SME
Get well soon Aaron.
 
That is exactly what it is, it is spam for phones. Its costing us money because this guy has been calling several times a day for several years, and the calls last anywhere from 30 seconds to as long as 10-15 mins, and we are charged long distance rates by the minute. The problem with running monitor to cross check the numbers is that our phone bills run a month behind, and i don't have any option for real time access to the phone bill. so unless I can save my monitor logs for a week and then when the next bill comes in cross check, that option is out.
 
badazponydrvr, you shouldn't be charged anything for Incoming calls regardless of length, if you are that's an odd deal you have with your providor. And you can save monitor logs in .txt format so you can keep them as long as you like :)

ACS - IP Office Implement

"What the Crocodile Hat....was that?
 
I will save the logs and try that. do you guys know of any call logging software that is either cheap, free, or reliable that I can setup. I have used ecas in the past and was not impressed.
Now we operate an 800 number for our customers to call us inbound for customer service, and that i why we are charged. sorry that i left that "minor" detail out. its a toll free number for our customers. That is the number that is being called by this number. I am sure that they have just pulled a list of 800 numbers and just call them. Google has this particular number listed as being complained about a ton of times. its not just me experiencing the problems.
 
Xima Chronicall....14 day free trial...if you have VM Pro. Do you rec faxes on the same T-1? if not and faxes are POTS lines...turn on fax detect and route to disconnect....might work?
 
the faxes come through on the t-1 as well they are coverted to analog, i believe through a card that we put in the IPO when we first got it. The thing is, we have direct 10 digit number that it goes to, the number that is calling is just going into the call attendant and the regular system, but since no selection is ever made in the call attendant he is stuck in a circle that keeps him on the line. That is why we tried to block it, but as stated above, I am almost certain that the cli he presents is something other than what the phone company sees. I will try to the call logging software mentioned above and cross reference the times and numbers when i get access to my next bill. Hopefully that will shed some light.
Lets assume for a minute that what I suspect is true, in that he either changes his cli, or there is no cli, are there any solutions for internally blocking this number?
 
Yes tom that is correct. I have other malicious numbers successfully blocked on the system and they operate with no problems whatsoever, with no charges incurred.
 
W/ your AA answering the calls, fallow Toms advise...maybe set your time-out to 5 seconds so you don't disconnect a slow dialing Customer....maybe send the time-out action to the recep....when she hears fax tone...log the caller ID and hang-up....use that caller ID to block like the rest of the #'s you've blocked....maybe this will work for you?
 
All great ideas, i will try them all to stop it. I appreciate the fact that you guys are on top of helping us folks without all of the answers. we are a small business, and so i have many responsibilities around here. I have to be a jack of all trades. I know just enough to get me in to trouble. You guys have always been johnny on the spot with great help. I will be giving a contribution to the site in the next couple weeks. Thanks again for the suggestions.
 
He will be giving a contribution to the site...

How bout them apples Dave Murphy? ;)

It's people like you who generalize.
 
no worries fella. Sucks to be charged for something out of your control. If they are going through the AA then a disconnect action will sort it for you.

ACSS-SME
Get well soon Aaron.
 
Have you ever tried to send the calls to a fax machine on the system to see what comes out? I thought you could put a F in your menu and have that transfer to a fax machine..

Kevin Wing
ACS- Implement IP Office
ACA- Implement IP Office
Carousel Industries
 
Great idea kwing....print the fax and then call and ask to be removed.....duh! my bad...good job guys!!!

MW2 needs new Maps....ASAP
 
uif the call is getting as far as an AA then it will be being seen as answered by the telco, hence the charge

use cli routing on the ipo * send the call to a busy short code

sc: 666
feature busy

icr

incoming number: *
incoming cli: <offending number>
destination: Busy

it used to be posible to leave the dest empy & get a network 'Number Unavailable' but the Error checker in manager objects big time
 
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