do you still have to pay the phone company to have an unlisted number?

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and if so, what is the logic by which the phone companies justify this charge?

(this may not be relevant except to those in the usa.)

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Wednesday, 23 February 2005 20:46 (twenty years ago)

You don't with SBC in California, must be different per state/country.

― svend (svend), Wednesday, 23 February 2005 20:50 (twenty years ago)

Here (Indiana) and in Louisiana when I lived there, you pay both to have it unlisted and to have it in the phone book -- the difference is that if you do neither, it's not published in the phone book but it's available through directory assistance.

The logic, I guess, is just that it's something people will pay for.

― Tep (ktepi), Wednesday, 23 February 2005 20:51 (twenty years ago)

The phone company does not have to justify their charges. They are the phone company.

― Fish fingers all in a line (kenan), Wednesday, 23 February 2005 20:51 (twenty years ago)

they do typically have some kind of logic, however unconvincing, to justify all their various (and shifting) surcharges and extra fees. just try calling them and see what happens when you ask "why?"

but in this particular case--the case of paying a monthly fee to ensure that you are not published in the phone book--i can't imagine any logic impeding a slew of class-action lawsuits.

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Wednesday, 23 February 2005 20:53 (twenty years ago)

Generally when you ask a phone company "why?" the college junior on the other end says "because that's what it says on the policy printout posted over my work area."

― Tep (ktepi), Wednesday, 23 February 2005 20:55 (twenty years ago)

I don't see the connection between charging people for something they shouldn't be charged for and a class action suit. I paid extra for some slices of pickle the other day. Suing the burger joint never occurred to me.

― Fish fingers all in a line (kenan), Wednesday, 23 February 2005 20:56 (twenty years ago)

Or in other words, I guess I'm not sure what kind of answer you're looking for. It seems like an odd thing to single out as an example of companies billing for things which appear to cost them nothing, unless you're currently pissed at your telco for charging you. If it helps any, I don't pay to be unlisted, but haven't been in the phonebook for years and have never had anyone call me having gotten my number from directory assistance.

― Tep (ktepi), Wednesday, 23 February 2005 20:59 (twenty years ago)

I paid extra NOT to have slices of pickles.

― Huk-L, Wednesday, 23 February 2005 20:59 (twenty years ago)

i have sbc in california and yes, I do have some kind of charge for having an unlisted number. it's very small though.

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 23 February 2005 21:04 (twenty years ago)

In the UK, there's definitely no charge for being unlisted.

― caitlin (caitlin), Wednesday, 23 February 2005 21:52 (twenty years ago)

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