Screaming Penguin - Source Does Matter

Yes, this is one of those blog posts where the proprietor rails against some service/product they have recently had a run in with - deal with it. ;)

Cingular blocks access to free conference calling services. I tried calling in to an important conference call today, and was blocked by my mobile phone provider. I called customer no-support and they stated they have had "billing problems" with the number in particular I was calling ((712) 775-7000). They then told me all Cingular phones are blocked/denied from calling that number.

To which I said, you stepped in what? Fuck off. I paid MY bill (for the last 5 years or so, same company) and I am calling from MY phone to another number. You get paid by me, I am your customer, what number I am calling TO should be irrelevant. To which the support rep told me, "well we block 900 and 976 numbers too, I am not saying you call those, but . . ." - what the hell does that have to do with it? You are now blabbering about 976 numbers, and tiptoeing around trying not to offend me? I am trying to call FROM my phone TO a conference call, and now I am 10 minutes late and you are talking about phone porn? Sorry, I don't quite follow. Tell me why I should not throw this goddamn phone out the window and go with another provider, this is stupid . . . silence.

Apparently I am not alone in my frustration: http://scoop.epluribusmedia.org/story/2007/3/11/21412/7322.

Be advised, Cingular sucks and you should consider not using them, and or dropping them if you currently have them - if you ever plan on using a free conference call service (which I did not even know was a "free" one, the number was given to me, by an employer, call this number, ok, whoops - not so fast).