Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why Have a Pager?

Money
Money you make by getting a message at the right time to close a sale.

Competition
If your competitors don't have pagers, you're a step ahead. If they do have pagers and you don't, you're a step behind.

Freedom
The freedom to walk out of your office and say, "If you need me, page me." Where you go is your business.

Customer Satisfaction
Customers would rather hear, "He/She is not in, but I can page him/her for you", rather than "He/She is not in."

Personal Emergencies
When you're needed, you're NEEDED!

Control
When you can be reached, you're in control. When you can't be reached, you have less control.

Time
A pager saves time, because you don't have to wait for your messages. You can respond faster and get more accomplished.

Professionalism
Being accessible at any time creates a good impression.

Less Stress
Missed calls, rescheduled appointments and urgent requests that you don't know about until it's too late, can take their toll. With a pager, you'll have more peace of mind.

2. How does my pager work?

A pager is like an FM radio that is tuned to one frequency. The Federal Communications Commission assigns each paging company specific radio frequencies on which to broadcast their paging signals. A unique code within the signal tells your pager to decode your messages and display them for you.

3. What is Voice Mail Service?

Basically, Voice Mail works like your home answering machine, and you can access it from any Touch-Tone phone 24 hours a day. With Voice Mail, your pager alerts you with a special code when a message comes in. That way, callers can leave messages 24 hours a day and be assured of confidentiality. And since the message is in the caller's own voice, the message is not subject to misinterpretation.

4. What should I do if I find a pager?

If you find a pager, look on the back of the pager for a special phone number. Many times, calling this number with a lost pager will result in a reward when you mail it back to the address provided. The new number for ConsolidatedPaging is (217) 258-6411.

5. What should I do if my pager is lost or stolen?

Call 1-800-637-5328 right away to let us know. You will be able to retain the same pager number if you wish.

6. What is my pager coverage range?

From a technical standpoint, it's the area in which your pager can "hear" a radio transmitter. You chose a specific coverage area when you signed up for service, which you can change with a phone call to 1-800-637-5328. For information about coverage areas, have a look at the Illinois Plus or Regional Paging maps.

7. Can I get pages when I'm traveling away from home?

Yes, provided you're traveling within the coverage area you signed up for. If necessary, your paging service can be upgraded to a wider coverage area, either Illinois+ and/or Regional Paging.

8. How do I let others know my pager number?

Leave it on your answering machine greeting. Print it on business cards and stationery. Give it to your child's school or your child-care provider. Inform family members and business associates. The more people who know your pager number, the harder your pager will work for you.

9. Who should I call if I have questions or need information about my account?

If you have any questions regarding any ConsolidatedPaging products or services, call our Paging Customer Care Center, toll free at 1-800-637-5328.

10. Can I upgrade my service at any time or must I wait until the end of my contract?

Upgrade any time. Just call 1-800-637-5328, and we'll get you started with voice mail, pager protection insurance or expanded coverage at a moment's notice.

11. What should I do if my pager is not working properly?

First, send yourself a page to see if it's transmitted. Your caller may have made a mistake in dialing. If not, check the battery to make sure it's strong and inserted properly. Most pagers will have an indicator that tells when the battery is weak. If everything checks out so far, look around to see if you're in an area that would hamper transmissions. Radio waves don't penetrate metal objects, such as elevators, and may not reflect into a basement or other areas shielded by the ground or dense foliage.