Telephone Validation

How do you do it?

[graywolf]

I run for a site where some items must be deliverd by truck and movers. Some people have been filling in the phone number with things like

000-000-0000
555-555-1212
123-456-7890

This causes a problem since we can only communicate via snail mail (they usually leave the email out as well and we don't require it) and the whole process goes very slowly.

I have been asked to try to prevent this. Right now I just check that it 10 digits (I strip out dashes and parentheses). I was going to check that there were at least 3 diferent digits and that the whole thing is sequential (up or down), but I still think it would be too easy to trick your way thru the mechanism. I know i will never get it 100% but am looking to get almost everyone, any other suggestions?

[mack]

validae the email, make the user order then go to their email and confirm their order, that way at least you know the email is corect should you ned to contact them.

[HowlingWizard]

There are a couple of rough verifications you can do.

1) check the area code (first 3 digits) against a current list of valid area code. There are various sites listing these. A basic list [cs.ucsd.edu] or NANPA [nanpa.com]

2) Check the exchange (next 3 digits). There are a few reserved exchanges such as 555 and the x11 numbers. You need to do a some searching to find the complete list.

International numbers are whole different thing and require varification bases on the country and city.