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any way to not allow certain callers to go to voicemail?
- Thread starter Polekat
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If you have verizon (I'm guessing you can do this with other carriers as well) you can just have them simply remove the voicemail feature and that will disable it altogether. I don't know about getting rid of it for specific callers though.
I use my Google Voice as my voicemail. GV supplied a code that I keyed in for my carrier (AT&T) so that calls get forwarded to my GV number instead of my AT&T voicemail.
GV has options for handling callers various ways; I don't use most of the features but you can read up on them at http://voice.google.com
GV has options for handling callers various ways; I don't use most of the features but you can read up on them at http://voice.google.com
Google Voice.
I created a list of phone numbers that get the "this number has been disconnected" message instead of going to voicemail.
+1 for Google Voice.
Call your carrier. VM is a carrier feature (unless you're using a third party VM system), not a device feature (you still get voicemail even if your device is off or unreachable).
Not relevant to the OP but blocking is just one option with GV. You can also have callers that go directly to voicemail and the VM is automatically deleted, all without any notification to you at all.
If you use GV this way you can prevent certain callers from going to VM but you can't prevent them from calling you. The code you mention is for conditional call forwarding. That means that your carrier attempts to reach your device first and if unreachable then forwards calls to GV's VM system. For GV to block callers it has to be the first in the chain (i.e. you have to have callers call you via your GV number).
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Is there a way to get GV to forward to another number? I've got a few numbers I'd like to have forwarded to 1-800-GMTRUCK. And now you're all calling that number to find out why.... It's a parts guy's sense of humour thing...
This is assuming that you have AT&T
Well, if you have 2 options sort of, 3 if you go through GV route everything is suggesting. First is you can extend the number of rings before it goes to voicemail, the maximum is 30 seconds default is 20 seconds. Second, you can call AT&T to have your VM turned off.
To extend ring time:
1. enter *#61*11# and press send/talk on your phone.
2. write down the number your calls are currently forwarded to (usually +1401#######, but not always). this is your voicemail deposit number.
3. decide how long you want the phone to ring in 5 second intervals. the maximum time is 30 seconds. i'd recommend 25 seconds or less, as using 30 may cause you to be billed for a minute of airtime each time someone is forwarded to voicemail.
4. now enter **61*[number from step 2]*11*[number from step 3, use 2 digits]# and press send/talk.
example
voicemail deposit number is +14015551212
you want it to ring for 20 seconds
you would enter **61*+14015551212*11*20# and press send/talk.
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