Is it possible for two houses to have the same number?

charlie792

Hi, I really hope someone can help me and I know this sounds really stupid but, I had my phone line installed in the beginning of September, for two weeks or so it was fine, but now I receive calls every day asking for a Mr & Mrs X. Im out a fair bit or just simply don't here the phone ringing so I often get voicemails left, sometimes with really personal information. I had a phone call from their bank who left a message about thier account, I've had a holiday company phone several times about their holiday, Ive had messages about thier computer that was taken to the repair shop. Ive even answered the phone to thier somewhat elderly relatives who say 'oh sorry love I must have mis-dialled' and then hangs up.
Obviously Im somewhat concerned that these people are not getting there messages, but either somehow we both have the same number or they are mistaken as to their own number and have given out mine instead. I really don't know what to do short of phoning back every person who has phoned asking for them and telling them. I did try to correct this after receiving a message from Npower about thier electricity account, I got in touch with them and asked if maybe they could contact this Mrs Frost and maybe get her to check her number but then Npower said they had no account for her, even though they phoned me about it!

There has been no-one at the property previously with this name so Im not quiet sure where the fault lies, any help really appreciated.

I might try going down to their bank this afternoon and see if I can maybe inform them, but Im not sure they will speak to me.

Mark_In_Hampshire

No, it isn't possible for two lines to have the same number. It is possible for incompetence to cause two lines to get swapped round, though - call yourself on your mobile and see what caller ID appears - is it what you thought it was?

Numbers get "re-used" and so the calls are for someone else who used to have that number. I'd call the lilne provider and have the number changed citing nuisance calls as the reason and pressing for it to be free of charge.

If you have a broadband service it should not be impacted, but best to check with them too.

charlie792

Thanks for your reply - it appears incompetence is the most likely answer. Someone from Virgin just phoned me as he saw my post on another forum, they think its a crossed line and they phoned the people concerned and said that their phone rings but cuts out when they answer, I guess when my voicemail or I pick up. I assume they live only a few doors down as they said they are in my area and the virgin box is outside my house, they assume the bloke who installed it screwed up. There's someone coming round tomorrow to investigate.

Heinz

You should've said it was a Virgin line in you original post (anything's possible with Virgin lines).

The number of times 'crossed lines' in street cabinets are blamed is incredible.

charlie792

Right so Ive just had a bloke from Virgin round and he came and checked all the wires, he said everything was fine. He phoned head office and now they say its an account issue - apparently they had set the wrong voicemail up, but I said that would'nt explain how Im still physically answering the phone and getting people wanting to speak to these other people, he said he has no answer to that. Guess I have to wait and see....

charlie792

This still hasn't been sorted and am still receiving calls meant for someone else. Virgin seem to think there is no problem, just because when they rang my number my phone rang and when they rang the other persons number their phone rang.
Im really quiet concerned that I have not been receiving phone calls meant for me, virtually I cannot give out my number because it may very well not work. And I really feel for these other people because they too are missing all their phone calls.
Unfortunately I have a bundle with Virgin otherwise I would switch, am I in any position to at the very least to ask for a new number or line installed?

iniltous

When you answer a call thats not intended for you, has the caller/callers said the number they are calling ?, is it similar to your number, have you tried calling the other number yourself (from a mobile) to see if it calls your line.
I can think of three possibles, mis-dialing, this would only be if the other number is similar in some way to your number , your number given out in error (or on purpose) by the person who the callers are trying to get in contact with, or the other number has been put on 'divert' in error to your number...otherwise there would be something seriously wrong with VM's switch,

keystone

How close is their number to yours? Some people find it extremely easy to transpose two digits and call the wrong number and do it repeatedly!

Equally the people whose calls you are getting may well have transposed digits when they gave the companies concerned their numbers.

Cheers

Heinz

On the face of it, the problem could be the simple one - the OP has been allocated a number which was someone else's before and the calls are for the previous 'owner'.

[STRIKE]Some of the above may indicate that is not what is happening though.

OP, can you try calling your own number from your mobile and not answering the call when your landline phone rings?

If someone else answers, that will prove that another landline also has your number or that your number is simultaneously connecting with another number (in either case, that would mean the 'street cabinet problem' which I mentioned earlier applies).
[/STRIKE]
EDIT. In view of the OP's 9.47am post below, most of this post deleted.

charlie792

iniltous wrote: »

When you answer a call thats not intended for you, has the caller/callers said the number they are calling ?, is it similar to your number, have you tried calling the other number yourself (from a mobile) to see if it calls your line.
I can think of three possibles, mis-dialing, this would only be if the other number is similar in some way to your number , your number given out in error (or on purpose) by the person who the callers are trying to get in contact with, or the other number has been put on 'divert' in error to your number...otherwise there would be something seriously wrong with VM's switch,

Virgin have finally bothered to get in touch with me and they now tell me that the number used to belong to the other people, they obviously have not bothered to tell their family or bank etc. They said they could change my number but its likely it will still happen because I would be given an old number again....Im really not impressed with this, and why did they not tell me this in the first instance.

Col7777

When you get a call for these other people is it possible you could ask if the caller has their address then you can contact them yourself and may be sort it out that way?