Number You Have Dialed is Unallocated? Why And How To Fix?

You might have heard an IVR voice “number you have dialed is unallocated” while making a call to some number. This is not an operator or the number holder’s error. Whatsoever, the situation is quite annoying and it leaves you astonished. However, this might be caused by several other reasons like the number is deactivated or others.

In This Article

This article discusses all the possible reasons that cause the number you have dialed is unallocated error and how to fix it.

What does number you have dialed is unallocated mean?

Well, the meaning lies in the sentence itself “The phone number you have dialed is unallocated”. Here the term “unallocated” signifies that the number has no owner or operator.

This means the number is however been assigned by the administrator but not yet registered by the provider toward the customer.

In easy words, if a number is not registered yet to any subscriber or user, then you might listen to the IVR message saying “phone number you have dialed is unallocated”.

However, there are several other reasons that may cause the IVR to reply to the number unallocated message while you attempt to call the number.

Network Locked SIM Card Inserted, How to Unlock It?

Encountering the error message “phone number you have called is unallocated” indicates that the number lacks an assigned user or carrier network provider, meaning it currently has no owner. When a subscriber obtains a SIM card, a unique phone number is assigned, but if the services aren’t used for a prolonged period, the number becomes unallocated and may be reassigned.

Other Meanings of “unallocated Number”

One of the primary reasons for getting the “number you have dialed is unallocated” is that the number is yet to be registered by the provider in the name of a user. Either the SIM card is not provisioned or yet not allotted to a user.

Besides, there are several other reasons for the error which are;

Temporary network issues:

The “number you have dialed is unallocated” also architecturally when there are some network issues in your area or your sim card itself. Usually, these situations are temporary and get resolved automatically after some time.

This may be caused either by ongoing updates on the network tower or the called number getting the reception from.

How to fix “Mobile network not available” error on Android

Having a wrong number

Allocated numbers are commonly linked to the subscriber of the number and the network provider itself. Sometimes, dialing a wrong number can also return you the IVR reply “number you have dialed is unallocated“.

This can be caused by some human error while dialing the number and you might have noted a wrong number while it was being provided to you.

The chances are high that you might call out a number that’s not allocated to any user, or one of those assigned to business premises for free, prompting the phone number you have dialed is an unallocated error.

It is also possible that you need to add the country code before you dial the number.

Fraudulent numbers

You might have experienced the error “number you have dialed is unallocated“, when you call back the number you have just received a call from. This might sound strange but it is completely possible.

These calls are actually fraudulent numbers that are often used by telemarketers.

These numbers are randomly generated by software that is not designed to receive an incoming call.

So apparently calling back on these numbers can return you an allocated number error.

The temporary numbers are used largely by telemarkets, spammers, scammers, etc to hide their actual numbers. These people don’t want you to call them. So they use these types of numbers as their actual identity.

Spoofed numbers

Another possibility of getting this message or getting a call from an unallocated number is scamming. A spoofed number is a deceitful number used by spammers, scammers, or protocol.

There is software that can generate numbers like the original ones to scam people or to use in disguise.

Fixing The number you have dialed is no longer in service?

It depends on that person’s mentality and profession. However, it is best to not receive these calls.

Moreover, you might also notice that the number does not have a user ID, and you cannot copy it down.

Block Caller ID on Android and call from Private Number

Phone Is Temporarily Disconnected

Another possibility of getting the error “number you have dialed is unallocated“, is that the called number is temporarily disconnected.

The number you are calling may be suspended by the provider for a brief period of time.

That could give you either the telephone intercept message, “The number you have dialed is unallocated,” -OR- “The number you are trying to call is temporarily disconnected.”

SIM card is marked as temporarily disconnected by the service provider for a variety of reasons. Either the user would have requested to discontinue the number or the number has been not in use for a long period of time.

Mobile Network State Disconnected: Sprint | AT & T | Tmobile

Unpaid Bills

Different service providers allow users to use their phone numbers without paying bills for a definite time period. If the person fails to clear the unpaid bills, they simply disconnect the number after this grace period is over.

Now when you attempt to call this discontinued number it is obvious to get the reply “the number you have dialed is unallocated,” -OR- “The number you are trying to call is temporarily disconnected.”

This also means that the recipient of the call has lost their number.

Why does my phone calls keep saying call failed on Verizon?

Expired Number

Expired Numbers are the other reason why you hear the number you have dialed is allocated. This usually happens when you try to get into contact with old friends or families whom you haven’t contacted in a long time.

This is because people usually change numbers and leave the old number unused, which eventually expires.

The number doesn’t Exist

Do you know? All the phone numbers that exist are registered and allotted to a user or company. If you are getting the same number, not unallocated error then you might have dialed a number that is not in existence yet.

So, if you are dialing a number that is not issued to any person or body, that might return a number you have dialed is unallocated message.

Read Also:How to Find My Phone Number?

UICC Error

A UICC is a SIM card locked that is imposed by the smartphone manufacturer with connections like Sprint, T-mobile and others.

A UICC restriction may cause the SIM card to get disabled or inactivated. So, calling on a user with UICC locked number may return the unallocated number error as well.

This was a complete guide to the number you have dialed is unallocated with the possible reasons. Now, the question is how to fix the number you have dialed is an unallocated error while calling the number.

How To Fix The Number You Have Dialed Is Unallocated?

Once you have verified that you are not calling a text mail number or a number generated by some software, it’s time to fix the error.

Use the methods below to fix the number you have dialed is unallocated error.

Wait for Network Problem to Get Resolved

If you are getting the “the number you have dialed is unallocated” error again and again then you might need to wait for a couple of hours to get the temporary errors fixed at the other end. This might be the network issues or SIM card issues as well.

Also, in case of an unpaid phone connection bill, you might need to wait for long until the person clears the outstanding bill and gets his/her number activated.

Block the number

This method might not help you to fix the error. But it can save you from potential spammers behind the number. The chances are high that scammers are behind the number.

Also, the spammer can use no caller ID calls to call people without showing personal info.

Delete the number and type it again

you might receive the number you have called is unallocated intercept message if you are dialing the wrong number. Chances are you might have saved the number with an extra digit or might have some missing digits.

Make sure to re-check the number you are dialing to avoid the number unallocated errors.

Check Google Voice settings

If Google Voice displays a call interception message that says, “The dialed number is not assigned,” the following fixes work.

Go to the Google Voice settings page, and make sure your Google Voice Phone number is at the top of the settings.
Go here to search for your mobile operator, enter your phone number, and Make sure your phone is correct.
Also, go to the Google Voice account recovery page and try recovering with your number to see if you receive a message from Google.

You might need to delete Google voice account and create a new one.

Read Also: What is Google Subscriber Number?

Call support

If you cannot make calls and you do not know what the issue is, or your friends inform you that your number has the phone number you have called is unallocated intercept message, you might have to call support.

If you have not settled your bills, go ahead and clear them and if the error still persists, reach out to your carrier network’s service desk and explain the situation to fix the carrier if not activated on the phone.

What if anything doesn’t work and you are still getting the number unallocated error?

If the methods explained above don’t work for you and you are still getting the same unallocated number error then the last resort is to contact customer service and ask for the solution.

Also, make sure that you are not getting the error while calling on some other numbers. As “the number you have dialed is unallocated,” is mostly related to the number you are calling and has nothing to do with the caller’s(your) service provider or device.

Useful Guides:

How Phone Numbers are Allocated?

Mobile numbers are referred to as MSISDN numbers ( Mobile station ISDN numbers) and are allocated by mobile operators as per the ITU- T E.164 numbering plan, the same scheme is followed for numbering even landline telephones.

The mobile number typically consists of 2 ~3 digits for county code, 2 digits for Mobile operator code and finally up to 10 digits for subscriber numbers. The country code for all counties is fixed and is published in ITU- T Standard.

MSISDN number is not stored in SIM, it will be provisioned in HLR of an operator when we register for 1st time. Because of this reason, it is possible for us to switch from one mobile operator to other without changing the mobile number.

FAQ

Why Did I Get a Call From an Unallocated Phone Number?

You might have noticed a miss call from a number and calling back return the “the number you have dialed is unallocated,” error. This is caused because the call would be from your bank, credit card seller, telemarketer or spammer. These calls are placed using software and calling back on these number are simply not possible.

Who uses unallocated numbers?

Telecallers like Banks usually use an unallocated number, Online portals and scammers as well. These numbers are generally generated by SIP phones and are not signatured to receive incoming calls.

Does Unpaid Billing Result in a Number Become an Unallocated Number?

If a cellular bill is not paid for an extended period, then the carrier provider is free to deactivate the number and mark it as “unallocated’. So, yes unpaid bills can result in a number becoming unallocated number

How do I stop the calls from spammers?

There are several methods to stop the calls from spammers, one of the best methods is to use the caller ID app to identify them and block them manually.

What Are Spoof Phone Numbers and Why Do They Become Unallocated Numbers?

Spoof Phone Numbers are generally generated by software AKA SIP phones. The phones are configured to make outgoing calls only. Hence calling back on these numbers may return you a “number is unallocated” message. Telemarketing, Banks and BPO are well known for using spoof phone numbers.

Final Words:

The ‘phone number you have called is unallocated’ error intercept message or IVR reply while calling on a number is due to network issues, number deactivation, spoof number, Google voice error and others. The problems is mostly related to called number and not the caller. If you are getting the number unallocated error while calling, well there is nothing much you can do.

But, if you find your number marked as unallocated, then you might need to check with your network provider and also make sure that your bills are cleared on time to avoid the problem. Also, do contact the SIM provider support to resolve the error.

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