Area Code Change Confuses Many.

[Teacher Mark 53]

This is a rare occasion that I invite all who wish to "pile on" West Virginia. What a bunch a whiny babies.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Among the challenges West Virginians will face as the state gets ready for a new area code: teaching little Mountaineers to dial 10 digits instead of seven.

The state Public Service Commission has launched its campaign to remind everyone to start dialing an area code every time you place a call, even if it's to a next-door neighbor.

"The biggest problem I have right now is my preschooler," said Sarah Robertson, a spokeswoman for the commission. "They taught him at the beginning of the year his phone number, but they didn't teach him 304. So now that I'm trying to tell him, he says, 'No. That's not what they told me.' But it's something to think about. If your child gets lost, it won't do a lot of good if they don't know those three extra digits."

The PSC is urging people to begin using the area code starting July 26, just to get accustomed to it.

For local calls, people should dial the area code and number, or 10 digits. To make a long-distance call on land lines, it still will be necessary to dial 1 and then the area code.

By Feb. 28, it will be impossible to place even a local call without dialing an area code.

Starting a month later, on March 28, anybody signing up for new service or a new number could be assigned one with the new 681 area code.

After so many years of the whole state having a single area code, the change is going to throw some people for a loop.

The commission and telephone companies already are sending out information packets and including notices with customers' bills, but many people still are in the dark about the change.

"Don't I even get a choice?" said Lisa Johnson, a state employee who was running errands in downtown Charleston on her lunch break Tuesday. "I just don't think it's right. There's enough I have to worry about and remember without this."

Robertson, with the Public Service Commission, said industry officials are doing everything they can think of to get state residents prepared for the change and help smooth the transition next year.

There's a lot to consider. Many automated security systems will have to be reprogrammed, preset numbers, fax machines and Internet dial-ups will have to be changed, and speed dial and call forwarding settings will have to be updated.

Bob Adams, owner of Elkview Wireless, said he hasn't had many customers inquiring about changes they'll have to make to cell phone settings. He thinks that's because most are unaware of what's on the horizon.

"I'm trying to tell people you are going to have to do this, but it seems to go in one ear and out the other," Adams said. "I've had people say, 'Well, I'll just use a regular phone, then.' I tell them it's not going to get them very far. They just don't understand."

Adams said some of the more advanced cell phones he sells these days will prompt the user to put in an area code for every phone number programmed into speed dial settings.

"But for the rest of them, they don't," Adams said. "You're going to have to do it manually."

Raina Newhouse, an Elkview resident taking a break Tuesday from her job at the post office on Lee Street, said the process is going to be "a big hassle."

"I still don't understand the reason for it, really," she said. "I just think it's weird."

A 681-number might belong to someone just across town or to someone in Morgantown.

"It's just ridiculous," Craddock said.

On a positive note, he said his security alarm business won't have to deal with reprogramming phone numbers for customers. He uses a 1-800 number and an out-of-state routing system that can be changed in a simple step.

For some other security and alarm companies, the new area code will mean a lot of reprogramming, according to information from the Public Service Commission.

Phone companies and other affected businesses have been having monthly conference calls to talk about the switchover and deal with any potential problems, Robertson said.

"As of right now, everything is going smoothly," she said. "But we just have to get (people) used to doing it now instead of at the last minute."

More information is available by calling the commission at (800) 344-5113 or visiting the Web site www.psc.state.wv.us and clicking the "10-Digit Dialing" link.

Contact writer Kris Wise Maramba at krisw...@dailymail.com or (304) 348-1244.

http://dailymail.com/News/200807160197

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

My part of Jersey went through the same thing a few years ago, I want to say around 2000? People whined about it back then too, it's not just WV.

[Teacher Mark 53]

"I still don't understand the reason for it, really,"

O.K. Raina, let's start with the basics. 1+1=2, as in too many fax machines, cell phones and residential phones.

[MrsCat 6]

Ugh - we're doing this right now in Alberta. I freaking hate this shite, i had to reprogram all my speed dials. I think those people who want cell phone #'s, fax #'s and home phones are just being selfish. They should just have to wait till people die to get a # rather than burden the rest of us who got numbers years ago. selfish bastards!

Edited July 16, 2008 by cattattude

[Teacher Mark 53]

Ugh - we're doing this right now in Alberta. I freaking hate this shite, i had to reprogram all my speed dials. I think those people who want cell phone #'s, fax #'s and home phones are just being selfish. They should just have to wait till people die to get a # rather than the rest of us who got numbers years ago. selfish bastards!