anybody know of the "American Roaming Network" ?

[RANBUSH]

I ran out of fuel (don't ask) on Hwy 101 above Willits in a rural area of Northern CA last month. I had no cell service, but when I tried to call for a tow truck/fuel I was routed somehow to the "American Roaming Network" aka ARN. The recorded message said to enter a credit card number and they would give me a PIN for $15 worth of phone time to make "roaming" calls on their network.

I was able to obtain PIN XXXX, but when I called the 866 number that the recording told me to call, I never received any prompts to actually make a call to the AMA tow company number.

Luckily, another rider stopped to help me out and went to the next town, got fuel, and came back. Thank you, Motorcycle Gods.

When I got home, I emailed ARN about getting a refund of the $15, and I asked why I was unable to make a call after I got a PIN from them.

I received an unhelpful email reply: "You can only complete OUTBOUND calls on ARN and ONLY if the carrier sends the call to us. We do not offer a dial service via an 8XX #. There is no way to buy a PIN and use it on our service, without the Cellular call being sent to us by one of our Carrier customers. Your credit card charge has been refunded."

Sooo, if my carrier Sprint doesn't have a contract with ARN, the emergency roaming call gets sent to ARN, but they won't do anything unless Sprint sends them the call?

If you google ARN they have mostly very negative reviews except for three five-star reviews that all appeared sometime last year. Hmmm ...

Sounds like a scam to me. Anybody here know anything about ARN ?

 

[20774]

A quick search found a BBB comment that this was a scam company.

 

[pglaves]

The recorded message said to enter a credit card number and they would give me a PIN for $15 worth of phone time to make "roaming" calls on their network.

I was able to obtain PIN XXXX, but when I called the 866 number that the recording told me to call, I never received any prompts to actually make a call to the AMA tow company number.

That being the case I would cancel and replace that credit card - yesterday if possible!

 

[61996]

Found this: https://americanroaming.com/Home.html

Sounds like a lot of doubletalk to me.

Joe

 

[RANBUSH]

Thanks, Gents for the replies, it sounds like ARN isn't really a legit option.

I guess my strategy should be #1) don't run out of fuel in rural areas with no cell service, #2) use my Garmin InReach to connect to someone that does have cell service, #3) see #1, #4) rely on the kindness of other bikers to help me, #5) see #1.

8)

 

[BC1100S]

I received an unhelpful email reply: "You can only complete OUTBOUND calls on ARN and ONLY if the carrier sends the call to us. We do not offer a dial service via an 8XX #. There is no way to buy a PIN and use it on our service, without the Cellular call being sent to us by one of our Carrier customers. Your credit card charge has been refunded."

Sooo, if my carrier Sprint doesn't have a contract with ARN, the emergency roaming call gets sent to ARN, but they won't do anything unless Sprint sends them the call?

And how can Sprint send them the call if they don't have network coverage? Catch-22? As previously mentioned this sure seems like double talk. And their website lists no phone numbers which you can call to make inquiries.

 

[RANBUSH]

Catch-22? ... And their website lists no phone numbers which you can call to make inquiries.

Yep, agreed. They must make their money off people that never ask for a refund or .... ?

 

[BC1100S]

Yep, agreed. They must make their money off people that never ask for a refund or .... ?

So, did you get a refund? If no you might seriously consider PGlaves advice to cancel that particular credit card.