Caller Display not available?

[Felim_Doyle]

Originally Posted by Masque

Have you actually tried this as any diverted calls from your landline would surely only show up with your home number.?

The exchange knows the caller id. but, IIRC, non System X / System Y (e.g. Nortel) exchanges do not support the appropriate (Bell compatible) signalling to pass the information on to the caller id. unit or phone at your home.

In the BT case, IIRC, the exchange, for a historical reason to avoid number ambiguity, sets the 'no display' flag on international calls. The information is still there but your caller display is told to ignore it. If the display says 'INTERNATIONAL' then the number is available but you're not allowed to see it. If it says 'UNAVAILABLE' then the number has not been provided by the overseas network (rare these days).

If you divert to a compatible network and phone (e.g. any mobile) you get the caller id. regardless of the originating exchange and network as long as it is present in the signalling. I think even 'WITHHELD' numbers make it all the way to the local exchange before the withhold flag is enforced.

In the early days of mobile phones and call divert on land lines, my Nokia 2110 on Vodafone and the similar original Orange Nokia (a 2140 underneath the Orange badge) on Orange used to display 'Diverted Call' or a '>' next to the number so you could tell that it was not a direct call to your mobile number. AFAIK, all of that information is still available in the signalling but just isn't used.

It's a while since I last delved into this so the above may not be entirely accurate but I haven't got time to research it just now. See Caller ID for more details.

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by Felim_Doyle

The exchange knows the caller id. but, IIRC, non System X / System Y (e.g. Nortel) exchanges do not support the appropriate (Bell compatible) signalling to pass the information on to the caller id. unit or phone at your home.

In the BT case, IIRC, the exchange, for a historical reason to avoid number ambiguity, sets the 'no display' flag on international calls. The information is still there but your caller display is told to ignore it. If the display says 'INTERNATIONAL' then the number is available but you're not allowed to see it. If it says 'UNAVAILABLE' then the number has not been provided by the overseas network (rare these days).

If you divert to a compatible network and phone (e.g. any mobile) you get the caller id. regardless of the originating exchange and network as long as it is present in the signalling. I think even 'WITHHELD' numbers make it all the way to the local exchange before the withhold flag is enforced.

In the early days of mobile phones and call divert on land lines, my Nokia 2110 on Vodafone and the similar original Orange Nokia (a 2140 underneath the Orange badge) on Orange used to display 'Diverted Call' or a '>' next to the number so you could tell that it was not a direct call to your mobile number. AFAIK, all of that information is still available in the signalling but just isn't used.

It's a while since I last delved into this so the above may not be entirely accurate but I haven't got time to research it just now. See Caller ID for more details.

We us 5 different switches and they all work slightly different to each other. Some calling features don't work together - for further info please check www.virginmedia.com/phoneguide

[Pauls9]

If it says 'UNAVAILABLE' then the number has not been provided by the overseas network (rare these days).

'Unavailable' always tells me it's an overseas cold sales call - quite useful.

[dmeldrum]

Reading the updates from people that Caller Display is starting to appear in the backwaters of the Virgin phone network led me to call CS with slightly more hope than usual. The answer was a little different to usual, it is still not available (SE9), but I was told it may be available in the near future as it is based upon a quota system, so I was advised that I should try again in a few weeks time.

I'm not sure if this "quota" system was just a cock and bull story, or is it possible that they don't have enough Caller Display enabled lines for all their customers?

[nigelmclelland]

Originally Posted by dmeldrum

Reading the updates from people that Caller Display is starting to appear in the backwaters of the Virgin phone network led me to call CS with slightly more hope than usual. The answer was a little different to usual, it is still not available (SE9), but I was told it may be available in the near future as it is based upon a quota system, so I was advised that I should try again in a few weeks time.

I'm not sure if this "quota" system was just a cock and bull story, or is it possible that they don't have enough Caller Display enabled lines for all their customers?

I am sure the "Quota" story is cock-and-bull. VM need to make sure the info they have in front of them is up to date as some switches are enabled but the CS staff dont know about it.

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by nigelmclelland

I am sure the "Quota" story is cock-and-bull. VM need to make sure the info they have in front of them is up to date as some switches are enabled but the CS staff dont know about it.

How can it be a cock and bull story if the information is not available as you say, they will only go by what information is provided.

[aardvark]

Originally Posted by dmeldrum

Reading the updates from people that Caller Display is starting to appear in the backwaters of the Virgin phone network led me to call CS with slightly more hope than usual. The answer was a little different to usual, it is still not available (SE9), but I was told it may be available in the near future as it is based upon a quota system, so I was advised that I should try again in a few weeks time.

I'm not sure if this "quota" system was just a cock and bull story, or is it possible that they don't have enough Caller Display enabled lines for all their customers?

Don't believe what they tell you at Customer Services. Ask if it's available in your area using the Virgin Media help and support forum. If they say 'yes' ring CS and tell them to switch caller display on.

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by aardvark

Don't believe what they tell you at Customer Services. Ask if it's available in your area using the Virgin Media help and support forum. If they say 'yes' ring CS and tell them to switch caller display on.

What happens if the support forum has got it wrong and the is no way that the caller display code can be added to the account due to that area still not having caller display.

[nigelmclelland]

Originally Posted by Masque

What happens if the support forum has got it wrong and the is no way that the caller display code can be added to the account due to that area still not having caller display.

After enquiring if the CS rep was sure they were looking in the correct place to enable the caller display option, I would, after further enquiry except that as conclusive.

[aardvark]

Originally Posted by Masque

What happens if the support forum has got it wrong and the is no way that the caller display code can be added to the account due to that area still not having caller display.

When it comes to believing what Support Forum Team or CS believe to be right, my experience has always been that Support FT are always right.

If the SFT say it's Caller Display's enabled in your area, insist that CS add it. And, even if SFT are wrong, and the worst comes to the worst, VirginMedia will have to refund you if the service doesn't work.

[AndyCalling]

I just called again, after several months waiting to give them some room to get it done. Still not available in Southampton (Eastleigh network, SO31 postcode area). Darn.

I do believe I may end up the last person in the UK not to have Caller ID, going by the length of time other changes have needed in Southampton. We were still on analogue when the rest of the UK had forgotten it had ever existed. I'm still not sure the centre of Southampton has gone digital on cable even now... but I assume they must have.

[nigelmclelland]

Originally Posted by AndyCalling

I just called again, after several months waiting to give them some room to get it done. Still not available in Southampton (Eastleigh network, SO31 postcode area). Darn.

I do believe I may end up the last person in the UK not to have Caller ID, going by the length of time other changes have needed in Southampton. We were still on analogue when the rest of the UK had forgotten it had ever existed. I'm still not sure the centre of Southampton has gone digital on cable even now... but I assume they must have.

Andy, I have mentioned this to others before, Do what I did, Phone up and insist they turn on caller display. thats what I did and it worked dont take no for an answer. The CS reps are not always right, at worst it will cost you £2.00 let us know how you get on. Or try the online support team forum.

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by nigelmclelland

Andy, I have mentioned this to others before, Do what I did, Phone up and insist they turn on caller display. thats what I did and it worked dont take no for an answer. The CS reps are not always right, at worst it will cost you £2.00 let us know how you get on. Or try the online support team forum.

As I said above they cannot add what is not available as the system will not allow them to, it is not as simple as flicking a switch, the account must allow the code to to be added and caller display must be available on the switch, no code no caller display and the is no way around it.

Even the Support Forum cannot make it work if it is not possible.

[nigelmclelland]

Sorry Masque ;-}

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by nigelmclelland

Sorry Masque ;-}

I know they are working to enable on all switches so every can have caller display but they cannot all get it now and I understand the frustration when people are aware of other areas that can get it at the drop of a hat.