Some Glitches Mar Area Code Switch

The new 562 area code went into effect Saturday in three Orange County cities bordering Los Angeles County, causing a bit of confusion for some callers.

Those dialing into Los Alamitos, Seal Beach and La Habra are being given a six-month grace period, which means that their calls will still be connected if they use the old 310 area code.

But Pacific Bell officials said Saturday that people using long-distance carriers or calling from businesses with independent telephone networks might not be able to get through unless they dial the 562 area code.

“This is very typical when you have an area code change,” said Linda Bonniksen, a spokeswoman for Pacific Bell.

Bonniksen said many companies are using older telephone equipment that doesn’t work with Pacific Bell’s automatic switching network, which normally transfers appropriate 310 numbers to the 562 area. Those businesses and some long-distance carriers should update their systems, she said.

Residential customers shouldn’t have a problem, she said. During the grace period, their calls to the three cities should go through. Police in the three cities said there were no reports of any problems.

But Seal Beach resident Margaret Williams, 71, said her nephew from the Bay Area was initially unable to reach her Saturday afternoon.

“He said he kept [getting] a recording that said the call couldn’t be completed,” Williams said. Finally, she said, “I had to call him.”

Los Alamitos Councilman Ronald Bates said that even a partial disruption in phone service could hurt local businesses. “It’s something that very much concerns us,” he said. “This is our second area code change in five years, and we think it’s unfair.”

The Public Utilities Commission approved the new area code last year, citing the rapid depletion of available phone numbers as more and more people purchase fax machines, pagers and home computers.