DoN”t AnNOy ThE CRaZy PErSOn - I needed to change my phone number since for months I received crank calls in the middle of the night which after being traced were found to be coming from a pay phone in a foreign country (my belief is that the culprit was likely to be at the employ of my ex-husband).  However, the calls were not traceable so the only method to cease this annoyance was to change my phone number forcing me to give up an identity with status; after all I had a 212 number.

Simple matter one would think; dial your phone carrier and request a new number.  Ha! Four weeks later I had no outgoing phone service, interruption with my computer and cable television service since I had a bundled package plan, and calls in the middle of the night.

Week after week, day after day I called my service provider (no matter what level executive I got on the line the information was the same) only to be told one line without deviation: “we’re sorry, we can not release your 212 number because there are one hundred thousand people on a waiting list to obtain a 212 number, of which you are one hundred thousand and one, and we also have to identify who is still on that waiting list, ahead of you, to be able to pay the bill.  Apparently, the mortgage/credit crisis has affected Ma Bell’s ability to provide credit as well. In a last attempt, mostly arising from sleep deprivation, I pleaded with the last agent stating that the US Open, a worldwide tennis event, was about to air explaining that not having service would mean losing a current boyfriend who would not tolerate lack of ability to watch while in my home in our relationship.  I got television and computer service in a matter of minutes, apparently this one agent at Ma Bell was able to figure out a way to unhinge my package for a tidy sum of thirty dollars more a month. Then the bombshell came when the agent asked me if I would also like a temporary telephone number; a 212. I could hardly believe my ears. Apparently after finally dismounting my package, Ma Bell was able to release my former phone number into never-never land offering me a temporary and a better one than the last.  “Can I keep this new number or does it really have to be temporary?” I asked thinking it was a question in vane.  Get this, the temporary number is now and ever my own.  I guess I should look at the bright side; it only took a month and several near-to-tear calls to finally get the matter resolved, save a relationship and allow me a night’s uninterrupted sleep.

Heaven at last, until the morning that is, when I finally could make a landline call and reassemble a new package at the same old rate.  That only took about six hours.