TextNow nagging problem

I'm not alone, a similar or the same problem was mentioned a year ago:

Go to TextNow

r/TextNow • 1 yr. ago

LowKeyLeft

All my outgoing calls go to voicemail

I've rebooted my phone, but every call I make goes to that recipient's voicemail. So, I tried calling my mom, who is with me and her phone never rings on her end... It just goes to her voicemail. I noticed something was up because I keep trying to call Walmart pharmacy and I only get their voicemail as well. Anytime know a fix for this

My problem is worse: my correspondent's phone does not only ring, it won't register/record any voice mail. More of such crap:

Hi I currently live in Canada and my GF is in the states, I'm using this app to message her through a USA number (she knows, it's so I don't get long distance charges) yet when I try to call her with it she can't even see i called but when she calls me from her end I can receive the call from her, any help?

Again, no solutions except an advice to kick out VPN from the equation.

There is an attempt to explain that crap:

Edit: Does your girlfriend use T-Mobile? They use a spam blocking service called HIYA and they’re pretty famous for blocking VOIP calls like TextNow and Google Voice - not always, but it’s pretty common. 

My correspondent uses Mint Mobile, an MVNO of T-Mobile. So, it might amount to a problem.

How to reject/disable HIYA will be a second question.

Another approach:

Well, you could get another TextNow number. That might help. A lot of sketchy spammers use TextNow numbers, so it's easy to get a recycled TextNow number that has been flagged by HIYA.

How To Change Your Number

I'll investigate. Meanwhile, plot thickens:

Google voice won't allow me to link to my Tmobile number

I had a google voice number linked to my Tmobile number but it expired last year.  Trying to get a new google voice number and link my Tmobile number to it but I get an error that my number is not eligible to be linked.  I think it was because it was linked to the previous number.  How can I fix that? I don't have another number to link with.

An answer:

Hello David Bowen 1383, I understand you're having difficulty verifying a phone to use Google Voice.

 

There is no "fix" for your problem.  You must use a different phone number to qualify for a Google Voice number.  Although you will be able to link your number once you qualify, the number you have does not qualify.

 

The term "Verify" is very confusing with Google Voice.  Just because one can add a phone as a linked number on their account, it doesn't mean that the phone is eligible to be used to sign up for, or reclaim a Google Voice number.

 

You will need to use a different phone to validate the account.  You can then remove that phone as a forwarding phone, and re-add your phone as a forwarding number.  A phone number can only be used once to verify/reclaim a Google Voice phone number.  This includes if the phone number was used by someone who was assigned the number before you.  This is an anti-fraud and anti-abuse measure.

 

You might need to use a friend or family member's phone to verify, just let them know that if you do, they will not be able to sign up using that phone number for verification.  However, they will be able to link their number once they find another number to use for verification.  If they don't plan on using Google Voice, this shouldn't present any type of problem.

 

The reasons we know of that Google accounts are not eligible to be assigned a Google Voice inbound telephone number include (but may not be limited to):

1. The personal phone number you submitted and linked is from a telephone carrier that is ineligible to be used to claim a Google Voice number.  Submit a different forwarding phone number.  The number you submit must be from one of the "big three" mobile carriers (AT&T Wireless, T-Mobile or Verizon Wireless) or one of their subsidiary or re-seller (MVNO) brands, or from a traditional land line carrier such as AT&T, CenturyLink, Charter, Comcast, Cox, Spectrum or Verizon.
2. The submitted number is a VoIP number.  Submit a different number.
3. The submitted number has been previously used by either you, or the previous user of that number, or a scammer, to request a Google Voice number.  Submit a different number.
4. The submitted number is outside the 48 contiguous US states.  Submit a number from within the 48 contiguous US states.  You cannot sign up for a Google Voice number while outside the USA.
5. You have tried to submit and link numbers too many times in a short period of time.  Wait at least 24 hours before trying again.
6. Your Google account has been flagged for some violation of Google's Terms of Service or its Acceptable Use Policy.  You are ineligible to get a Google Voice number.
7. You are signed-into a Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) account, not a consumer Gmail account.  Workspace has its own number assignment procedure, and you cannot assign a consumer Google Voice number to a Workspace account.

If you simply want to change your Google Voice number, follow these instructions:

 

https://support.google.com/voice/answer/115114

 

NOTE:  it may appear that, after you select a Google Voice number, the procedure was successful, but then the Google Voice number is actually not claimed.  Google performs an eligibility check on your submitted personal phone number, and removes the Google Voice number you selected, when one of the listed reasons above applies.

 

These limitations are in place to protect the service from abuse.  As such, to limit information which could be used to reverse-engineer the protections, Google will not provide any more-specific details on individual cases where a number request has been denied.

 

I hope this answers your question, and best of luck to you!

 

Phone service with a $5 price tag for life has tons of limitations.