When I was younger, I learned a trick to make a home telephone ring,
it used to be  two numbers and a zero and the last 4 of the telephone
number, you would get a dial tone after you dialed, hit flash once,
and then hang up. The telephone would ring and if you answered it you
would get another dial tone. It seems as if this does not work
anymore, or maybe the phone companies have changed the first 3 digits
needed. Please help, this was the best prank ever, telling someone the
phone was for them!

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Request for Question Clarification by sublime1-ga on 30 Oct 2005 01:44 PDT

paul...

I distinctly remember this, however I also distinctly remember
when this trick stopped working, and trying, not only the 
original code, but a number of creative efforts at finding a
new code, should it exist. After a few months of effort, and
reports that it was simply not possible anymore, I gave up.

Should you be willing to accept this negative information as
as the conclusive answer to your question which it is, let me
know, and I'll post it as an official answer.

sublime1-ga

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Clarification of Question by paulprp-ga on 30 Oct 2005 12:19 PST

I know there is still a way to make a phone ring, because my home
where I grew up I can still use 270-6289 and make the phone ring but I
think it varies from prefix to prefix, and I don't think the it has to
be only 2 digits and a zero anymore.

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Request for Question Clarification by cynthia-ga on 04 Nov 2005 00:50 PST

What is the name of your local telephone company, AND your area code?

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Clarification of Question by paulprp-ga on 04 Nov 2005 13:54 PST

My phone company is Bellsouth, and my area code 502.

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Request for Question Clarification by cynthia-ga on 10 Nov 2005 06:54 PST

Click the link and scroll down to the highlighted words. There's some
info that *might* help.  Let me know.
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:hvVplnlYxTYJ:www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm%3Fqid%3D583069%26page%3D1+Bellsouth+502+%22ring+back%22&hl=en

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Request for Question Clarification by cynthia-ga on 10 Nov 2005 07:04 PST

I think I found it. Try 988. Scroll down this page to "D-13", it lists
Ringback numbers by area code.

D-13. What is the ringback number for my area?
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:23ombjwpL0gJ:www.dsinet.org/textfiles/faqs/alt-2600-FAQ/hackfaq-telephony.shtml+%22Bell+south%22+502+ringback&hl=en
I linked you to the cached page again so you can find the reference to
area code 502 easily.

I vaguely remember this, from about 1985 or so. You're right, it was a
good trick, but surely, with everything that's changed, you don't
seriously think you'll be able to use it again, do you? I mean, you
just want to know, out of curiousity, right?

I remember this very well, but the way to do this is to dial a number
that has an IVR system (Interactive voice response). You can try
calling Ryerson Universiy 416-979-5000.. go thru the menu and hang up.
 The system will wait for your response and because you have hung up
the phone, it will ring.  Try it!

This kind of test code will vary depending on the phone company and
equipment in the central office.

See the following file under the sections "12. What is a ringback
number?" and "13. What is the ringback number for my area?" This file
is probably outdated, but might give you an idea of what it might be.

  http://www.phrack.org/phrack/47/P47-07

http://www.accesscomms.com.au/testnumb.htm

there's a list of some test numbers and such. I also remember dialing
199 at payphone when i was in middle school to get the phone to call
itself back. Try that out.

Also! There's probably a different list of numbers for every telco.
Try googling the name of your telco, along with keywords like "test
numbers" and "call back"

My husband is a retireed telco tech, and says that most telcos have
disallowed this function by customers. Telco techs each have a code
that can make this happen. You could stop when you see a phone tech
out working and ask her/him if they are willing to risk their job and
share the code with you!