“Your call can not be completed as dialed. Please hang up and dial again.” That is what callers will hear if they leave off the area code starting October 24th.
The area code will have to be included in all calls, even local, in the 616, 906, 989, and the 810 area codes. 810 includes the Blue Water Area.
This might not seem like a big deal, but with so many preprogrammed numbers for safety and security equipment, it is a critical change. Most equipment uses a 10-digit default setting, but older equipment might still use 7 digits.
Vulnerable devices that might need to be reprogrammed include medical alert systems, PBX business phone systems, fax machines, alarms and security systems, voicemail services, and of course phone contact lists on cell phones.
The reason for the change is to make room for the National Suicide Prevention Line, which is 988. Some area codes have 988 as a local “prefix”, or first three numbers, so the addition of the area code is needed to distinguish the local numbers from the hotline.
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
