SimulScribe (per minute call fwding fees?)

[jamesrreed]

Regarding:
mytreo.net members get 60 days of SimulScribe FREE!
Posted by Alli Flowers
http://mytreo.net/archives/2007/10/mytreonet-members-get-60-days-of-simulscribe-free.html

I'm extremely excited about SimulScribe after reading Alli's article/review in the MTDN newsletter ..

I am in the process of setting up the service and am curious if anyone else is going to or is already trying the 60 day free trial and what your experience has been like thus far.

I signed up for the service on SimulScribe's web site this morning and was sent an e-mail with instructions on how to complete the process with Sprint (also Alli's carrier).

So far so good except that I now have to remember to cancel SimulScribe before the 60 day trial ends if I don't like it, otherwise I will incur the $9.95/month charge after that time.  You have to provide a credit card # when signing up.

I called Sprint per the instructions in the e-mail and tried to get "around" Customer Service to Technical Support but was not able to.

Since you have told us that you are a Sprint customer, you will need to call Sprint
customer service to switch your voicemail to SimulScribe.  All you will need to do
is to set up what's called "call forward, no answer", and then have your regular
voicemail turned off.  Sprint no longer teaches this option to its employees, as it
is an old feature that is no longer in the books, but still works.  The sprint
customer service will tell you that they can do this for you, but you will actually
need to speak with technical support, we found this out the long way. Make sure that
they forward all of your unanswered calls to:

I was instead provided with fairly simple instructions on how to implement Call Forward No Answer using a [*73 (enter 10 digit #) TALK] method which I was about to try before the Customer Service rep pointed out one significant issue that I had not considered: a $.20/minute charge for call forwarding. 

It sounds as though I might be setting myself up for some decent sized and originally unanticipated additional costs from Sprint (above and beyond the monthly service fee to SimulScribe) to use their service.

[wxboss67]

I had a Simulscribe account, but now I use Grand Centralhttp://www.grandcentral.com/home/features.

It doesn't have the 'scribing' of Simulscribe, but everything's free plus it has many more features that I find very useful.

[jamesrreed]

I swear if you talk to five different Sprint customer service reps you will get five different answers to the exact same question.  To their credit, they are all nice & friendly.

I called Sprint again just for kicks and was told by the latest customer service rep that there are no per minute fees associated with Call Forwarding No Answer.

The set-up method is *72 and not *73.

Going to try it now ..

Definitely warrants one or more follow-up phone calls to Sprint over the next few days just to make sure that per minute charges aren't accruing.

--

Regret:  I used my land line to place the most recent call to Sprint.  Wish I had used the Treo and CallRec 4.0.

[jamesrreed]

The fun never stops with Sprint ...

Turns out the *72 set-up method is for regular "call forwarding" where every inbound call immediately fwds to the desired number.  That didn't work so I turned it off.  (It works, just not for how I want to use it in conjunction with SimulScribe.)

The *73 method I was originally provided for setting up "Call Forwarding No Answer" didn't work at all.

I have called Sprint three more times to no avail.  Each successive call gets a little more testy and a LOT more frustrating.

The most recent call (my last attempt for today unless somebody offers a sure fire answer) ended when the lady said they do not offer Call Forwarding No Answer.  I asked her if she would fwd me to Tech Support per the advice of the SimulScribe e-mail instructions and she said "she was tech support."

Alli - how the hell did you get yours set-up and how can I call that exact person?

[jamesrreed]

I had a Simulscribe account, but now I use Grand Centralhttp://www.grandcentral.com/home/features.

It doesn't have the 'scribing' of Simulscribe, but everything's free plus it has many more features that I find very useful.

I'd love an invite to Grand Central if you are able/willing to send me one.  It is in closed beta and requires an invite from Grand Central or a Grand Central user.

[wxboss67]

I have just a few left, but I'll need an email address. Just PM me, and I'll be happy to send you one.

[wxboss67]

I'd love an invite to Grand Central if you are able/willing to send me one.  It is in closed beta and requires an invite from Grand Central or a Grand Central user.

Invite sent. Enjoy 

[Alli]

Been several months now since I did it, James, but I recall getting it done much more simply than what you've gone through.... It might be worth telling the CSR that you are trying to use your corporate voicemail number instead of Sprint's voicemail and see if that clicks for them.

[jamesrreed]

Been several months now since I did it, James, but I recall getting it done much more simply than what you've gone through.... It might be worth telling the CSR that you are trying to use your corporate voicemail number instead of Sprint's voicemail and see if that clicks for them.

Thanks Alli.  I actually got through via a quasi-direct line to Sprint Tech Support that the guys at SimulScribe provided and they got me set-up in five minutes or less.

What is the right answer regarding per minute charges from Sprint for call fwding?  Are you seeing a charge on your bill?

One CSR said there was a fee, the next said there wasn't.  I'm going with the one who said there wasn't a charge but going to touch base with Sprint in a few days just to make sure.

I'm really liking SimulScribe now that I have it completely set-up.

[Alli]

As long as it's forwarding for voicemail (only) as opposed to when you have all your calls forwarded to another number, there doesn't seem to be any charge. I have been billed the same amount every month and I know I have a different number of voicemails every month...but who knows with Sprint. I will say that they have all been very polite and friendly when I've talked to them. (Even the last guy when I finally lost it and hollered "will you stop calling me! There is only one of me so I do not now nor will I ever need a 2nd line!")

[Alli]

Just forward off this custom link to anyone worth saving from voicemail, and you will both receive a free month of service upon signup: https://apps.simulscribe.com/signup/r/22841.

[MR PHAT PAT]

spinvox much easier and free
no problems for me thus far.
I've had it nearly 6 months.

[Alli]

According to Spinvox's website, it's definitely not free.

[MR PHAT PAT]

ok well when I signed up for it it was a one year free plan. I have found it very good in translating , and when it doesn't know it makes a very good guess.

I have some people call me with poor grammer, and enunciation

[MR PHAT PAT]

that was for you Alli