The answering machine is not recording messages and cannot access messages remotely. A vendor left a message on my home phone. When I tried to access remotely, "no messages." When I returned home, no message. So, I left a message for myself on my home phone. Showed no message remotely OR when returned home. Next day I asked my sister in Florida to leave me a message here in New York City. It left the message (which I retrieved when I returned home) BUT had a "trailer" which spoke "if you are making a call, please hang up and try again." I am NOT happy with my phone, which I purchased less than one month at a Staples in NYC. Before two days ago, I could get messages when I reached home. I have tried and disconnected the phone line and the handset plug and the phone adaptor as well for at least 15 minutes and plugged everything back in. I have re-read the instruction manual at least twice. The answering machine did work, 3 days ago. Now it doesn't help! IF I must UPS back the phone, does the proof of purchase have to be the original slip or can I send you a copy (since if I send the original, I will never have a proof of purchase again)? Second: Can I have a new unit sent to my office address instead of my home address since I work late and nowhere in apartment building that new unit can be accepted? Finally, comments on the web strongly state that Thomson phones are unreliable and that you do not EVER send a new unit. I am anxious. Please help me with my problem; answer my return questions; and give me some evidence that I WOULD receive a new unit before I die. Many thanks, Clara E. Wong Office: National Council of Churches 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 800 New York, NY 10115 TEL, OFFICE: (212) 870-3351 (Karen **** will answer during normal business hours)

You can access the answering system remotely by dialing your home telephone number from any touch-tone telephone. To remotely access the answering system
Dial your telephone number from any touch-tone telephone. When the answering system answers, enter the two-digit remote access code (19, unless you have changed it). The answering system automatically announces the number of messages (new or old) if there are any. If there are new messages, the answering system automatically begins to play new messages only. -OR If there are no new messages, the answering system automatically begins to play all old messages. You can also enter the remote commands: Play all messages
1 Press to listen to all messages. If there are new messages, the system plays back only the new messages (oldest first). If there are no new messages, the system plays back all old messages (oldest first). Play new messages
2 Press to listen to new messages only. Delete a message 3 Press during message playback to delete the current message. Delete all old messages
3 Press to delete all old messages. Replay current message or previous message
4 To repeat the message currently playing, press 4 after the answering system plays the day and time the current message was received. To listen to the previous message, press 4 while the answering system is playing the day and time the current message was received. Stop
5 Press to stop playback and recording. Play help menu * 5 Press to listen to a list of remote commands. Skip to next message
6 Press during playback to skip the current message and advance to the next message. Record a announcement
7 Press to record a new announcement. Begin speaking after the long beep. Turn system on or off 0 Press to turn the answering system on or off. Exit
8 or hang up Press to end remote access (the call is terminated). 1. 2. 3. 4.5
0 Answering system Remote access Hang up to end the call and save all messages.
NOTES: If you do not enter a valid remote access code, the system answers the call automatically. If the date and time is not set when a message is recorded, the system announces, "Time and date not set" before the answering system announces the number of messages. If there are no messages in the answering system, the system announces, "You have no message." If there are no new messages in the answering system, when you press 2 to play back new messages, the system announces, "You have no new message." If you pause for more than four seconds during remote access, you hear a help menu listing all features and commands. If there is no command for another 20 seconds, the call ends automatically. If the memory is full, the answering system answers after 10 rings and announces, "Memory is full. Enter the remote access code." Enter your remote access code to access the messages and announcements. When the answering system is turned off, the telephone answers after 10 rings and announces, "Please enter your remote access code."

Remote Message Retrieval
You can operate your answering system from a remote location using any touch-tone
telephone or the handset.
Remote access away from home
You can check, play, or delete messages, even record a new greeting message when
you are away from home. Additionally, you can turn On or Off your answering system
from a remote location.
Remote access:
1) Call your telephone number and wait for the system to answer. If the answering
system is off, it will answer after about 10 rings and sounds a series of beeps.
2) During the greeting message (or a series of beeps when the answering system is off),
press 0 and enter your PIN code within 2 seconds (see "Setting a PIN Code" in your owners manual.
3) The answering system announces the current time and the number of messages stored
in memory. You hear "To play incoming messages, press zero-two. For help, press onezero".
You will hear a beep.

4) Enter a command within 15 seconds, each command there after must be entered
within 2 seconds. You may select a command from the following chart:
For your convenience
a remote operation
card is provided for
you to use while
away from home, it can be found in the back of your owners manual.
Command Function
0 then 6 Answering System On
0 then 7 Memo Record/Stop **
0 then 8 Greeting Message Record/Stop **
0 then 9 Answer System Off
1 then 0 Help Guidance
Command Function
0 then 1 Repeat a Message*
0 then 2 Playing incoming Messages
0 then 3 Skipping a Message
0 then 4 Deleting a Message
0 then 5 Stop Operation
* For Repeat a Message function, press 0 then 1 within about four seconds to
repeat the previous message, or press 0 then 1 after about four seconds to repeat
the current message.
** For Memo Record and Greeting Message Record function, the first time you enter
the corresponding command, it starts the Recording function. If you want to stop
the recording, press 0 then 7 or 8.

5) After the command has finished, you hear intermittent beeps indicating that the
system is in the command waiting mode. You may enter another command at this
time from the chart above.

6) When you are finished, hang up to exit the system. The answering system
automatically returns to standby.
Your machine automatically has a PIN set of 80.
If you are trying to use remote access from a cellular phone and having trouble: Try changing your tone length on your cell phone to long.

nschutz,

Remote Operation

You can operate your answering system from a remote location (when you are away from home, or from another room using a handset).

Use this function to check for recorded messages, to play or delete message. When using any touch-tone telephone, you can even record a new greeting message.

Remote Access away from Home
You can operate your answering system from a remote location using any touch-tone telephone.

1) Call your telephone number.
2) During the greeting message, press 0 and enter your PIN code
3) The answering system announces the current time and the number of messages stored in memory. Then you hear "To play incoming messages, press zero two.
For help, press one zero."
4) You may continue to listen to the voice prompts, or you may select a command from the following chart:

*For Memo Record and Greeting Message Record function, the first time you enter the corresponding command, it starts the Recording function. If you want to stop the recording, enter the command again.
5) After all of the voice prompts have been played, you hear intermittent beeps indicating that the system is in the command waiting mode. You may enter another command at this time from the chart.
6) When you are finished, hang up to exit the system. The answering system automatically returns to standby.

0 then 1 Repeat a Message
0 then 6 Answering System On
0 then 2 Play Incoming Messages
0 then 7 Memo Record/Stop*
0 then 3 Skip a Message
0 then 8 Greeting Message Record/Stop*
0 then 4 Delete a Message 0 then 9 Answering System Off
0 then 5 Stop Operation
1 then 0 Voice Prompts

Turn on the Answering System Remotely
If you have forgotten to turn on your answering system, you can turn it on remotely from any touch-tone telephone.
1) Call your telephone number.
2) Wait ten rings until the system answers. You hear intermittent beeps.
3) Press 0 and then enter your PIN code. The answering system announces the number of messages stored in memory. You hear "To play incoming messages, press zero two. For help, press one zero."
4) Press 0 then 6 to turn the answering system on. You hear the outgoing message and a confirmation tone.
5) Hang up the phone; subsequent calls will be answered by the system.

Respectfully,

Adam04

Can you please specify the exact model of the phone? Because the steps in accessing it remotely varies from model to model. Anyway, you can try to follow the steps posted here and then test:

Remote operation allows you to control the functions of the Answering System when you
are away from the Base,and call from an outside telephone line. The Answering
System cannot be accessed from another telephone on the same line. You can access
many of the Answering System functons from a remote location, such as listening to
messages, changing recorded announcements, and recording memos.
Remote operation can only be accessed from a touch tone telephone. If the remote phone
is set to pulse dialing, switch it tone. If tone dialing is not available, you will not be able
to access the Answering System.
Note: All function codes should be entered within 2 seconds in order to activate Remote
Operation.
To Activate Remote Operation From a Different Telephone Line
1. If the Answering System is OFF, you can dial your telephone number and wait for
the Answering System to answer your call after 10 rings. An announcement, "Please
enter your security code" is given, and you enter your security code to use remote
operation.
2. If the Answering System is ON, it will answer your call and begin playing the currently
selected announcement (as with any incoming call).
3. Enter # followed by your 2 digit security code during the announcement. The
default security code is 19.
4. Once the security code is received, a double confirmation beep will be given, and
you are in Remote Operation mode. You can then control the Answering Machine
functions using the telephone keypad.
5. The user can also enter the Remote Operation mode during message recording. The
procedure is the same as step 3. The recording will be stopped after entering the
valid security code "s#xx " and the incomplete message will be deleted. If " 0s"
is entered, the Answering System will release the line, but the recorded message
will still be retained.
6. If the user enters a wrong security code, the system will release the line.
Playing Messages Remotely
1. Press " #1 ", " #2 " or " #3 " on the touch tone keypad to play the messages in the
corresponding mailbox.
2. The system will announce "Mailbox X. You have XX new messages and XX old
messages" and the system will playback the new message only. If there are no new
messages, the system will announce "Mailbox X. You have XX old messages. On
the other hand, in the absence of old messages, the system will announce only the
number of new messages.
Repeat Messages During Playback
1. Press "#4" once during message playback to repeat the current message.
2. Press "#4" twice within 2 seconds to skip to the previous message.
Skip Messages During Playback
1. Press "#6" once to skip forward to the next message.
Stop Message Playback
1. Pressing "#5" during message playback will stop playback.
Deleting Messages
1. Press "#9" once during message playback to delete the current message.
Note: Playback will pause if "#" or " " is entered. Answering System will wait for the
command in the following 2 seconds. If no further tone is entered, playback will be resumed.
Memo Recording
1. Press " 8".
2. After selecting the mailbox by entering command "1", "2", "3", You will hear, "Now
recording", followed by a beep.
3. Enter "#5" to stop recording when you have finished.
Change OGM Remotely
1. Enter " 7" to record a new OGM. You will hear, "Now recording", followed by a
beep to signal start of recording.
2. Press "#5" to stop recording. Your new OGM will playback automatically.
Check OGM1 Remotely
Enter "#7" to review OGM. You will hear playback of OGM followed by a beep.
Turning Answering System ON or OFF
Pressing "#0" toggles the Answering System ON/OFF. "Answer machine on", or "Answer
machine off" will be announced, followed by a beep.
Voice Menu for Remote Operation
The system provides two pre-recorded voice menus to help you during remote operation.
Press " 5", and you will hear the simple voice menu.
The simple voice menu is as follows:
• Press "#1" to play mailbox 1.
• Press "#2" to play mailbox 2.
• Press "#3" to play mailbox 3.
• Press "#5" to stop.
• Press "#4" to repeat the message.
• Press "#6" to skip the message.
• Press "#9" to erase the message.
• Press " 5" for other functions.
(To advance voice menu)
The advanced voice menu is as follows:
• Press "#7" to review outgoing message.
• Press " 7" to record outgoing message.
• Press " 8" to record memo.
• Press "#4" twice to repeat previous message.
• Press "#0" to turn the system on or off.
• Press " 5" to return to the simple voice menu.
Pressing any function code will stop the voice menu, and perform the corresponding
functions.
Exiting Remote Operation
1. Enter " 0" on the touch tone keypad to exit remote operation mode. The Answering
System confirms your action with a long beep and then disconnects.
2. The Answering System also automatically disconnects if no key is pressed within 20
seconds during remote operation.

Most answering machines have a 'remote code' to access messages via remote. (from another phone line when you aren't at home.) Look for the manual or look on the bottom of the unit itself.

If you do not see a code for it. Or have the manual, find your model online and the manufacturer should have the user manual online for free. It should provide the code for remote access.

Typically, you call the phone, when the answering machine picks up, you would dial the security code and the answering machine will then start playing your messages.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Hi,

The easiest way to gain access into an answering machine is to use it's preset access code. This is the access code set at default by the vendor on the given device. The best thing about this is that most users don't bother to change the access code to their device, if they even know that they have such a feature. Even worse yet, some of the manuals given for the device by it's vendor even tells the user that changing the access code is optional, not necessary. So of course since most people only do what they feel is necessary, these access codes are many times if not usually set at default. So what I'm going to do for you now is list the different popular vendors out there, and include their preset access codes, how to use them, and controls to use after gaining access. Keep in mind that if there is no model number beside the vendor, then that means that the information given works on most of their models. Likewise of course if there is a model identification beside the vendor name (placed in parenthesis) then that of course means that the information provided is model dependant. So let's begin, shall we?

1) AT&T - preset access code is 10 - when the answering machine picks up punch in the access code
7 - play messages
6 - play new messages
# - stop/pause
2 - repeat message
5 - skip message
4* - record announcement (push # to end recording)
41 - play announcement
* - record memo
33 - delete all messages
3 - delete selected
0 - turn system on
88 - turn system off
99 - change remote code

2) BellSouth - preset access code is 555, Mailbox 1: 555, 2: 666, 3: 777, 4: 888 - when the machine picks up hit * and then punch in the access code
0 - help (use this to get the commands available)

3) Freestyle - preset access code is 000 - when the machine picks up push in the D button and then punch in the access code
2 - play all messages
3 - play new messages
4 - skip back during messages
5 - delete during messages
6 - skip forward during messages
8 - play outgoing message
9 - record new outgoing message
0 - set answering machine on/off
1 - hear main menu

4) Vtech (VT650) - preset access code is 0000 - enter access code during announcement
#4 - repeat message
#5 - pause message
#6 - skip to next message
#7 - delete message
#8 - skip backwards
#9 - stop/exit any function
*8 - room monitor

5) Vtech (VT2650/VT2468) - preset access code is 50 - enter access code during announcement
#4 - repeat message
#6 - skips message
#5 - stops
#9 - delete message
#7 - review announcement (after beep press 7 to record an announcement and use #5 to stop)

6) Vtech (HK5886) - preset access code is 48 - enter access code during announcement
#1,2,3 - play new or old messages
#4 - repeat message
#6 - skip message
#5 - stop
#9 - delete message
#7 - review announcement (after beep press 7 to record an announcement and use #5 to stop)

7) Olympia (OL2410) - preset access code is 0000 - enter access code during accouncement
1,2,3 - select and play messages
4 - repeat message
44 - ignore message
6 - play next message
7 - delete current message
8 - record memo
9 - record announce (5 to stop)
0 - toggle answer on/off
* - play help menu

8) Doro - preset access code is 321 - enter access code right after outgoing message has played (or during)
1 - repeat/skip to previous message
2 - play/pause message
3 - skip to next message
4 - play current outgoing message
5 - record new outgoing message
6 - stop
7 - erase current message
8 - switch off answering machine
9 - switch on answering machine/select outgoing message
0 - (after playback) erases all messages
# - end playback
## - end call

9) Virgin Pulse cordless phone - preset access code is 123 - enter access code during outgoing message
1 - review current message
2 - skip to next message
3 - erase the current message
4 - play all or new messages
7 - repeat voice menu
0 - turn on/off TAD

10) Panasonic - preset access code is 11 or 1111 - enter access code during outgoing message
4 - new message playback
5 - all message playback
1 - repeat
2 - skip
9 - stop
7 - record new announcement (use 9 to end recording)

There are also a few random vendors that don't automatically preset an access code on the machine, forcing it's user to set one up him/herself. This is a small step forward as far as security is concerned, but every vendor I saw that did this still used a mere 2-digit access code. To test and see if your target has this type of setup press # when the machine start, and then press 0. If the machine returns to the annoucement then you know this is the kind of machine it is. Of course, in reality, this isn't all that bad of a scheme since you have 100 different combinations available for the access code. However, most users simply set these access codes as 11, 22, 69, etc. So yeah, just try it out. If it disconnects you after so many tries, call back from another payphone (which you should be using in this case).

Thanks for contacting Fixya

While you are away from your home or
office, you can use a touch-tone phone,
or a pulse (rotary) phone with a pocket
tone dialer (available through your local
RadioShack store) to enter your PIN and
do any of the following:
• set the phone to answer or not
answer calls
• listen to your messages
• record a new outgoing message
• erase messages
• monitor the room where the phone
is located
Notes:
• You cannot remotely operate the
phone using its handset or another
telephone on the same line as the
phone.
• You can also listen to the message
recorded on Line 2 by making a call
to Line 1’s number (or vice versa).
USING THE TOLL-SAVER
If RING TIME is set to TS (toll-saver),
(see “Setting the Number of Rings” on
Page 15), the phone answers after three
rings if you have new messages (ones
you have not listened to). If there are no
new messages, the phone answers after
five rings. This gives you time to hang
up before the phone answers so you
can avoid unnecessary long-distance
charges.
Note: Toll-saver works only on the line
you called. If Line 1 has no new messages,
but Line 2 has one, the telephone
answers after five rings when you
call Line 1.
USING REMOTE
COMMANDS
Follow these steps to operate the phone
from a remote location.
Note: If you wait more than 15 seconds
between keypresses, the phone sounds
a long beep and hangs up.
1. Dial your phone number and wait for
the phone to answer.
2. If the phone is not set to answer
calls, it answers after about 10 rings
and sounds a series of beeps.
3. When the outgoing message begins
(or the phone sounds a series of
beeps), press #, then enter your PIN
within 2 seconds.
If the PIN is correct, the phone announces
the day and time, then it announces
the number of new and old messages.
The phone plays all new messages,
then beeps about every two seconds to
let you know it is ready to accept remote
commands.
Notes:
• If the phone does not respond, try
entering your PIN again. If you enter
an incorrect PIN three times, the
phone beeps and hangs up.
Remote Operation 27
• When the phone is operating from a remote location, it stops all answering functions
and rC appears on the display on the base. The phone resumes answering
functions when it is no longer in remote operation, if you have not turned it off.
• The remote playback of incoming messages is limited to 4 minutes. If you have
more messages after 4 minutes have passed, you must press # 2 again to listen
to the rest of the messages.
• When using remote operation, you can only delete the current message during
playback. You cannot delete all the messages stored at one time.
The following table shows the remote commands you can use.
Note: Remote operation stops when someone picks up the handset and presses either
LINE 1 or LINE 2 (whichever is flashing), or any phone on the same phone line.
Remote Commands
Press #
then (within
2 seconds:
Function
1 Repeat current message during playback.
2 Play messages.
3 Skip current message during playback.
4 Delete current message during playback.
5 Stop playback, recording, and room monitoring.
6 Set the phone to answer or not answer calls.
7 Record or stop recording a new outgoing message.
8 Play the outgoing message.
9 Switch to the other line (Line 1 or Line 2).
0 Monitor the room where the phone is located for 15 seconds

you have to set the answering machine to accept remote access. Then anytime when you call home and the message is playing you can enter the machines' remote access number to retrieve your messages.

Here is a link to the pdf format owners manual from Uniden for this phone:

http://www.uniden.com/pdf/TRU8885om.pdf

Remote Operation
You can check, play, or delete messages, even record a new greeting message from a
remote location (when you are away from home, or from another room using a
handset). Additionally, you can turn on or off your answering system remotely.
Remote access away from home
You can operate your answering system from a remote location using any touchtone
telephone.
1) Call your telephone number and wait for the system to answer. If the answering
system is off, it will answer after about 10 rings and sounds a series of beeps.
2) During the greeting message (or a series of beeps when the answering system is
off), press 0 and enter your PIN code within 2 seconds (see "Setting a PIN Code"
on page 25).
3) The answering system announces the current time and the number of messages
stored in memory. You hear "To play incoming messages, press zero-two. For
help, press one-zero." You will hear a beep.
4) Enter a command within 15 seconds, each command there after must be entered
within 2 seconds. You may select a command from the following chart:
* For the Repeat a Message function, press 0 then 1 within about four seconds to
repeat the previous message, or press 0 then 1 after about four seconds to repeat
the current message.
**For the Memo Record and Greeting Message Record functions, the first time you
enter the corresponding command, the phone starts recording. If you want to
stop the recording, press 0 then 7, 8 or 5.
5) After the command has finished, you hear intermittent beeps indicating that the
system is in the command waiting mode. You may enter another command at this
time from the chart above.
6) When you are finished, hang up to exit the system. The answering system
automatically returns to standby.

Command Function Command Function
0 then 1 Repeat a Message* 0 then 6 Answering System On
0 then 2 Playing incoming Messages 0 then 7 Memo Record/Stop**
0 then 3 Skipping a Message 0 then 8 Greeting Message Record/Stop**
0 then 4 Deleting a Message 0 then 9 Answer System Off
0 then 5 Stop Operation 1 then 0 Help