It's less frustrating if they don't let you try to sign up!

Following up on the previous post, AT&T CallVantage was not taking new orders until last night. Or at least, it appeared to be taking them last night. But now an new problem arises.

Upon going through the signup process, selecting my number and entering an address and phone number for 911 purposes (?), I came upon a message saying:

We're sorry, AT&T CallVantage Service cannot confirm 911 Service for your phone line(s) at this Service Address. AT&T CallVantage Service can only be used at a confirmed registered Service Address, because this address is used for dispatching 911 Service.
Please check and re-enter your address. If you haven't already done so, you can also try selecting a telephone number that is local to this address. If you are confident that the address you entered is correct, and you cannot find a suitable phone number, we cannot offer AT&T CallVantage Service to you at this time. Thank you for your interest in AT&T CallVantage Service.

Now, let's think about this. I enter my perfectly good Delray telephone number, straight off my BellSouth bill, and I get this message saying it is no good at all. But what if I had no other number anywhere - just a mobile phone or another VoIP number, perhaps? Many prospective customers could be very well in this situation. Clearly the lawyers are running this dinosaur even under the new "improved" version.

But, here's the clincher..."No worries," I say, "I will just call support." Well, it isn't quite that straightforward. First they want to know the number I am calling about. Duh! They never gave me one! On hold awhile, waiting to see what the IVR will do, it finally sends me to a message saying to call back between normal business hours of 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday. OK, Vonage support is really bad, but it seems that if you have a problem with your AT&T service outside "normal business hours" theirs is nonexistent!

How can a company with the resources and abilities of AT&T or SBC or whoever they are, because they have been in business in one form or another for over 100 years, be so absolutely mind-numbingly obtuse? Please - I hope someone from AT&T CallVantage reads this!