Google Voice

[jodie3134]

Can someone please explain how this works? I went ahead and set up a GV number. It is linked to my home phone. I plan on updating my contact information for all accounts. I just don't get the ins and outs of it.

If they call the GV number... will it ring on my home phone?

There are two options listed in the settings 1. Link to home phone or 2. Link to gmail account. Which do I select?

What happens if someone still calls my home phone (family, friend, etc) will it ring at home?

Any help is appreciated!

[shoopy]

It kind of depends on what you are trying to accomplish.

You can create a Google voice number, and try to change the contact number that you creditors have on file to your new Google Voice number. I have some doubts that the creditors will actually discard your previous phone number, and may continue to call you on your actual number. But, the hope is, that they will only call your Google Voice number. In which case, GV allows you to create lists of contacts, friends, family, creditors, which can be handled in different ways. Freinds, family, etc. would ring thru to your actual phone, while creditors, can be sent directly yo voice mail. In practice, those that already have your number will be able to just continue calling your number, while those that only have your Google Voice number, will be "filtered" by Google Voice. Sent to your actual phone number, or straight to voice mail.

Creditors, only have my landline phone number. So, the way I used Google Voice is slightly different. I forward all of my calls to Google Voice, where I have a couple of contact list set up, including one consisting of know creditor numbers, which get dumped straight to voice mail. The rest of the calls, are sent to a Nettalk VOIP phone (it doesn't have to be nettalk, it could be a cell phone or Magicjack phone). When a creditor pops up with a new number, I just add it to the straight to voicemail list. This method only works well if you have free or cheap call forwarding, and a fast enough internet connection to run Nettalk or Magicjack.

It's not as complicated as it might sound. If you have any questions please feel free to ask. Others probably have other ideas on using Google Voice too. Good luck.

[Drazil65]

We changed all the accounts to the new GV number, they all used the new infomation and it went directly to the GV message area (which was the gmail email account) on our computer. We could then look at the creditors that left a message or called (missed calls) on our email messages (you can either double click the message to hear it play over your computer or just read it then you have it in writing and store it).

We were clear on our GV message on who we were and our address for mailing. We received no other calls on any other phone number (our home directly or cell phones). With that being said keep in mind that we set this all up BEFORE we actually missed our first payments (planned once we knew where we were heading to chp 7) so changing the old info was easy for us.

GV made life in chapter 7 pretty quiet and much easier than in the old days where you are still fielding calls until you file, I suggest you research it here on this forum and read up on how it all works. You will be very glad you did it! Good Luck!

[basketsbears]

Yes - I love GV. We received a lot of calls - had them sent directly to GV. Some still got through, but it was so worth it!

[keepsmiling]

You have a lot of options if you have a Smart Phone.
I have a dumb phone, so I just forward EVERYTHING on the landline to GV. Anyone I know that I want to speak to has my cell. If I get a call on GV that I need to return, it shows up in my email with the number and I can call them or e them.
There are a lot of different ways to make it work. This is what's simplest for me.