How do I validate my account, and how long does validation take? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Currently, Multicom-4 receives many applications per day!! The registrar process these applications as quickly as possible. When you sign on as NEW, your account data is forwarded to a separate validation computer system, which checks your information for it's validity (i.e. zip code/postal code, area code/city code/country code, phone number, street name, etc.) This process is done every hour on the hour, automaticially. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- |02/14 @ 3:12PM EST: "Jimmy" just signed on as NEW. He can look around | the demo portion of the system, send E-Mail to the | sysop, and perform basic operations. | |02/14 @ 4:00PM EST: Jimmy's data is uploaded to the validation computer. | The validation computer verifies that Jimmy is 21, | and the AREA CODE, ZIP CODE and ADDRESS match. Once | complete, Jimmy's validation record is created. | |02/14 @ 4:21PM EST: Jimmy calls 716/442-1669 with his touch tone phone | from his home voice phone, and selects option #8 | on the voice system (validation). The system asks | him to confirm his handle, and offers to call him | back to validate his account. He selects YES. | |02/14 @ 4:22PM EST: The voice validation computer calls Jimmy at home, | and Jimmy and answers the questions asked with his | touch tone phone. The data is put into the queue | for validation the following weekday. | |02/15 @ 4:45PM EST: The validation computer gets all the validation | records from the previous 24 hour period, and dials | into a national database and sends in all the data. | A report comes back which is then compared with the | data provided. Jimmy's records match 100%! His | account is automatically validated! | |02/15 @ 5:00PM EST: Jimmy logs on to Multicom-4 with full access! +-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Validation made simple! +-----------------[ IF YOU ARE A UNITED STATES CITIZEN: ]-----------------+ | | | If you are a U.S. Citizen, residing anywhere in North America, simply | | wait one hour from when you signed on as new; then call 716/442-1669 | | (our voice system), and select option #8 (validation status). The | | voice system will guide you from there! | | | | If your phone number is not recognized by the system, logon to | | Multicom-4 and check your account information for accuracy. If your | | information (especially your PHONE NUMBER) is NOT correct, or your | | phone number is not in the format: xxx-xxx-xxxx or xxx/xxx-xxxx, | | then UPDATE it, and allow 24 hours to pass before calling back! | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +-------------------[ IF YOU ARE NOT A U.S. CITIZEN: ]--------------------+ | | | If you are calling from outside North America, or are not a United | | States Citizen, then you must send in a PAPER VALIDATION FORM with the | | appropriate ID. (Download VALIDATE.DOC from Multicom-4 in the VALIDATE | | MENU), and MAIL or fax it to us to the address/fax# on the form. | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Due to overwhelming demand for access to Multicom-4 we DO NOT place manual voice validation calls. YOU MUST CONTACT US either by calling the voice system for an automatic voice validation, or via paper validation. AUTOMATIC VOICE VALIDATION -------------------------- You can call our voice response system and initiate an automatic validation call back any time of the day or night. To do this, you MUST be in North America, be a United States Citizen, have a touch-tone phone, and be at the residential/home telephone number that you used when you signed on as new. Please keep in mind that BRAND NEW ACCOUNT INFORMATION is put into the voice response system every hour, on the hour. Therefore, you must wait until the "top of the hour" before voice validating. Call 716/442-1669 with your TOUCH TONE phone and select option 8 (check on your validation status). Follow the voice prompts, remember to only enter in your SEVEN DIGIT VOICE HOME PHONE NUMBER, you need not enter your area code! International callers: You may check on your voice validation status with the voice system, but you can't perform an automatic voice validation call- back. Use the LAST SEVEN DIGITS OF YOUR COMPETE PHONE NUMBER to do this. For example, if your international number is: 011-44-1-25-422432, simply type in 5422432 for your phone number. ^ ^^^^^^ PAPER VALIDATION ---------------- If you can't call our voice system for an automatic voice validation, you can download our PAPER VALIDATION APPLICATION and mail it in. To do this, select menu item labeled "PAPER VALIDATION" at the command line below to download or view our paper validation form. Please be careful to follow the directions carefully. If we have any problems with a paper validation, we will attempt to call you, or send you E-MAIL regarding it. How do I get my date of birth corrected? ---------------------------------------- The ever helpful volunteers at the Multicom-4 Help Desk can correct your date of birth if it's not entered correctly by sending FEEDBACK to the system operator or by calling 716/442-1669. Corrections normally take 24 hours to complete. You can still use your account while waiting for the correction. Who can help me if I have lost my password? ------------------------------------------- Only the Multicom-4 sysop can look up a lost password. You will have to the help desk for help. The Multicom-4 help desk is online 24 hours a day, however, if you want to speak to the SYSOP, it's best to call 10am-5pm, Monday through Friday. The number is (716) 442-1669, and the sysop's ext. is 100. After you successfully log in, you should change your password for security's sake. How can I change my password? ----------------------------- Once you're validated, just type "A!" from the MAIN MENU. While in the NEW class, you can do this by typing "42" from the NEW menu. Can more than one Multicom-4 Member use the same computer? ---------------------------------------------------------- The same computer can be used by lots of different people. For example, the Public Access Terminals in several local bars are used by lots of people each day. Multicom-4 can't tell what computer you use to access the system. Your personal and private information in your Multicom-4 account is stored on our system. It doesn't matter where you log in from, the information is available as long as you are connected to Multicom-4. Can two people share the same account?/Can I have 2 accounts? ------------------------------------------------------------- No. Each Multicom-4 account MUST have only one user. So if you are sharing an account, one of you should register for a personal account now. No. One account PER PERSON is one of our MAIN RULES here. The integrity of our system depends upon people having only one account, and one person per account. How much should I contribute? ----------------------------- We suggest $25 as a good place to start. HOW TO MAKE A DONATION ---------------------- Making a donation to support Multicom-4 is a simple process and requires only a minute of your time, yet it means so much to the continuation of the Multicom-4 in Rochester, as well as world-wide. For every $1 you donate, we will give you 7200 credits as a thank you gift. (Credits have NO cash value and are NOT refundable!) * Write out a cheque or money order, made payable to "Multicom-4", in the amount you wish to donate (please make donations in blocks of $5 to keep our accounting simple). We do not recommend sending cash in the mail. * Write your User-ID (Handle) on the cheque or money order, preferably on the front in the MEMO field. If your name does not appear on the cheque or money order, please print it to expedite handling. * Place the cheque, money order in an envelope addressed to: Multicom-4 Data Services 274 N Goodman Street Rochester, NY 14607-1154 - OR - * If you prefer to use your credit card, please call our voice system at (716) 442-1669, and select option #1, (purchase credits) and follow the prompts. We accept DISCOVER CARDm MASTERCARD, VISA and AMEX/OPTIMA. - OR - * You can use your credit card or an "electronic cheque" in our online credit centre! Just type /GO CREDITS to see how! - OR - * You can call our $10 or $25 "900" numbers to make a donation once you are a validated member. Should you have any questions about making a donation, please do not hesitate to call our office at (716) 442-1669, ext 100. Once you are a validated member, you can type /GO CREDITS from anywhere online and information on what credits are, and how to buy them will appear. Tax Receipts ------------- Multicom-4 is listed in New York State as a charitable organization, and we will issue tax receipts upon demand. Just let us know. Thank you for your kind support.