How To Clear Up A Distorted Voicemail Recording

Floyd Andised · Saturday, December 4, 2021

Garbled distorted voice mail messages

Hi,
Why are all my voice recorded voice mails and even the AT&T lady's pre recorded voice all garbled and nearly impossible to understand?

I called business customer service and they reset my vm but it still does it.

Not good.

Thank you.
Are other voice calls garbled as well?
If calls to other people are coming in clear, then try this:

1. On your phone, dial *#61# and hit the send button.

2, Write down the number that's listed in the "Busy/No Answer" section. This is your voicemail gateway.

3. Call the number. If you can, call it from a landline.

If the voice prompts are garbled, then the voicemail gateway in your area is on the fritz. You will likely have to call up tech support and let them know of this.

Left: iPhone 6+ on T-Mobile. Right: Comcast home internet connection.
Originally Posted by scaredpoet

Are other voice calls garbled as well?

If calls to other people are coming in clear, then try this:

1. On your phone, dial *#61# and hit the send button.

2, Write down the number that's listed in the "Busy/No Answer" section. This is your voicemail gateway.

3. Call the number. If you can, call it from a landline.

If the voice prompts are garbled, then the voicemail gateway in your area is on the fritz. You will likely have to call up tech support and let them know of this.

You are actually calling the Voicemail Retrieval number programmed into your phone to hear voicemail messages. Only incoming callers hear the announcement from the Voicemail Deposit Number in your instructions.

Earl F. Parrish
No. Other voice calls are not garbled and distorted, only recorded voice mails.
The number my voice mail calls that is programmed on key 1 is 704-451-8989

I just entered *#61# and a different number appeared 704-778-9988

I am completely confused now. I just want clear voice mail I can understand and one voice mail number to call.
Originally Posted by Ace88

No. Other voice calls are not garbled and distorted, only recorded voice mails.

The number my voice mail calls that is programmed on key 1 is 704-451-8989

I just entered *#61# and a different number appeared 704-778-9988

I am completely confused now. I just want clear voice mail I can understand and one voice mail number to call.

There are two numbers involved with voicemail. When someone calls you and you do not answer, the call is forwarded to the Voicemail Deposit Number. In your case, that is 704-778-9988. When you press "1" or respond to the voicemail prompt, your phone calls the Voicemail Retrieval Number. In your case, that is 704-451-8989.
What you should do to try to pinpoint whether your phone is at fault is to call your wireless number from a landline. It will speed things up if you turn off your wireless phone so that the call will go to voicemail immediately. Interrupt the greeting by pressing the "*" key. Enter your passcode and listen to any messages in your mailbox. If you hear the distortion, the recording in the voicemail system is defective. If the messages sound normal, the problem is with your wireless phone. If you know another AT&T customer in your area, ask them if they have similar problems. This would only help if the person has the same pair of voice mail numbers as you do.
You could also try just re-recording your greeting. Your signal may have been weak when you recorded the message, and the garbling may have simply been what the voicemail system heard when it was recording.