BT won't tell new subscriber their ex-directory number.

Chris_Kirkman

Posting this on behalf of friends who aren't registered on MSE yet.

They recently moved from London area to the midlands and wanted an ex-directory phone line. Got on to BT, had phone line installed and and contacted customer services to find out number for the new line. They were told that they could not be given the phone number as it is ex-directory - but it's their own phone line!!

How is it possible to find out the number when BT won't tell them? This seems like a joke but it has really happened!

Chris K

littlemissfrugal

why dont they phone a mobile from the land line and surely the number will be displayed

Ypaymore

Tell them to call 17070 and that will normally tell them their number.

Or they could have called a mobile and the number would normally have been presented.

Chris_Kirkman

littlemissfrugal wrote: »

why dont they phone a mobile from the land line and surely the number will be displayed

Ypaymore wrote: »

Or they could have called a mobile and the number would normally have been presented.

That would be the obvious thing to try but being an ex-directory number it is withheld and not shown on a mobile or any phone line which displays the callers number.

Ypaymore wrote: »

Tell them to call 17070 and that will normally tell them their number.

I'll pass that on, thanks.

ACDeag

Chris_Kirkman wrote: »

That would be the obvious thing to try but being an ex-directory number it is withheld and not shown on a mobile or any phone line which displays the callers number.



I'll pass that on, thanks.

You can also release the number so it displays on other phones by dialling 1470 before the number you are calling. This releases it for that call only.

Heinz

Chris_Kirkman wrote: »

That would be the obvious thing to try but being an ex-directory number it is withheld and not shown on a mobile or any phone line which displays the callers number.

A common misconception.

In fact, the 2 are entirely separate. I have an ex-directory telephone number but choose not to withhold my CLI.

If I want to withhold my CLI, I can either key a 141 prefix for an individual call or ask BT to permanently withhold my number. In the latter case, using the 1470 prefix would, indeed, release the CLI for an individual call.

Chris_Kirkman

Thanks for all the replies, I knew that there would be MSE users who could come up with the answers. Never realised that ex-directory and withholding CLI were seperate services but you learn something everyday.

Chris K