Calling Features

Charter offers a wide range of calling features designed to build value in the service, improve ease of use and convenience for you, and provide benefits that improve your lifestyle.

Please find information on our calling features below, including videos and troubleshooting tips.

Call Features Availability

The following table lists calling features available and in which package they are included:

Call Features Quick Reference Table

Anonymous Call Rejection

Anonymous Call Rejection enables you to reject calls from anyone whose Caller ID information is blocked. The caller will automatically receive a message that you are not accepting Caller ID–blocked calls, and will be advised to unblock his or her number and try the call again.

To Activate:

Lift the handset, listen for the dial tone, and then press *77.

To Deactivate:

Lift the handset, listen for the dial tone, and then press *87.

Note: This feature may not be available in all areas.

back to top »

Call Blocking

Block 900/976

Calls to these numbers are automatically blocked. At this time, unblocking is not available.

Block Collect

This service provides the ability to block incoming collect calls. If you want to add a collect call block to your service you will need to contact us.

Block Long Distance

If you subscribe to our basic phone package (Phone Line) you can choose to block long distance (1+, 0+, 10-10-XXX dialing) and international calls. If you want to add or remove a Long Distance block to your service you will need to contact us..

If you subscribe to any other phone packages (Charter Local Plus, Unlimited State-wide, Unlimited Long Distance etc.) you can choose to block international calls only. If you want to add or remove an International call block to your service you will need to contact us.

Block Third-Party

This service enables you to block third parties from billing calls to your phone number. If you want to add or remove a Third Party Block to your service you will need to contact us.

Contact Charter Customer Care to activate this feature.

back to top »

Call Forwarding

Call Forward Busy/No Answer

This feature forwards all incoming calls when your line is busy or the calls are unanswered.

To Activate:

Call 1-888-438-2427.

Call Forward Selective

This feature enables you to forward incoming calls from up to 12 selected phone numbers to the location of your choice.

To Activate:

Lift the handset, listen for the dial tone, and then press *63. A menu of options will guide you to add, delete, or review the numbers on your list. Call Forward Selective lets you add the last number that called you to your forwarding list.

To Deactivate:

Lift the handset, listen for the dial tone, and then press *83. Your selected numbers are retained for future reactivation. A menu of options will guide you to deactivate Call Forward Selective.

Call Forward Variable

Forward ALL incoming calls from your home phone number to another number where you may be reached.

To Activate:

1. Lift the handset, and press *72. You will hear a dial tone again
2. Dial the number you wish to forward calls to
   • Note: You must enter the forwarding number EXACTLY how you would normally dial from your home phone. (7 digits OR Area code + 7 digits OR 1 + Area code + 7 digits)
3. The number you wish to forward calls to will ring
4. Call forwarding will be activated once you answer the ringing phone

To Deactivate:

Lift the handset, listen for the dial tone, and then press *73 (a tone confirms deactivation). If you leave Call Forward Variable on and receive a call after returning home, you will hear a “ring splash” (a short ring indicating that the call is being forwarded). You cannot answer the ring splash. It merely reminds you to deactivate Call Forward Variable now that you are home.

back to top »

Call Return

With Call Return, a recording supplies you with the number of the last caller and provides the option of automatically calling the party back. This service applies to calls within your local area only.

To Use:

Lift the handset, listen for the dial tone, and then press *69. If available, you’ll hear a recording of the phone number for the last incoming call. Call Return does not work for calls that have been forwarded or for calls from 800 or 900 numbers.

Our TV Select, TV Sliver and TV Gold packages include unlimited use of call return. If you subscribe to a different Charter package this service is a pay per use service. only. When used as a pay per use service you will incur a charge of 90 cents each time you use it for a maximum charge of $9.00 per month.

back to top »

Call Screening

Call Screening allows you to automatically route up to 12 selected incoming phone numbers to a polite message stating that calls are not being accepted at this time.

To Activate:

Lift the handset, listen for the dial tone, and then press *60. A menu of options will guide you to activate Call Screening.

To Deactivate:

Lift the handset, listen for the dial tone, and then press *80. A menu of options will guide you to deactivate Call Screening.

back to top »

Call Waiting

Call Waiting is like having an extra line for incoming calls. When you are on the phone, a soft beep lets you know another person is calling. You can accept the second call without disconnecting the first.

To Activate:

To accept your second call, press the switch hook or flash button on your phone. This places the current call on hold while you accept the incoming one. You can always switch between calls without disconnecting either one by pressing the switch hook or flash button. Or you can hang up the phone to end the current call, and the incoming call will ring immediately.

To Deactivate:

Lift the handset, listen for the dial tone, press *70, wait for the dial tone, and then dial the phone number you wish to call. Call Waiting is reactivated automatically once your call is completed.

If you are a Charter Internet and Charter Phone customer you can deactivate call waiting on a per line basis as well as manage your other charter phone features using Phone Online Manager(See Quick Links above).

back to top »

Caller ID

With Caller ID, the incoming caller’s phone number and name (if available) are displayed on a Caller ID unit before you answer the call. Please note that Caller ID requires additional equipment and may not be available in all areas.

back to top »

Caller ID with Call Waiting

This feature identifies incoming calls while you are on the phone. An audible signal alerts you to the call, and the caller’s information displays on your Caller ID. This feature allows you to decide whether to answer an incoming call based upon who is calling. In order to use this feature, you must subscribe to Caller ID and Call Waiting and have  a Caller ID–compatible telephone.

back to top »

Call Trace

Customer Originated Trace (COT) is a feature marking the last incoming call received at your home with a "tag" in the Charter phone switch to allow the origin of that call to be traced. The "tag" is applied when you dial *57 (star, 57) from your home. Charter Communications cannot guarantee that this service will work for any particular attempt.

COT is customer initiated and is not related to law enforcement activity. If you receive a harassing or threatening call, you can attempt to have the number traced. Charter Communications cannot release the results of a successful COT to you. Charter Communications will only release the results to your local Law Enforcement Agency.

You can only trace the most recent incoming call. Outgoing calls and the length of time since the last incoming call have no impact on the COT feature.

When you initiate a COT, you will receive this message if your Trace was successful:

• "The trace of your last incoming call was successful.  A charge will be applied to your bill.  Charter Communications cannot release this information without proper authorization from your local law enforcement agency.  Please contact them for further assistance."

When you initiate a COT, you will receive this message if your Trace was unsuccessful:

• "A complete trace cannot be generated from your last incoming call please contact our customer care for assistance."

Your Local Law Enforcement Agency will provide you with information regarding the process and any necessary forms or paperwork that may be required.

Note: The cost is $20.00 each time a trace is initiated, whether the trace was successful or not.

back to top »

Ring Options

Custom Ring

This feature notifies you instantly when a special party is calling. A distinctive ring distinguishes calls from up to 12 numbers that you select. Note: The message you hear refers to Custom Ring as “distinctive-ringing, call-waiting service.”

To Activate:

Lift the handset, listen for the dial tone, and then press *61. A menu of options guides you to add, delete, or review the numbers on your list.

To Deactivate:

Lift the handset, listen for the dial tone, and then press *81. A menu of options guides you to deactivate the service.

Note: This feature may not be available in all areas.

Distinctive Ring

This feature provides two distinct phone numbers on one phone line.

To Activate:

Call Charter Customer Care at 1-888-438-2427.

back to top »

Repeat Dialing

This feature automatically redials a busy number for you and notifies you when the number is no longer busy.

To Activate:

Lift the handset, listen for the dial tone, and then press *66.

To Deactivate before 30 Minutes Have Elapsed:

Lift the handset, listen for the dial tone, and then press *86.

This service is a pay per use service only. You will incur a charge of 90 cents each time you use it for a maximum charge of $9.00 per month for Repeat Dialing usage.

back to top »

Selective Call Acceptance

Selective Call Acceptance limits incoming calls to up to 12 designated numbers and auto-routes all other incoming calls to a polite message stating that calls are not being accepted at this time.

To Activate:

Lift the handset, listen for the dial tone, and then press *64.

To Deactivate:

Lift the handset, listen for the dial tone, and then press *84.

back to top »

Per Call Caller ID Blocking

With Caller ID Blocking service, you can prevent the party you are calling from seeing your phone number. Instead, “private” or “anonymous” will appear on the display unit or phone.

To Activate:

For each call you want to block, press *67 before you dial the number.  Per Call Line Blocking is available to Charter Phone customers.   There is no additional charge for using per call caller ID blocking Caller ID Blocking is also available on a per-line basis in some areas and certain restrictions may apply.  To learn more about Caller ID Line Blocking on a per line basis please contact us  at 1-888-438-2427 to inquire.

back to top »

Speed Dial

Speed Dial 8

Use Speed Dial 8 to program up to eight phone numbers for fast, one-digit dialing.

To program Speed Dial 8 Numbers:

1. Lift the handset, listen for the dial tone, press *74 and then wait to hear the dial tone again
2. Enter the one-digit code (Between 2 and 9) you selected on the keypad, followed by the first phone number you wish to program (up to 24 digits). After you enter your number, press the # key. Several short tones confirm your entry
3. Hang up and repeat this process for up to seven additional phone numbers

To Call a Speed Dial 8 Number:

Lift the handset, listen for the dial tone, and then press the assigned one-digit code, followed by the # key.

back to top »

Speed Dial 30

Program up to 30 phone numbers for fast, two-digit dialing.

To program Speed Dial 30 Numbers:

1. Lift the handset, listen for the dial tone, press *75 and then wait to hear the dial tone again
2. Enter the two-digit code (Between 20 and 49) you selected on the keypad, followed by the first phone number you wish to program (up to 24 digits). After you enter your number, press the # key. Several short tones confirm your entry
3. Hang up and repeat this process for up to 29 additional phone numbers

To Call a Speed Dial 8 Number:

back to top »

3-Way Calling

With 3-Way Calling, you can speak to two different parties at the same time. You can also place one party on hold while you speak privately to the other, and then return to the three-way call.

To Use:

Place a call to the first party. Once that person is on the line, press the switch hook or flash button briefly. The first party will be placed on hold, and you will receive a dial tone; then dial the second number. If the second party answers, you can speak privately to him or her, or press the switch hook once briefly to create a three-way connection. If the second party does not answer, press the switch hook twice to return to the first party.

To disconnect the second party, press the switch hook once; the first party will remain on the line. To disconnect all parties, hang up the phone.

back to top »