Can BT block me from dialling an 0844 tel no ?

spiritus

I was able to dial a cheap rate 0844 tel no to make calls abroad but recently everytime I try to use this access tel no there is a recorded message saying the service is currently unavailable due to "bandwidth problems".

HOWEVER........ when I try to ring this same access tel no. from work then the service works fine.

Can BT block me from using the 0844 tel no ?

Heinz

No (unless you owe them money and then they can block all chargeable outgoing calls).

spiritus

I don't owe them any money.

Could they be barring this telephone no as it takes revenue away from them ?

utilitybroker

spiritus wrote: »

Could they be barring this telephone no as it takes revenue away from them ?

No !!!

Can you share with us the number,0844 provider,and destination your calling?

Are you calling it using your normal BT line,or BT BroadbandTalk?

McKneff

Try googling the number on saynoto0870 and get a generic no. Some phones abroad have uk numbers, I used to ring my son in Amsterdam on a 02 number for free on a night.

If you have free evening weekend calls call them then or use a skype phone

DonnyDave

spiritus wrote: »

Could they be barring this telephone no as it takes revenue away from them ?

No because BT has an obligation to connect calls to all numbers.

Other landline and mobile providers can do what they like, and block certain numbers if they wish.

spiritus

utilitybroker wrote: »

No !!!

Can you share with us the number,0844 provider,and destination your calling?

Are you calling it using your normal BT line,or BT BroadbandTalk?

Yes, I'm calling it using my normal BT line.

The tel no is 0844 200 6565. It is a cheap, access number for international calls (possibly national calls as well).Upto last month we were able to use this number on a regular basis but ever since whenever we dial it we get a recorded message saying "unfortunately, due to capacity problems it is currently not possible to make use of this service".

The provider is CheapestCalls and the country I am trying to call is Poland (although once I get the recorded message I'm not presented with the opportunity to dial the Polish number)

I have tried the exact same telephone from my work's landlind and it is working succesfully.

KimYeovil

Could it be peak-time capacity problems? Are you getting through on the other line at the same sort of time?

utilitybroker

Their appears to be a capacity/congestion problem when you call it from your exchange.

Try using one of CheapestCalls sister companies numbers

Phonecheap 0844 200 9898
Discountdial 0844 200 9595

both only half a pence a minute to call Poland.

thmaga

KimYeovil wrote: »

Could it be peak-time capacity problems? Are you getting through on the other line at the same sort of time?

Maybe they have some sort of fair-usage policy, like internet providers do. Though I cant see anything on their website.

DonnyDave

I have tried it just now and it works just fine. This service is from the Swiss company Finarea. They operate under other names such as 1899 and 18866.

I strongly suspect that what you are getting is a recorded message after the call is answered rather than a network message from BT. It is probably coincidence that it works from your work phone.

What happens with these dial through providers is that the call on the 0844 number connects to the provider (in this case CheapestCalls/Finarea) and they in turn make another call to the destination number when you enter it. This is the second 'link' as it were and may well be limited in the number of calls it can carry. It sounds as if the message is telling you that the limit has been reached.