Don't want Call Waiting or Voice Mail

Question

The only features I need with my digital phone service are unlimited calling and Caller ID.  I've asked to have Voice Mail disabled because I use a traditional answering machine connected to my wireless phones.  I've asked to have Call Waiting disabled because giving the caller a ring tone when my phone is busy confuses them, and the messages are often misleading.  Right now, service says they have disabled these features, yet if my phone is called while it is in use the caller hears the ring tone ten times then gets a message that says "The number you are calling is not answering.  Please call again later."  All I want is for anyone calling me when I'm on the phone to receive the time-honored "Busy" signal.  Can anyone reassure me that their phone has these two features turned off and works this way, to give me hope that Comcast can fix the problem? 

Answer 1

Just to close the book on this:  Apparently even Comcast has trouble turning off Call Waiting and Mailbox services.  I was told by three seperate level 1 service techs that my problem was caused by my account showing those services had not been shut off, and that they had finally fixed it.  After the fourth attempt by a level 2 tech, the problem was referred to "level 3 support", so exalted that you can't even talk to them, just wait (for up to 72 hours) for them to fix it and let you know.  Never heard a word from them, but tested it five days later and problem was fixed.  If I call myself with a cell while I'm on the phone, I immediately hear that beautiful busy tone on the cell, no confusing voice mail messages.  And also there are no "call waiting" beeps on main phone.  If I call myself with a cell while phone is not in use, my traditional answering machine picks up on fourth ring and takes a message, just like it should.     However, you can't make the test by just calling yourself on the main phone.  Comcast treats that differently.  Phone rings once, then a voice says "The mailbox number that you are trying to reach is not in service.  Goodbye."  I can live with that because it will never happen.  But Comcast is ruining an easy way for customers to check whether these features have been disabled. If Comcast were really interested in improving the "call waiting" feature they would detect that the destination phone was in use, ring a few times (no more than six) to give the called party a chance to switch over, then give the calling party a message that says "The number you are trying to reach is busy.  Please try again later. Goodbye."