Dial Status

A dial status is the system-level outcome code assigned to each call attempt in VICIdial. While dispositions are agent-selected outcomes for connected calls, dial statuses include both agent dispositions and system-generated outcomes for calls that never reach an agent — such as NA (No Answer), B (Busy), AM (Answering Machine), DC (Disconnected), and DNC (Do Not Call).

How It Works in VICIdial

VICIdial assigns dial statuses at two levels. System-level statuses are set automatically based on call signaling: NA when the dial timeout expires, B when the carrier returns a busy signal, DC for disconnected numbers, and AM when answering machine detection identifies a voicemail greeting. Agent-level statuses (dispositions) are set when a call connects and the agent classifies the outcome.

The dial status determines a lead’s eligibility for recycling. The dial_status_filter setting controls which statuses the hopper considers when loading leads. For example, a campaign might configure the hopper to load leads with statuses NEW (never dialed), NA (no answer), and B (busy), while excluding SALE and DNC statuses.

Each dial status maintains a count per list and per campaign, providing visibility into list penetration and outcome distribution. The VICIdial status summary reports show dial status breakdowns by time period, campaign, and list.

Why It Matters

Dial statuses are the foundation of lead lifecycle management in VICIdial. They determine which leads are dialed, which are recycled, and which are permanently removed from the calling pool. Understanding the distribution of dial statuses reveals list quality — a list with 40% disconnected numbers needs to be cleaned, while a list with high no-answer rates may benefit from different calling times.

Proper dial status management also prevents compliance issues. Leads marked as DNC must never re-enter the hopper, and leads dispositioned with certain statuses may have TCPA implications for future contact. See the list management guide for dial status management strategies.