Hearing Carry-Over (HCO) is the ideal solution for you if you want to listen and type on your phone calls. You type on your text telephone/teletypewriter (TTY) or VCO/HCO phone and the relay operator reads your words aloud to the other party.
This service is designed for people with speech difference.
This relay service is available in English-to-English, Spanish-to-Spanish and Spanish-English/English-Spanish Translation.
The TRS Customer Profile allows you to store your relay call preferences and helps speed up call processing.
How Does Hearing Carry-Over (HCO) Relay Work?
It’s a cinch!
Just dial 711 (or 800-982-8771 for English, 866-519-0569 for Spanish-to-Spanish or 877-298-3348 for Spanish-to-English/English-to-Spanish Translation) on your text telephone/teletypewriter (TTY) or VCO/HCO phone and the relay operator will answer with “West Virginia Relay”.
Type the area code and telephone number you wish to call and type “GA” (“Go Ahead”). The relay operator will dial the number and connect to the other party.
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Type your message on your TTY or VCO/HCO phone to the relay operator. Type “GA” (“Go Ahead”) at end of each message. The “GA” indicates that it is the other party’s turn to respond.
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The relay operator reads your typed message aloud to the other party.
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The other party listens and speaks directly to you. The other party says “Go Ahead” to indicate that it is your turn to respond.
To conclude the call, type “GA to SK” (“Stop Keying”) to indicate that you are ready to hang up.
Video: How does a Hearing Carry-Over (HCO) call work?
Here’s how an HCO user, Don, communicates with a standard phone user named Dennis at an auto shop.
Other HCO Features
Please specify to the relay operator the HCO call type you would like to make.
HCO TO TTY
You, the HCO user, listen while the relay operator reads aloud the TTY user’s typed words. You type directly to the TTY user.
HCO TO HCO
The relay operator reads aloud both of the HCO users’ typed words.