Wondering if anyone else has the same challenge I have, that Telegram and other chat apps “ban” all VoIP numbers, including those provided by VoIP.ms? Perhaps if VoIP.ms sees a number of customers with this same problem they will prioritize working with other VoIP providers to lobby Telegram and other apps to allow VoIP numbers?
Background
I’ve been trying to use Telegram with a DID purchased from VoIP.ms
Whenever I try to create a Telegram account using this DID it immediately says “Sorry, this phone number is banned”.
I contacted Telegram to “appeal” via recover@telegram.org, but they never replied. The volunteer Telegram support people said there is nothing else I can do.
I have seen this restriction with some voip providers, I also have a Telegram account and did not want to give my real phone number so I set up the account with one of my Google Voice numbers. It was successful and I’ve been using Telegram for greater than 18 months or so, you could try that but you’d have to set up a GV account first.
I have posted before about VOIP numbers not being acceptable by, at least, some places. The bigger issue for me is some of these places do not indicate why the number failed. I have learned from experience to try a cell phone number and that goes through.
Even talking to support: They have never said it is a VOIP number issue, so either they have no clue or they don’t want to say that the type of number is the problem. I have basically only used voip.ms (thank you), but assume it is not a provider problem, but that the VOIP protocol is too easy to manipulate, so some places just stay clear. I requested a way to mask the fact that I am using a VOIP number, but nothing seems available.
I am using my voip line on both whatsapp and telegram no issues try enabling sms they when the send you a code you’ll have to retrieve it from voip.ms message center then enter it into the app and your done works like a charm
My voip.ms number has SMS enabled… but I don’t even get to the step where they send you the code… as soon as I put in the number and tap" “ok” it says “this number is banned”!
Yeah, same. I wonder if voip.ms itself can know about a DID history. Or give a guaranty that SMS would work on a number. Otherwise, I feel your disapointment when a number is not only not working, but banned. (And can they know the reason why? If yes, are there systems that can give information on the quality of a DID before it is purchased.)
Many questions, but this doe snot help you. You probably did it already, but a tech support ticket…
I use a website called http://localcallingguide.com/ to determine what city phone numbers are based in. The first company that was assigned the 1000 block of numbers is listed. Portability means that the underlying carrier can change between traditional landline, cellular and VoIP.
There is a more granular subscription database that I trialed that claimed to be able to show the current carrier but I found errors … it correctly flagged my ported in home phone that I got from a local telco 30 years ago as “VoIP” but it incorrectly flagged my cell phone and work phone as “VoIP” - and neither have ever been a VoIP line.
Most likely the bank is using a subscription API to estimate the trust level of the number, regardless of the original phone company. It is possible that they set a “no VoIP” rule or that is just one of the factors that led to a low score and a block.
Changing that result would be difficult. One would hope that the bank could allow-list numbers connected to their customers account (having verified that the number belongs to the customer).
Indeed, it works generally well for me too (Telegram, Signal, and many other services, except some banks, etc.), but I migrated a traditionnal POTS number, and it is listed as from BELL, and I registered on Telegram about 5+ years ago I think.
So maybe this is a new development, or because it was a ported POTS number. But again, I wish it would work on all services. This is something anoying.
