A system and method for routing a communication directed to a directory number. According to one embodiment, wherein a redirection service is operative with respect to the communication directed to the directory number to direct the communication away from the directory number to at least one other directory number whenever the directory number to which the communication was directed is inoperative. The system comprises a switch configured to receive the communication in a switched telephone network, wherein the communication is directed to the directory number having the directory service, and wherein the switch is configured to detect the inoperative directory number associated with the communication; and a service control point in communication with the switch, wherein the switch is configured to provide the directory number to the service control point, and wherein the service control point includes a database of subscriber information maintained by the network, and wherein the service control point is configured to search the database of subscriber information for a matching entry to the inoperative directory number, and wherein the service control point is configured to instruct the switch to redirect the communication away from the directory number to at least one other directory number upon finding the matching entry.