[cayman]

I posted the following over at DSLreports, then realized I should have posted this here first:

I have been told by high-level BV that they continue to have problems with incoming toll-free calls. One of these problems is billing: he admitted that they are charged by *their* carrier for *all* incoming toll-free, whether you pickup the phone [completed] or not, so they pass along all charges to you.

If you have a BV toll-free alternate#, you should know that your "free" 60 minutes that you get each month DO NOT COVER incoming calls from Canada, Hawaii, Alaska, payphones or prison inmates.

Even if you do not use any of your free 60 minutes, incoming calls from CA/HI/AK are all billed as follows: "According to the rate definition, any inbound toll free calls from Canada [etc] will be charged $0.045 [which are rounded by BV to $0.05] for first 60 minutes and then $0.08 after 60 minutes."

Also: "since we [BV] have inbound toll free call logic completed, some calls will be charged $0.50 extra if they are from payphone or inmate."

It is not unusual in toll-free service to have to pay for wrong number calls etc, and it is not unusual to have to pay a pay-phone surcharge (don't know about inmates). What seems unusual is BV's non-disclosure of these charges until you see them on your bill. What is also unusual is to not have the option to be able to turn off such chargeable incoming non-48-states, and payphone calls.

My contact promises that they are working on a system to be able to refuse these surcharged calls which will be available "someday". Given BV recent crashes, I suspect that they currently have their hands full with other misfunctioning techno-bits right now.

BV pricing, at $02/minute is the best I've seen out there. I just hope my toll-free doesn't get written next to a public payphone someplace promising god knows what.

Also: be advised that BV continues to ahve problems handling incoming calls forwarded to a BV# which come in on a non-BV toll-free. This can include voicemail issues, non-functioning Caller-ID, non-functioning simultaneous ring, and non-functioning anonymous caller rejection. So, getting a non-BV tollfree and pointing it at your BV# may not function the way you might it expect it to.

Bottom line: combining BV toll-free can be both good and bad. Stay informed. Caveat Emptor.

YBVMV,
- Don

[mberlant]

That is terrific information, Don. I was not aware that these extra charge calls were permitted. I, for one, would like to disable calls from Canada/AK/HI/Pay phones.

I had not even heard about a prison surcharge before you just mentioned it. My understanding of prison phone systems is that they are tied to a service who charges ungodly prices for collect-only calls and shares the extortionary profit with the operator of the prison.

[Stevo]

I dont know what kinda of billing system (or backend systems) they might have in place but im sure they code write up a dialplan to reject these kinds of "billable calls".

[burgerwars]

Generally, from prison, you can't call toll-free numbers, because inmates could do a lot of stuff calling them. Just collect and some pre-paid collect plans (like http://www.inmatephoneservices.com ). There probably are phones in some jails where you can call toll-free numbers, but San Quentin or Attica aren't one of them. But we'll need somebody here who has served timed at a variety of jails to provide us more info.
When I initially got a BV toll-free number, I intentionally called myself using it from a payphone. I never saw any extra charge on my bill for that. But it's always possible they changed something recently. If they did, I too would like the option to block calls from pay phones, especially if they're 50 cents.
I've got a couple of wrong number calls to my toll-free number, since it's similar to a number for a hotel. No problem yet. But if I start getting loads of calls, and BV starts (or is) charging for calls from pay phones, I'll probably drop the toll-free number.

[cayman]

Originally Posted by burgerwars

But we'll need somebody here who has served timed at a variety of jails to provide us more info.

Between the freeways in southern California and all the recent VOIP outages/outrages, I must admit that I've been tempted to "go postal" a couple of times. If I give into the urge, I'll be sure to ty to call you on your tollfree# from jail. Go ahead and post it here and if I don't make it to jail, I'll try to get it to someone else "inside". <grin>

Originally Posted by burgerwars

But it's always possible they changed something recently.

From my BV discussions, I understand that they have been changing out various providers and that the incoming tollfree provider is currently under close scrutiny. I was amazed to hear that BV is being charged for every incoming tollfree call by that provider, whether the call is completed or not.

Originally Posted by burgerwars

If they did, I too would like the option to block calls from pay phones, especially if they're 50 cents.

It is a good feature to have, but don't be surprised at how it's structured. For example, Kall8 charges US$10 to change this option on their toll-free#s. Keep in mind that at $.02/min BV is lower than everyone else, VOIP or not. Also, at $0.50, BV is quite cheap, almost at cost for this. It could easily be much higher, and is with other tollfree services.

Personally I hope that BV uses the Kall8 approach to incoming, where on can assign a list of numbers, exchanges, and area codes that you either then allow or block for incoming. Makes it fantastically usable with that level of customization. Of course, Kall8 is pretty high priced but for low volume it's a good choice.

Originally Posted by burgerwars

But if I start getting loads of calls, and BV starts (or is) charging for calls from pay phones, I'll probably drop the toll-free number.

They are charging, at least for me, I've been hit with Canadian calls (hello Montreal!), and with a couple payphone calls. Don't forget, even if you don't answer, if they keep ringing it goes to voicemail and completes there. Also, with the current policy, all it needs to do is ring once or twice and it's a billable event at BV.

You might want to start fishing for a new # by watching availability at the BV web portal and try to pick a better one. The BV portal makes that switch very easy, especially if you haven't already signed up for both alternates yet.

Cheers,
- Don

[scunyngham]

Speaking of Kall8, I have been using the service for years and just love it. The rate is high compared to some others but the system has never failed and is loaded with features. They now have VOIP termination at about 25% savings. I currently have several VP lines 2 of which are open access. Kall8 says they need SIP termination to route their calls to me. I am not sure whether this can be done with Voicepulse. If anyone knows I would appreciate an answer. I called into tech support but am not convinced the person I spoke with understood what I am trying to do.