Gotalk phonecard blocked???

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Wyatt41174

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#210382 25-Mar-2017 09:00

I have been using my gotalk phonecard successfully for a number of years. However, yesterday I planned to make an important overseas call using my card and after dialing the 5 digit access number, I got a busy signal. Spent hours talking to overseas call centers, both with gotalk and my internet provider, none the wiser. Help please!!!

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#1747423 25-Mar-2017 09:56

What happened when you used the local access numbers that are the normal way of accessing these cards?

Wyatt41174

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#1747518 25-Mar-2017 12:01

I have used the gotalk phonecard successfully for several years, until this week when attempting an important overseas call on my landline. The first numbers to dial is 014 46 as per usual, but this time I kept getting a busy tone, even after many attempts. The customer service department for my card nor Orcon my internet service provider were less than helpful. (I am being very polite here.)

Anyone can HELP???? Cheers.

rscole86

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#1747523 25-Mar-2017 12:15

Can you answer Steves question? What happens when you dial your local number instead, have you tried dialing in from a different landline, have you tried calling a different overseas phone number, have you confirmed the phone at the other end is not busy?

sbiddle

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#1747549 25-Mar-2017 13:09

Wyatt41174:

I have used the gotalk phonecard successfully for several years, until this week when attempting an important overseas call on my landline. The first numbers to dial is 014 46 as per usual, but this time I kept getting a busy tone, even after many attempts. The customer service department for my card nor Orcon my internet service provider were less than helpful. (I am being very polite here.)

Anyone can HELP???? Cheers.

The first thing as I mentioned above is to use the local access number.

For various reasons short codes such as the one you're using are not supported from all networks, and normally carry a surcharge. That's why people normally use local access codes for calling cards.

Wyatt41174

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Geek

#1747594 25-Mar-2017 15:03

No surcharge from this gotalk rechargeable card, the above number when dialed give me on line instructions, eg pin number, #, destination phone number etc. Have you ever used these cards?

yitz

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#1747598 25-Mar-2017 15:14

It seems they have a new nationwide access number 014 88

Below are also the local access numbers for the gotalk calling card as listed on their web site.

For example if you were calling from a landline in Auckland you would dial 281 8468 and you would not be charged by Orcon as local calling minutes are usually included on consumer plans.

https://www.cardcall.co.nz/phonecards/phonecardsdetail.aspx?id=gotalk

sbiddle

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#1747603 25-Mar-2017 15:32

Wyatt41174:

No surcharge from this gotalk rechargeable card, the above number when dialed give me on line instructions, eg pin number, #, destination phone number etc. Have you ever used these cards?

It's not necessarily a surcharge at the gotalk end - some providers will charge for calling such a number.

Anyway it seems you were simply calling the wrong access number as it's presumably changed. I'm surprised they didn't pick up on that when you talked to them.

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Wyatt41174

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#1747629 25-Mar-2017 16:57

Thanks for that Yitz, that was very helpful. I am surprised that Orcon or Gotalk couldn't inform me of this simple change. Perhaps the off-shore call centres has something to do with the confusion. Cheer

Wyatt41174

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#1747898 26-Mar-2017 09:59

Hi Steve all is fixed, the four digit access code that I have been using successfully in the past, has been changed to 281-8468, Cheers John

sbiddle

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#1747900 26-Mar-2017 10:05

Wyatt41174:

Thanks for that Yitz, that was very helpful. I am surprised that Orcon or Gotalk couldn't inform me of this simple change. Perhaps the off-shore call centres has something to do with the confusion. Cheer

Orcon wouldn't know it's changed - it's not a product they have anything to do with.

Wyatt41174

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#1747953 26-Mar-2017 11:23

Yes, Orcon was my second option, since gotalk's customer service at 0800 447 296 informed me to try several other 4 digit access numbers, which still gave me a busy tone. They never mentioned that the 014 46 access code had been changed to 281 8468. The customer service for gotalk appears to be offshore, our conversations were tedious at best. They suggested that there was a block by my internet provider. Cheers John

yitz

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#1747982 26-Mar-2017 12:03

In terms of the M2/Vocus group of providers (Slingshot, Orcon, Flip) I know calling cards are blocked on Flip and they were at one stage on Slingshot too (i.e. when connected to their unbundled copper network) but I am not sure what the situation is with fibre.

They must also have some sort of partnership with Gotalk too as they offer a Gotalk Wi-Fi calling app to customers on Slingshot.

sbiddle

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#1748053 26-Mar-2017 13:32

Wyatt41174:

Yes, Orcon was my second option, since gotalk's customer service at 0800 447 296 informed me to try several other 4 digit access numbers, which still gave me a busy tone. They never mentioned that the 014 46 access code had been changed to 281 8468. The customer service for gotalk appears to be offshore, our conversations were tedious at best. They suggested that there was a block by my internet provider. Cheers John

The access code has not changed from to 2818468 - that's a local access code. The national access code is 014 88 which is listed clearly on their website which is listed above along with all the local access codes. wayback machine has the product page cached as far back as January 2015 showing 014 88 as the national access code so it's obviously changed quite a few years ago.

Most people use local access codes where available because they do not carry surcharges. Many calling cards often charge a surcharge for calling a national number, and some of these calling card access codes will be blocked from some providers due to interconnect charges.

Wyatt41174

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Geek

#1748370 26-Mar-2017 22:36

Hi Steve, not sure if you are saying that the information which I have given geekzone is a lot of porkies or what???

As I said before I have for a number of years dialed 014 46 successfully to receive further instructions for my cheap international calls at 3 cents/minute. The last time that i made an international call using 014 46 was January 16, 2017. Last week I wanted to make an overseas call using the same method that I have used many time for several years. Why the change to 281-8468? Why wasn't I notified? Geekzone pointed me in the right direction and the gotalk website for confirmation. Cheers John

yitz

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#1748388 26-Mar-2017 23:43

It would be the responsibility of the calling card provider to notify you of changes to their service such as changes to access numbers. Unfortunately it seems they have not done that.

When I call 014 46 I get a pre-recorded message saying "This number has been disconnected. Please dial 014 88" so I think that confirms the number has been fully discontinued. I think what Steve was trying to explain is that access to short codes such as numbers that begin 014 xx may depend on commercial arrangements that exist between network providers. Most calling card companies would prefer their customers use geographic or local access numbers as local calling within same town/city is not charged in NZ. In conclusion it is unfortunate that the preferred/primary number provided by the calling card company in this case was a national access code rather than a local access number and also from what it seems they have not given sufficient notice notifying customers of a change to their access number.

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