A method and apparatus for permitting different treatment of calls from
different callers. Favored callers who receive preferred treatment, the
preferred treatment including the ability to complete calls, are provided
with a private number. If the callers use the private number, they are
subject to an incoming class of service to the called party that is
substituted for the class of service provided to callers who use the
public telephone number of the called station. Advantageously, at the
discretion of the called party different callers may be provided with
different private numbers and their calls may be blocked or completed
with special alerting tones.