Google Voice & Obi
SteveInWA:
Robert, good question. This is one of the scenarios that people run into. It's why we're currently manually resetting these people's accounts so they can select a different forwarding number to sign up for a GV number, but they will still not be able to use that recycled number as their initial forwarding number. After the account is set up, the user will be able to add the recycled number as a forwarding number. This seems nuts, but it is specifically designed to limit abuse scenarios by requiring that the user have a unique, previously unused number during sign up. A few examples of abuse:
Abusive spouse or stalker requests a GV number to harass someone, then changes GV number repeatedly when the caller tries to block that number.The infamous Craigslist scam, whereby scammer requests multiple numbers for use in scamming sellers or buyers on Craigslist, or on online dating sites, etc.The user who requested a GV number and now wants to change it without paying the $10 number change fee
What makes this tricky, is balancing good user experience (or "customer service") with detecting and limiting these abuse scenarios. The current situation isn't good, because once the user unintentionally enters a banned forwarding number (as in your example), they have no way to delete it and enter a different number, unless we ask Google to manually reset their account. It's manual-labor intensive, and Google hopes to implement an improved solution very soon.
SteveInWA:
Oh, and I should also clarify that your "reclaim" issue is even more complex than I discussed. It doesn't matter if you forget to remove the forwarding number or not, when abandoning service with that provider. Since the number was previously used to create an account, the next user can't use that number to request a new GV number, although they CAN use it to add as a forwarding phone to an already-created account. In that scenario, the user trying to use it again will receive a warning that the number is in use on another account, and would they like to reclaim it. Since they presumably have working phone service on that number, the safeguard is that GV will call them on that number to verify it, and allow it to be reclaimed. This reclamation procedure is limited; there is an undisclosed number of reclaims permitted (the "innocent purposes" reclaim) before it's banned, too.
This is also the only fix for the Craigslist scam: someone pings you via Craigslist email, about an item you are selling. They tell you "I'm using a special phone system that requires you enter a two-digit code when I call you to discuss your item. Please enter the code when you hear the message." This scam then assigns your phone number to the new GV number that the scammer is creating. The only way to recover from this mess is by creating your own GV account, using a different forwarding number, and then snatching back (reclaiming) your scammed forwarding number.
CarvinAbuser:
Quote from: LTN1 on December 29, 2014, 09:14:49 pm
Quote from: CarvinAbuser on December 29, 2014, 08:37:18 pm
In this video, she adds and verifies a forwarding number. How do I obtain this number?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOHJsNTdl5Q
Like azrobert said:
GV (service) requires you to have another phone number like a cell phone, VOIP number or a land line.
But once you add that number as a forwarding number, you can uncheck that forwarding number and just use Google chat and
the Obi device.
Thanks for the responses. Just to clarify, the above is all I need to do?
LTN1:
Quote from: CarvinAbuser on December 30, 2014, 03:46:50 am
Quote from: LTN1 on December 29, 2014, 09:14:49 pm
Quote from: CarvinAbuser on December 29, 2014, 08:37:18 pm
In this video, she adds and verifies a forwarding number. How do I obtain this number?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOHJsNTdl5Q
Like azrobert said:
GV (service) requires you to have another phone number like a cell phone, VOIP number or a land line.
But once you add that number as a forwarding number, you can uncheck that forwarding number and just use Google chat and
the Obi device.
Thanks for the responses. Just to clarify, the above is all I need to do?
It should be all you need to do. Some people don't see the Google chat option in GV but if you run into that, just come back and SteveInWA and others can assist.
CarvinAbuser:
^ I tried it and that's what happened, no Google chat option. ???
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