What kind of phone or phone server do you use?

I am wondering what kind of phone, or relay service do you use?

I am very oral educated and use phone to call my family and local best friend that I know that I can understand them on the phone. I had been doing that for many years.

But some years ago, I was having a hard time understanding on the regular volume control phone. Then I had to get CapTel phone that was 2-line CapTel phone. It is wonderful CapTel phone to be able to understand them and read what they are saying without having a very hard time to understand them. I am so thankful for this wonderful technology.

With CapTel 2-line, I had been using it only for 1-line instead of 2-line, so that I don't have to pay extra phone line server charge. The major problem of using 1-line were that they had to dial relay phone number first then my phone number. That didn't do too well. It work great when I call them since that is automated. If they did dial relay number first and then my phone number, then I can read what they are saying which is great and wonderful. My family or friend does dial that relay number which is good news. But as for others, they don't.

If I did use them for 2-line, then they wouldn't need to dial relay first because that would be automated in caption for me to read. But I didn't have the green to pay for 2-line phone service. I don't think that any phone server should charge us, deaf extra for this special kind of service that we need to have. But they do which isn't good news.

Last summer of '09, I had to quit using that 2-line CapTel phone because I had changed the phone server from analog phone line to digital cable phone line. That 2-line CapTel phone wasn't compatible for the digital cable phone line. That was a major problem again.

Then I had to buy AT&T regular phone with volume control and use Sprint CapTel online. It does very well just like my other 2-line CapTel. But it isn't automated and just like just having 1- line instead of 2- line. Same problem again because they are not dialing relay number. Again, my family or friend does dial that relay number which is good news. But as for others, they don't. OUCH!

Now, I am looking forward in getting CapTel 800i. I just can't wait to get it. It will be automated in caption. They will not have to dial relay phone number which will be a praise and a big improvement. (When I do get them, I will let you all know about it.)

On the other hand, I am wondering how we, deaf , deal with applying for job, or loans, or credit cards, or other things like that does require us to put down our phone number. BUT where is the space for us to tell them that they need to dial relay number first before dial our phone number? I am aware that other use Video Phone, VRS, and other kind of relay services, or to tell them that you used TTY/TTD. How do you get them to use that relay service to get up with you?

I am finding that they will not reply to my job resume when I do put down the relay phone number first and then my phone number. But now, they are replying to my resume without the relay number. MMMM!!! But I had to call them back, so that I can understand them on the phone which does create a major problem.

Also, how do you all deal with computerize voice when you need to get to the real human being on the phone. I had lost my redheaded temper times to times on that. That is not a good news for me as a believer for Christ. I am finding that is a major problem for me. I have to get my family or best friend to call for me. Sometimes, they will not accept my family or my best friend to call for me, and I am in the background with them listening to them and for them to hear me. I had to write a letter to give them my permission to talk to someone for me.

I just can't wait for my new CapTel 800i phone, so that I can understand them without having to call them back.

I am looking forward to learn from you all how do you deal with all of this and what kind of phone and phone service do you use.

Hungry to eat His Word,
'Guerite ~ BoldLion