BT caller display - caller's number always hidden unless caller has a UK number

Buzby

It has nothing to do with BT's local exchanges needing upgraded, and never has.

There was a time International numbers were displayed, but either had extra leading zeros, or none. This caused confusion as they could not be redialled directly. BT's answer was to block inbound CLI at their International gateway.

However, international calls from Cable & Wireless which did not use this gateway (mainly USA, HK etc) the number was shown.

Complaint's to BT were met by an incredible response - which was a lie. They said they blocked these numbers because they could not be sure whether the Intl caller wanted their number shown - inferring that they were somehow responsible to restrict these numbers, when the C7 signalling used to set up the call actually contained the info whether to show or restrict the number at the destination.

All it takes is for BT to remove the block at their gateway and all inbound calls will show full CLI when available. Awaiting a 2CN exchange upgrade is a separate (and spurious) issue but still incorrect.

ValHaller

Buzby wrote: »

There was a time International numbers were displayed, but either had extra leading zeros, or none. This caused confusion as they could not be redialled directly. BT's answer was to block inbound CLI at their International gateway.

....

Complaint's to BT were met by an incredible response - which was a lie. They said they blocked these numbers because they could not be sure whether the Intl caller wanted their number shown - inferring that they were somehow responsible to restrict these numbers, when the C7 signalling used to set up the call actually contained the info whether to show or restrict the number at the destination.

Thanks for this. I have always thought BT were being dishonest about this - now you have provided a good explanation.

Frankly, we would all have been better served by BT letting the information through with any number of leading zeroes - everyone would have got to grips with it fairly quickly while BT resolved the issue. Instead BT have left us to become the victims of the tsunami of international phone spam - creaming off the profits for landing the calls in the UK. Just another unaccountable greedy British corporation....

Buzby

Absolutely - I got round the problem by being served by C&W, then Virgin which resolved much of the problem. Heinz's comment earlier also matched my experience and dissatisfaction as the contempt BT had for its customers (whilst supposedly assisting non-BT customers abroad).

VOIP providers invariably deliver all calls with a full international CLI, so BT's position is untenable, nut after all this time I felt 40 years of less than stellar service (whilst paying dearly for it) the only solution was to cut the cord for good.