US Rep experience

[Anonymous]

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@Kforce wrote:

To overcome VoIP issues, I went this route.

I got a cheap $19.95 flip phone and a prepay $10 for 166 minute plan.

The minutes last for 4 months, before you need to drop another $10.

Unused minutes rollover.  (10+tax) = < 11.00

11.00/4 = $2.75 a month will solve the issue.

I really like my $20 flip phone.   

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Oh, I have another number via Tello (more expensive, around $8 a month but that includes 20 mins international minutes, if I ever needed that).   I use an esim for my "real" number and the Tello sim in my phone, so no need for a special flip.

[Kforce]

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@Remedios wrote:

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@Kforce wrote:

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@Remedios wrote:

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I bet you're typing with your brand new Leapfrog laptop, too! Because $9.99 (might be more now cuz inflation n'stuff ) 

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Almost:

It is a 12 year old Intel Core2 Duo, booting from a "linux puppy CD" all running in 8 megs ram.

No hard drive, no storage, no possible virus, malware, keylogger's, etc.

Do have a nice "Leopold FC750R Mechanical Keyboard" and "Eizo Color Edge Monitor" attached.

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It's as if you can see inside my office 

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You look nice today   

[zerofire]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Amazingly, I had an interaction with a rep from US Bank which was underwhelming (yes, big news I know).  I didn't receive a text for Real Time Rewards and wondered why.  He asked what the number was and I told him.  "Is that a cell phone?"  I told him it was Google Voice.  "A WHAT???"  and told me it has to be a cell phone, even though the GV account in front of me shows lots of RTR texts.  OK, maybe it's changed.

I asked if he could do the redemption for me.  "Yes, I can do statement credit."  For 1c per point, and that's all RTR is anyway he told me, showing unaware of the benefits.

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Is the purchase amount over $10 in qualified categories? They will not send a Real Time Rewards text for every transaction. Also it really is a redemption at $0.01 per point. Also while most providers will partner together to deliver SMS between themselves when a company is doing automated SMS the provider charges the company. This also means the automated SMS might have a smaller network as VoIP companies try to get a slice. In the end one vender might include Google Voice but a new vender that is cheaper might not include them after a switch. It depends on the rep and how you classify the phone line. Personally I just lie that it is a cell phone on my VoIP line and then see what happens. If that does not work then I say its a land line. What I never tell them is that I can route the phone call to Antarctica if I wanted.

[UncleB]

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@zerofire wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

Amazingly, I had an interaction with a rep from US Bank which was underwhelming (yes, big news I know).  I didn't receive a text for Real Time Rewards and wondered why.  He asked what the number was and I told him.  "Is that a cell phone?"  I told him it was Google Voice.  "A WHAT???"  and told me it has to be a cell phone, even though the GV account in front of me shows lots of RTR texts.  OK, maybe it's changed.

I asked if he could do the redemption for me.  "Yes, I can do statement credit."  For 1c per point, and that's all RTR is anyway he told me, showing unaware of the benefits.

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Is the purchase amount over $10 in qualified categories? They will not send a Real Time Rewards text for every transaction. Also it really is a redemption at $0.01 per point. Also while most providers will partner together to deliver SMS between themselves when a company is doing automated SMS the provider charges the company. This also means the automated SMS might have a smaller network as VoIP companies try to get a slice. In the end one vender might include Google Voice but a new vender that is cheaper might not include them after a switch. It depends on the rep and how you classify the phone line. Personally I just lie that it is a cell phone on my VoIP line and then see what happens. If that does not work then I say its a land line. What I never tell them is that I can route the phone call to Antarctica if I wanted.

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RTR redemptions for travel charges are at 1.5¢/point ($500 minimum for hotels, $250 minimum for car rentals) but customer service only seems to be able to do redemptions at 1¢/point. 

It seems many customer service reps are unaware of this nuance.

[Anonymous]

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@UncleB wrote:

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@zerofire wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

Amazingly, I had an interaction with a rep from US Bank which was underwhelming (yes, big news I know).  I didn't receive a text for Real Time Rewards and wondered why.  He asked what the number was and I told him.  "Is that a cell phone?"  I told him it was Google Voice.  "A WHAT???"  and told me it has to be a cell phone, even though the GV account in front of me shows lots of RTR texts.  OK, maybe it's changed.

I asked if he could do the redemption for me.  "Yes, I can do statement credit."  For 1c per point, and that's all RTR is anyway he told me, showing unaware of the benefits.

---

Is the purchase amount over $10 in qualified categories? They will not send a Real Time Rewards text for every transaction. Also it really is a redemption at $0.01 per point. Also while most providers will partner together to deliver SMS between themselves when a company is doing automated SMS the provider charges the company. This also means the automated SMS might have a smaller network as VoIP companies try to get a slice. In the end one vender might include Google Voice but a new vender that is cheaper might not include them after a switch. It depends on the rep and how you classify the phone line. Personally I just lie that it is a cell phone on my VoIP line and then see what happens. If that does not work then I say its a land line. What I never tell them is that I can route the phone call to Antarctica if I wanted.

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RTR redemptions for travel charges are at 1.5¢/point ($500 minimum for hotels, $250 minimum for car rentals) but customer service only seems to be able to do redemptions at 1¢/point. 

It seems many customer service reps are unaware of this nuance.

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Right.    And to answer the other question, this was two charges in the airline category of about $170 each, which have worked in the past.   

[Remedios]

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@zerofire wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

Amazingly, I had an interaction with a rep from US Bank which was underwhelming (yes, big news I know).  I didn't receive a text for Real Time Rewards and wondered why.  He asked what the number was and I told him.  "Is that a cell phone?"  I told him it was Google Voice.  "A WHAT???"  and told me it has to be a cell phone, even though the GV account in front of me shows lots of RTR texts.  OK, maybe it's changed.

I asked if he could do the redemption for me.  "Yes, I can do statement credit."  For 1c per point, and that's all RTR is anyway he told me, showing unaware of the benefits.

---

Is the purchase amount over $10 in qualified categories? They will not send a Real Time Rewards text for every transaction. Also it really is a redemption at $0.01 per point. Also while most providers will partner together to deliver SMS between themselves when a company is doing automated SMS the provider charges the company. This also means the automated SMS might have a smaller network as VoIP companies try to get a slice. In the end one vender might include Google Voice but a new vender that is cheaper might not include them after a switch. It depends on the rep and how you classify the phone line. Personally I just lie that it is a cell phone on my VoIP line and then see what happens. If that does not work then I say its a land line. What I never tell them is that I can route the phone call to Antarctica if I wanted.

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I don't understand your argument since you literally listed the reason why a lot of FI don't allow VoIP.

It's big part of KYC because of safety concerns associated with spoofing calls, spam, no fixed address, number not tied to address etc.

It just makes my head spin ...