A cellular radiotelephone (user terminal) (10) includes a keypad (22) having a plurality of keys (22a, 22b) and a display device (20) for displaying information, including messages, to a user. A method includes the steps of providing the user terminal with an access code for a destination receiving device, and specifying that the user terminal provide a communication signal through at least one communication network to the destination receiving device. The at least one communication network is assumed to have a capability of forwarding received communication signals that include access codes having a predetermined format to destination receiving devices. In response to specifying step, another step is performed that includes determining whether a format of the access code provided to the user terminal differs from the predetermined format. If these formats differ, another step includes modifying the format of the access code provided to the user terminal to produce a modified access code having the predetermined format. A further step includes providing the communication signal, including the modified access code, through the at least one network to the destination receiving device corresponding to the access code originally provided to the user terminal.