Calling Features

Click on a feature name below to read more about it, including instructions for use.

Automatic Call Back

Automatically calls the last busy number you dialed. The service can redial a busy number for up to 30 minutes. When the line is free, you’ll hear a special ring. When you pick up the receiver the number you were calling will ring. To use after dialing a busy number: Hang up. Lift the receiver and listen for dial tone.

Press *66. You will hear two normal ringing tones or an announcement. If the called number is still busy, a voice recording will tell you that your call is next in line.

Hang up. When the number you called is no longer busy, your telephone will ring with a series of short-short-long rings. Lift the receiver and the call will connect. You will hear normal ringing tone.

Automatic Call Return

Lift the receiver and listen for dial tone. Press *69. A voice recording will announce the telephone number of the last caller. You may choose to return the call or hang up. Press "1" and Automatic Recall will automatically call the last number that called you. You don’t have to know the number to return the call — the service tells you the number so you can decide if you want to return the call. If the line is busy, the service checks for a free line for up to 30 minutes.

Caller ID

A Caller ID box or phone displays the number (and name in some areas) of the incoming call with date, time, and numbers sequence of calls. It stores the information in memory, which you can retrieve at any time. This feature provides security by managing annoying calls and allows you to screen and prioritize your calls.

Call Forwarding

Eliminates your concern that you may miss an important call while you are away from your home or office. Call Forwarding automatically forwards calls to another number. You select the number where calls will be forwarded.

To Activate:

  1. Lift the receiver and listen for dial tone.
  2. Press *72 Activates.

When you hear a second dial tone, dial the number where you want to > forward your calls. If the "forwarded-to" person answers, Call Forwarding is ON. (In some areas, you will receive a dial tone indicating that you have turned on Call Forwarding. The number you are forwarding your calls to does not ring or give a busy indication.)

If you receive a busy signal or no answer, hang up and repeat the procedure. You will hear two short tones to verify that you have turned Call Forwarding ON.

To turn OFF:

  1. Press *73 to Turn off.
  2. Two short tones indicate that you have turned Call Forwarding OFF
Selective Call Forwarding

Allows you to have certain incoming calls forwarded to a designated telephone number.

To Activate:

  1. Press *63 follow recorded instructions.
Call Forwarding Busy and/or No Answer
  • Allows you to automatically forward your calls to another number when your line is busy or when there is no answer after your specified number of rings.
  • You control easy-to-program and change forwarding numbers.
  • Works with local or long distance* numbers.
  • Both features can be activated at the same time or activated and deactivated independently of each other.

To Activate Forwarding Busy:

  1. Lift the receiver and listen for dial tone.
  2. Press *62
  3. When you hear a second dial tone, dial the number where you want to forward your calls.
  4. If the "forwarded-to" person answers, Forwarding Busy is ON. (In some areas, you will receive a dial tone indicating that you have turned on Forwarding Busy. The number you are forwarding your calls to does not ring or give a busy indication.)
  5. If you receive a busy signal or no answer, hang up and repeat the procedure.
  6. You will hear two short tones to verify that you have turned Forwarding Busy ON.

To Deactivate Forwarding Busy:

  1. Listen for Dial tone and press *68
  2. Listen for two beeps, then hang up. The feature is no longer activated, and calls will ring on your phone.

To Activate Forwarding No Answer:

  1. Lift the receiver and listen for dial tone.
  2. Press *52
  3. When you hear a second dial tone, dial the number of rings (2-9), you will hear 2 beeps and dial tone, dial the number where you want to forward your calls.
  4. If the "forwarded-to" person answers, Forwarding No Answer is ON. (In some areas, you will receive a dial tone indicating that you have turned on Forwarding No Answer. The number you are forwarding your calls to does not ring or give a busy indication.)
  5. If you receive a busy signal or no answer, hang up and repeat the procedure.
  6. You will hear two short tones to verify that you have turned Forwarding No Answer ON.

To Deactivate Forwarding No Answer:

  1. Listen for dial tone and press *53
  2. Listen for two beeps, then hang up. The feature is no longer activated, and calls will ring on your phone.

*Toll charges apply on calls forwarded to a long distance number

Call Tracing Service

Want to help stop nuisance calls right where they start?

  1. Enable you to initiate a trace on the last incoming call.
  2. Contact PTCI within 48 hours after a completed trace.
  3. The traces information is recorded at PTCI and will be provided to a law enforcement agency.
  4. There is an $8.00 charge for each successful trace.

To use after you receive a harassing call:

  1. Hang up (or press and release the hookswitch).
  2. Lift the handset and listen for dial tone.
  3. Press *57 and follow the voice-recorded instructions.
  4. A voice recording will tell you whether the call trace has been completed successfully.
  5. To take legal action, record the exact date and time of the call and contact the PTCI business office within 10 days at the number supplied by the voice recording. If the situation is an emergency, call your local law enforcement agency.

*This feature will not work with calls originating from an area or long distance carrier not providing Caller Identification service, toll free numbers, 900 and 976 numbers, international call, some cellular numbers and from blocked numbers.

Call Waiting/Cancel Call Waiting

Worried that important calls can't get through?

  1. No more anxiety over missed calls.
  2. Never feel you have to "free up" the phone because you're expecting an important call.
  3. Lets you receive an additional call while still occupying the line.
  4. Simple. No Programming. No Codes. No Problems.
  5. You can "turn off" Call Waiting on a per call basis with Cancel Call Waiting.

Are some calls just too important to be interrupted?

Cancel Call Waiting *70

  1. Turns off Call Waiting on a per call basis and eliminates telephone tone interruptions or distractions.
  2. Prevents Call Waiting tones from interrupting internet, computer modem or facsimile transmissions.
  3. Can be activated before a call. If you have Three-Way Calling, you can activate it during a call.
  4. Cancel Call Waiting is included free with Call Waiting.
Selective Call Acceptance

With this service, you create a list of 10 or 12 telephone numbers based on which calls you want to accept. Callers not on the list will be routed to an announcement informing them their calls are not being accepted at this time.

  • To Activate: Dial *64 and follow the voice-recorded instructions.
  • To Deactivate, Update or Edit: Dial *64 and follow the voice-recorded instructions.
Selective Call Rejection

This service allows you to block 10 or 12 numbers. You can either block selected numbers ahead of time or block unwanted calls. In either case, the caller is routed to a recorded message and your phone does not ring.

To turn ON/OFF or enter numbers to your list:

  1. Lift the receiver and listen for dial tone.
  2. Press *60.

Listen to the voice recording for instructions on how to turn this service ON or OFF, and how to change or review your list. The phone numbers you enter on your list will be repeated to you.

You may add the number of the last caller to your list by following the voice-recorded instructions.

Selective Distinctive Ringing

Allows you to define a list of calling directory numbers that will provide the subscriber with special incoming call treatment. Any incoming calls on this list will be indicated by a distinctive ringing pattern or distinctive call waiting tone.

To Activate Selective Distinctive Ringing/Call Waiting (VIP):

  1. Press *61 follow recorded instructions.
Speed Call "8"

Speed calling is convenient, time saving, and gives you peace of mind by decreasing your dialing time on emergency and frequently dialed numbers. You use only one number, saving time on both local and long distance calls.

To set up, add, or change save Speed Calling 8 numbers:

  1. Press 74#.
  2. Wait for a second dial tone. Dial the one digit code (from 2 to 9) you want to assign and the complete telephone number you want the code to represent. Example: 2 (code) 555 1234 (phone number)
  3. Listen for two brief tones to confirm that your number has been accepted. Wait for dial tone.

Repeat steps 1 through 3 to add each number on your Speed Calling list, or to change an existing number.

To use your Speed Calling feature:

  1. Dial the assigned code (2 through 9) for the person you want to call.
  2. Press #. The number will be dialed for you after a short pause.
Speed Call "30"

Speed calling is convenient, time saving, and gives you peace of mind by decreasing your dialing time on emergency and frequently dialed numbers. You use only one number, saving time on both local and long distance calls.

To save Speed Calling 30 numbers:

  1. Press 75#.
  2. Wait for a second dial tone. Dial the two-digit code (20-49) you want to assign and the complete telephone number you want the code to represent. Example: 26 (code) 555 1234 (phone number)
  3. Listen for two brief tones to confirm that your number has been accepted.
  4. Wait for dial tone.

Repeat steps 1 through 3 to add each number on your Speed Calling list, or to change an existing number.

Calling a Speed Calling number:

  1. Dial the assigned code (20 through 49) for the person you want to call.
  2. Press #. The number will be dialed for you after a short pause.
Three Way Calling

Allows you to talk with two parties at one time by adding a third party to a local or long distance conversation. After you have completed one call, you can add the third party to the conversation.

Adding a third person to your call:

  1. Press and release the hookswitch to put the person you are talking with on hold.
  2. Listen for three tones followed by dial tone.

Dial the number of the third person. When he/she answers, only the two of you are connected and you may talk privately before bringing the person on hold back into the conversation. If you receive no answer or a busy signal press and release the hookswitch twice to return to the person who is on hold.

To bring the person on hold back into the conversation and complete the three-way call, press the hookswitch for one second and all three of you should be connected.

To disconnect, have either person hang up and you can continue a two-way call.