Exeter, Devon landlines - premium rate fraud - check your bills

Steve__M wrote: »

If you are in Exeter or Devon, it is worth checking your landline bills April up to now.

There appears to have been fraud occurring at the exchange resulting in landlines being billed with premium rate calls they have not made.

If you google the number, you will likely find reports of this fraud on other forums.

This fraud happened to me despite me having premium rate barring enabled on my line.

My provider, TalkTalk have agreed to refund my money.

The story has today (9th July) been reported in Exeter Express & Echo (Page 22). But BT are pretending that the problem is "not widespread". This might be because when I called them and reported it, they hung up on me.

Why would BT speak to you ?, you are not one of their customers, if your provider accepts the problem (and refunds money) and they in some way think BT ( wholesale/openreach ) need to do something then its for TT to speak to the relevent people, not you....why would you even think that speaking to BT (retail) is a reasonable thing to do ?, where on BT Retails computer systems do you think they will find you ?

Steve__M wrote: »

Some of the people being ignored by BT are BT's own customers and the police investigating the incident.

If I run a business and people using products of my business were victims of fraud, I don't believe I would cut them off mid-call - I would log the complaint. Cutting people off is discourteous.

It seems apparent that this sort of fraud happens quite regularly, so I would expect BT to have systems in place to identify it, to deal with the fall-out from its customers and other users of its systems, and to not make bland statements that they are "not aware of a widespread problem".

Perhaps you calling BT is just being public spirited, but if BT's customers call and complain, even if they get what they consider to be a bland 'not a widespread problem' reply, the CS rep can enter notes or whatever against the callers account/tele number, if you call BT not being a customer exactly where would you expect them to log the call ?..after all you have no entry on BT (Retail) customer systems.
You may think when you call BT you in some way are contacting the keeper of the nations telephone records, but you aren't, BT Retail is just a service provider, same as Talk Talk, or Sky.
As a TT customer if you have been affected by this fraud, then logging it with TT is the correct thing to do, if TT suspect the problem is with BT, then they should have the processes in place to highlight the problem with Openreach/BT Wholesale, who can investigate if they feel the need.
I dont think there is a single company anywhere that will take fault reports for their competitors business, whould you complain to Tesco if Asda had overcharged you for a item of shopping ? , would Tesco 'log' the call ?.
If the BT CS rep was rude telling you to speak to your own provider, then that is wrong, but then they are given only a set amount of time to deal with calls, your call was one they can do nothing with.