the number you called cannot be reached by this service

iPhone 13 Pro Max - Calling a certain number (which happens to be my only “favourite”) gave an error message:”The number you have called cannot be reached by this service. Contact your provider”


the number being called is on an iPhone 13.


I WAS able to reach this number on FaceTime or by using WhatsApo calling.

The number is in my “contacts” with full international prefix (in this case both myself

and number being called is in Australia +61).


Issue was resolved by turning “dial assist” setting back on



Posted on Nov 5, 2022 12:25 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 5, 2022 02:10 PM

The provider (Telstra in Australia) did a bunch of tests and stated everything checked out OK from their end so they concluded that the fault must be with my iPhone. Telstra suggested a factory reset. I decided (wisely) to further experiment before taking that step.


Since posting my original comment, though further experimenting I have discovered:

  1. It is irrelevant that the number I could not reach was in my "favourites";
  2. When "Dial Assist" setting was toggled OFF, I could still dial through to the number using the keypad, but could still NOT get through when pressing on number in favourites or in contacts list;
  3. When retyped number in contacts list without the country code or the leading "0", the number could be reached be any method of dialing - but I like to have my numbers entered with full country codes.


So, in conclusion, it is a weird quirk when dial assist setting is toggled off AND this particular number is entered into contacts with full country code.


The problem goes away when dial assist is toggled "ON",

OR when the number in question is entered in contacts without country code or leading "0" (regardless of dial assist setting)


Go figure!



4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 5, 2022 02:10 PM in response to Kurtosis12

The provider (Telstra in Australia) did a bunch of tests and stated everything checked out OK from their end so they concluded that the fault must be with my iPhone. Telstra suggested a factory reset. I decided (wisely) to further experiment before taking that step.


Since posting my original comment, though further experimenting I have discovered:

  1. It is irrelevant that the number I could not reach was in my "favourites";
  2. When "Dial Assist" setting was toggled OFF, I could still dial through to the number using the keypad, but could still NOT get through when pressing on number in favourites or in contacts list;
  3. When retyped number in contacts list without the country code or the leading "0", the number could be reached be any method of dialing - but I like to have my numbers entered with full country codes.


So, in conclusion, it is a weird quirk when dial assist setting is toggled off AND this particular number is entered into contacts with full country code.


The problem goes away when dial assist is toggled "ON",

OR when the number in question is entered in contacts without country code or leading "0" (regardless of dial assist setting)


Go figure!



Nov 5, 2022 02:20 PM in response to itobor

itobor wrote:

iPhone 13 Pro Max - Calling a certain number (which happens to be my only “favourite”) gave an error message:”The number you have called cannot be reached by this service. Contact your provider”

the number being called is on an iPhone 13.

I WAS able to reach this number on FaceTime or by using WhatsApo calling.
The number is in my “contacts” with full international prefix (in this case both myself
and number being called is in Australia +61).

Issue was resolved by turning “dial assist” setting back on


Makes sense. Basically, dial assist translates the “+” to the international access code for the region you are calling. “+” doesn’t mean anything to the telephone network. For example, the international access code for UK is 00, and for North America is 011.

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the number you called cannot be reached by this service

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