Unable to verify for Google Voice

[jiceman]

I have been forwarding my Google Voice number to ring my Sonic VOIP number. I got an email from Google saying I needed to "reverify". However, Google Voice is not calling my number with the verification code. And now it is giving an error message, "Something went wrong. Try verifying with another number."

Do others have the same problem?

I saw a comment on a Google Voice forum that you can only forward to a "traditional" carrier. https://support.google.com/voice/thread/162080759?hl=en

Any suggestions? I tried removing the number from Google, but it doesn't let me re-add it; it gives the same error message.

[loherj]

Thank you for reaching out regarding this issue. While the Sonic VOIP line you have should not prohibit you from having a forward sent to it, I assume that the Google Voice Line has something occurring with it.

Upon reviewing the link that you included, it seems there can be an issue with submitting the same number and needing to reverify as previously used, so if this is an option, I would try forwarding the Google Voice number to a different number (maybe your cellphone) for a short period of time and then swapping it back to the Sonic Provided line to see if this resolves the issue.

[virtualmike]

Google wants to ensure the GV number is not being used for nefarious purposes, so it wants to verify that you are a real person, meaning it wants to verify with a "real" phone number. Unfortunately, certain VOIP numbers can't be confirmed by Google to be assigned to a real person, and that may include some Sonic numbers. (FWIW, it also includes other Google Voice numbers.)

As Jacob suggests, you can use your mobile number to verify for that you are legitimate, and then you can have calls to your GV forwarded to any number, including both your Sonic VOIP number and your mobile number (I think up to four numbers can be used).

[jiceman]

Thanks to both for the help.

My mobile number is already on the account. This is not to confirm the Google voice number, it is to add the Sonic VOIP number to ring as a second number to the account (after my mobile).

I contacted Google and they "refreshed" their system. So, I no longer see an error message.

However, I am still stuck. When I enter my Sonic VOIP number and click to receive a phone call with the verification code, I do not get a call. Therefore, it refused to add my Sonic VOIP number. I can call my Sonic VOIP number fine from my mobile, but it seems that Google's system cannot call it. I did have this working in the past, but their current system refuses to call to verify.

Any further ideas?

[virtualmike]

Here's something to try. Remove your Sonic number from the Google account, then using the GV app on your phone or by logging into voice.google.com, call your Sonic number and see if the call connects.

If it does, then try relinking it as a GV target. If not, then follow-up with Google, explaining that the number can't be reached by GV. Since it's a U.S. number, GV should be able to connect.

When I ported my landline number to Sonic many years ago (from AT&T, the number was already configured in GV as a forwarding target (as was my spouse's). After the port, calls to either GV number were not being forwarded to the landline. However, the following day, calls started connecting properly. My guess is that Google (or its upstream carrier) had to refresh its database that told it which carrier serviced the number, and that may not happen frequently. Your issue may be related.

[jiceman]

Thanks. That is what I have tried. Google Voice won't call that number with the verification code. Google support has looked at it but cannot determine a reason why the call fails. I was able to link that number a few years ago, but now that I have unlinked it, I am not able to relink (It would have unlinked automatically in a few weeks anyway since it required a new verification call that does not seem possible).

I guess someone else can try linking a Sonic number if they want to test it. Maybe it will fail as well.

[virtualmike]

I can't tell from you message whether you called (not linked) your Sonic number from your GV number, while the number isn't linked. You can either use the GV app on your phone or login to voice.google.com to make the call (you can do it from the same device that you have been using to try to do the linking).

I'd recommend you answer the call on your Sonic line so that answer supervision is returned to GV.

[jiceman]

I called it from my GV number on Monday. But, I forget if that was before or after I unlinked it. I just called it again now.

What should happen now that I have phoned it?

[jiceman]

That was the magic sauce!

After calling my number (now unlinked) from the GV number, I was able to verify by phone. OK, perhaps it was a coincidence, as I have Google investigating as well. But, it it seems like this did the trick!

Thank you @virtualmike.

[virtualmike]

You're welcome.

My theory is that attempts to verify rely on GV's in-house database of phone numbers, which may not be completely accurate, as the details behind the phone numbers change in the field all the time (and those changes are invisible to phone users).

Actually calling the number, however, forces Google to complete the call. In that situation, if the information in the database is ambiguous or incorrect, Google or the partner is required to check with the master database that shows telephone companies how to route every call. (This service is what allows you to port your number from Verizon to T-Mobile or from AT&T to Sonic.)

So, completing my theory, I suspect that once you have GV complete an actual call, where Google was forced to get the routing information, it goes ahead and updates its in-house database of valid numbers for linking purposes.

Of course, I could be completely wrong.