"Sorry, Talk is not included in your plan" when dialing a specific number

[JGilb]

Hi

I noticed something interesting today.

I wanted to call a company whose contact info was shown as "1-800-8-BATTERY".

When I called them, I received the "Hi Pulic Mobile here.  Sorry, talk is not included in your plan...".

I got that message when I first activated and was afraid something had gone wrong with my account.  But I made several other calls just fine.

However, I started thinking that 1-800-8-BATTERY translates to 1-800-822-88379 which is one digit longer than necessary.  I know many companies use this technique to make their marketing name work.  Most telecom's ignore any extra digits.  So, I tried dialing again, this time skipping the extra digit 1-800-822-8837 and it worked fine.  I tried the full number several times and always get the "Sorry, talk is not included" message.

Interesting right?

John

[Luddite]

@Kamenrider FYI: You have posted to an old thread. In future you will have more assurance of timely help by creating your own topic on the forum, or sending a private message directly to the moderators.

[mimmo]

@CS_Agent  it might be worth sending this question to techies

[Kamenrider]

Funny. Got this same public mobile automated message with 1866 RELIANCE the home heating company. 

[Rockdaddy22]

It probably works on most carriers

[Subbanator96]

Thats really interesting. Weird how the marketing thing is a strategy to use a number that you can't call back. Seems counter-intuitive.

[Rockdaddy22]

Very interesting. I wonder if any other carriers experience this?

[rkreddyb4u]

Thanks for sharing the problem and the solution both :)-

[ShawnC13]

That is very interesting I tried it on my PM phone and got same message but could get through on my home line