Phone Companies Plan ‘Care Package’

Telephone companies presented a plan Wednesday to help soothe the switch from area code 206 to 360.

US West, GTE Telephone and the Washington Independent Telephone Association told the state Utilities and Transportation Commission they have put together a “Customer Care Package” to make the changeover to the new area code easier.

Western Washington residents outside the Seattle-Tacoma area are being switched to the 360 area code, but problems have come up. Because it is one of the first area codes that doesn’t use a 1 or a 0 as the middle digit, some telephone equipment doesn’t recognize the new area code.

Two weeks ago, the commission ordered the companies to come up with a plan, after hearing complaints from frustrated telephone customers.

The plan includes advertising to encourage use of the new number as well as a toll-free test number so people can verify their equipment works with it. Another toll-free number will handle trouble calls, and the phone companies also will offer customers in the 360 area such services as call forwarding, 800 lines and operator assistance.

Earlier, the state commission ordered a 90-day extension for the period when both the 206 and 360 area codes will work for the new 360 area. The period was to end May 21 but now will run to mid-August.