Phone Help

Service Calls

Troubles with your Northwest Communications phone? Contact us:
Business Office: 611
If calling from other than the above exchange areas: 712-776-2222
If calling long distance: 800-247-2776
Office Hours: 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday
Repair Service: 611
If calling from other than the above exchange area: 712-776-2222
If calling long distance: 800-247-2776

Trouble Reporting?
Please use this form to report a Telephone or Cable TV service question or problem. This form can NOT be used to send messages to a specific person.

Remember, you must be a customer of Northwest Communications Cooperative Association in order for us to help you.
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Long Distance FAQ

What If I Reach A Wrong Number?

Dial "Operator" right away. Effort will be made to see that you
are not charged.

What If I Get A Poor Connection Or Am Cut Off?

Dial "Operator" right away. They will see that you get a good connection, and that you are charged only for the time you've been able to talk and hear satisfactorily.

What About "Busy" Signals and "Don't Answers"?

If you get a "busy" signal when you dial, just hang up and try the call a little later. If no one answers at the phone you are calling, hang up and try your call later. No charge is made for calls that are not completed.

Why Does The Operator Come On The Line On Direct Distance Dialing Calls From Some Telephones And Not From Others?

Some telephones are connected to equipment that automatically identifies the calling number for billing purposes. Where this is not the case, an Operator must come in to ask for the number of the phone you are using so the call may be billed. In our exchanges, when you make a Direct Distance Dialing call, an Operator does not come on the line because your number is automatically identified.

How Do I Use " 0+ " Dialing?

"0+" dialing is available in all exchanges. All Person to Person, Collect, and Calling Card calls can be dialed direct from your home.
Simply dial "0" plus the number you want to call as you would if you were dialing a "1+" call.
The Operator will come on the line to ask what type of call you are placing (Person to Person, Third Party Billing, Collect or Calling Card).
Person to Person, Third Party Billing, Collect and Calling Card calls can also be dialed direct from any pay phone by dialing "0" plus the number you want to call.

Directoy Assistance

For Assistance in Dialing:

If at any time you need the service of an Operator to place or complete a call, dial "0".
When the Operator answers, explain the situation and they will be glad to assist you.
An Operator service charge may apply.

For Local Information:

Dial 1-411.
There may be a charge for this service.

For Long Distance Information:

Dial 1 + Area Code + 555-1212.
There may be a charge for this service.

To Find a WATS Number (Wide Area Telecommunications Service):

Dial 1-800-555-1212.

Coin Phone Directory Assistance:

A charge applies for all directory assistance calls within the State of Iowa.

Directory Assistance Interstate:

There will be a charge for each directory assistance call. However, there may be credits given for certain directory assistance requests. These credits may vary from company to company and carrier to carrier.
When making a request for directory assistance, you are allowed a maximum of two telephone numbers per call.
The charge applies whether or not the Directory Assistance Bureau furnished the requested number (such as in the case of non-published numbers).
Subscribers who are unable to use the directory because of a visual or physical handicap may apply to your local company to obtain a special waiver from these directory charges.

Write Down Numbers - Directory Assistance Calls Cost You Money!

Equal Access

Equal Access means you can choose any carrier to provide your "1+" calls. Before Equal Access came to your local exchange, all of your "1+" interLATA calls automatically went over AT&T and all intraLATA calls were routed automatically to Qwest. Equal Access is a reprogramming of your local telephone company's switch that allows you to use any long distance carrier as your "1+" long distance company. Physical programming by your local telephone company routes your call to the long distance company of your choice.

Some Equal Access Benefits May Include:

"1+" dialing with no extra digits.
Better sound quality.
Less misuse of long distance (fraud).
Lower cost long distance.

Some Equal Access Facts To Remember:

Equal Access is available only through your home or business phone. Outside the home or office you will need a travel feature (calling card).
You can use rotary as well as touchtone phones, but some options are only available with touchtone phones.
If you are a primary customer of the long distance company, your bill will be sent by the company for all long distance calls. In a few cases the long distance company will bill through your local phone company, resulting in one bill.
When you choose a carrier, you will receive all toll and assistance related services from that carrier including operator services. You will be instructed by your carrier in accessing operator assistance.
The choice you make has no affect on your local services. Your local telephone company is committed to providing quality local phone service.

Contact

Calling Features

Call Waiting

If you have an incoming call while you're already on the line, the Call Waiting feature will alert you. You may then put the first party on hold while you catch your second call. It will greatly reduce missed calls due to a busy phone!

Here's How Your Call Waiting Feature Alerts You:

A beep tone tells you another call is waiting. Only you hear this tone.
Another reminder tone will be heard 10 seconds later if the waiting call remains unanswered.
The second caller hears the normal ringing tone only.

To Answer the Second Call:

Depress the switch hook/plunger for about one second to place your first call on hold.
You will automatically be connected with the second caller.

To Alternate Between Calls:

By depressing the switch hook/plunger for about a second, you may alternate between calls.
Each conversation is private and cannot be heard by the other caller.

To Terminate Either Call:

Simply hang up.
Your telephone will then ring.
When you answer it, you'll be connected with the other caller.

Call Forwarding

This feature means your phone can transfer incoming calls to another number of your choice. Call forwarding is great for the business person who wants to catch after hours calls at home, or for anyone who doesn't want to miss an important call.

To Forward All Calls:

Lift the receiver and listen for the dial tone.
Dial "*72".
Again, listen for the dial tone.
Now, dial the number where you want your calls forwarded.
When someone answers at the forwarded number, call forwarding is put into effect.

If there's no answer, or the line is busy, hang up and repeat the steps listed above. If you do this within two minutes, you'll hear two beeps meaning your Call Forwarding feature is in effect.

Once you've activated Call Forwarding, the phone will make one short ring each time a call is forwarded. However, you can still make outgoing calls from this phone.

If you wish to change the number your calls are being transferred to, just discontinue the first number (see below), and redirect your calls using the steps listed above.

To Discontinue Call Forwarding:

Lift the receiver and listen for the dial tone.
Dial "*73".
Listen for two beeps. Call Forwarding is now discontinued.

To Forward Calls - No Answer:

Lift the receiver and listen for the dial tone.
Dial "*92".
Again, listen for the dial tone.
Now, dial the number where you want your calls forwarded.
When someone answers at the forwarded number, call forwarding is put into effect.

To Discontinue Call Forwarding - No Answer:

Lift the receiver and listen for the dial tone.
Dial "*93".
Again, listen for the dial tone.
Now, dial the number where you want your calls forwarded.
When someone answers at the forwarded number, call forwarding is put into effect.

To Forward Calls - Busy:

Lift the receiver and listen for the dial tone.
Dial "*90".
Again, listen for the dial tone.
Now, dial the number where you want your calls forwarded.
When someone answers at the forwarded number, call forwarding is put into effect.

To Discontinue Call Forwarding - Busy:

Lift the receiver and listen for the dial tone.
Dial "*91".
Again, listen for the dial tone.
Now, dial the number where you want your calls forwarded.
When someone answers at the forwarded number, call forwarding is put into effect.

Three-Way Calling

This feature lets you turn an everyday two-way call into a three-way conversation. It's easy!

To Add A Third Party:

First, to hold your existing call, depress the switch hook/plunger for about a second.
Then dial the third number. (Speed calling codes may be used if you also have this feature.)
When the third party answers, you may talk privately before completing your three-way connection.
With your third party on the line, depress the switch hook/plunger for a second to add the holding party. Your three-way call is now in effect.

If for some reason the call to the third party is not completed, depress the switch hook/plunger twice to get back to your held party.

To Disconnect the Third Party:

Depress the switch hook/plunger for about a second. You will now have only the original party on the line.

To Disconnect Completely:

Simply hang up.
If either of the other two parties hangs up, you can continue to talk to the one remaining.

Speed Calling

Now you can call up to eight of your most frequently dialed numbers just by dialing a one-digit code. This includes long distance numbers.

To Establish Your Speed Calling List - 8 Number List:

Lift the receiver and listen for the dial tone.
Dial "*74".
Again, listen for the dial tone.
Dial one of the 8 one-digit access code numbers (2-9).
Then dial the number you wish to Speed Code. (For long distance entries, dial "1" and the area code before the number.)
Then depress the "#" button. (With a rotary dial phone, skip this step and allow a 4-second pause.)
Listen for a confirmation tone to indicate that your Speed Calling number is established.

At any time you may repeat this process for each number you wish to Speed Code, assigning each a different code number.

To Use Your Speed Calling Feature:

Lift the receiver and listen for the dial tone.
Dial the appropriate one-digit access number (2-9)..
Depress the "#" button (with a rotary phone, skip this step and allow a 4-second pause for your number to be connected).

To Change Your Speed Calling List:

Simply follow the same steps for establishing your list. A new number automatically cancels out the corresponding existing number.

Caller ID

Lets you see the name and telephone number of the person calling before you answer the phone.

Caller Identification - Number:

Allows for the automatic delivery of a calling party's telephone number (excluding non-published and non-listed numbers) to the called customer, which gives the called customer an opportunity to decide whether to answer the call immediately or not.
The number is displayed on customer-provided equipment.

Caller Identification - Name:

Allows for the automatic delivery of a calling party's name to the called customer, which gives the called customer an opportunity to decide whether to answer the call immediately or not.
The name is displayed on customer-provided equipment.

The name displayed is the name associated with the calling telephone number as shown on the Company's records. The Company, in its discretion, may abbreviate or limit that name for display purposes. The Company does not assure name accuracy, and it shall not be liable to any party for errors, omissions, or mistakes. The Company's sole and only obligation shall be to reasonably correct errors in names when notified in writing of such errors.

Voicemail

Northwest Communications Voice Mail

Northwest Voice Mail
Always get your messages.

Whether you're a busy parent, a businessperson or you share an apartment with roommates, you'll always get your messages with Voice Mail. When you're away, on the line, sending a fax or just busy - get Voice Mail and stay in touch without having to stay by the phone.

Features & Advantages

Voice Mail can answer the phone with your own personally-recorded greeting when your line is busy as well as when there is no answer, even when the power is out.
Voice Mail can handle multiple calls at once, plus our Voice Mail keeps working during a power outage…your incoming and stored messages won’t be lost!
If you use our Call Waiting feature, Voice Mail is an excellent complement – it takes a message when you don’t want to take a Call Waiting call.
You can easily access your messages from a touch-tone phone, even when you’re away from home.
Use E-Forward and Internet Controls to retrieve your messages, save or delete them, and make changes to your service from a website.

Order Voicemail Today! Call 712.776.2222

Need help setting up your Voice Mail box?
Call 712.776.2222

If you are a new Northwest Voice Mail Subscriber, just follow these simple instructions to set up and access your mailbox.

Set Up Mailbox Instructions

Activate Internet Control
Register here to utilize the Internet Control option with Northwest Voice Mail. You will be notified within one business day that this feature has been activated. You will also receive an informational packet via mail.

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