For the longest time, I always wondered why my parents never left me a message on my answering machine. See, I have this VoiceStick VoIP account. Unlimited incoming calls for free. Plus the fact it gives me a 626 area code, means my parents can call me via their regular phone without paying any long distance.
I mean, my parents have always left my voicemail when they called my cell and I’m unavailable to answer it.
So the other day, I decided to try calling the number, just to test out the answering machine to make sure it’s working properly. After 3 rings, I get disconnected and hear the following message: “Nobody’s available to take your call at the moment. Goodbye.” VoiceStick does have its own voicemail system, where it even emails you when you get a voicemail, but I didn’t really care too much about messages left on this number (since it’s only my parents who have it. *whistles*), so I disabled that. I had set my answering machine to pick up on the 4th ring, but since it never got past the 3rd, that’s why the answering machine never picked up.
Anyway, I logged into VoiceStick’s account management system to see if there’s a way to increase the number of rings or the duration of hold before redirecting to voicemail/disconnecting the caller, but was unable to find any setting like that. I decided to email them to see what I can do about it:
Hi,
I was wondering if you could tell me if there’s a way to increase the number of rings for my VoiceStick number before going to voicemail/ending the call.
It currently rings 3 times and then plays the automated message telling that no one is available to answer the phone.
I was wondering if I could increase that to 4 or 5 and if it’s possible, how to do it?
Thank you.
Here was their reply, short and to the point:
No there is no way to change that at this time.
Harper Evans
Voicestick CustomerCare
I wonder if paid accounts are actually able to tweak this setting, because 3 rings is just not long enough. I mean sometimes back at home, it takes 5 rings before anyone picks up the phone.