We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
The Forum now has a brand new text editor, adding a bunch of handy features to use when creating posts. Read more in our how-to guide
Dead phone line... or is it..? Help!
Charlton_King
Posts: 2,071 Forumite
in Techie Stuff
Just over a week ago my BT landline went dead. It seemed to fail slowly. Broadband also started to go on the blink and has been intermittent ever since - I'm lucky to get online now.
I have an engineer called out for tomorrow afternoon but BT keep saying they detect this is an 'internal fault' and will charge me £130+ for the visit if this proves to be the case.
Obviously, I'm concerned.
When I call my own number from any other, it appears to be ringing normally... but nothing registers on the house phones. Whenever I lift a receiver to call out, there is no dialling tone, so can make no calls.
(This includes plugging a handset directly into the BT supplied wall socket. Nothing. Zilch.)
Anybody any ideas?
I have an engineer called out for tomorrow afternoon but BT keep saying they detect this is an 'internal fault' and will charge me £130+ for the visit if this proves to be the case.
Obviously, I'm concerned.
When I call my own number from any other, it appears to be ringing normally... but nothing registers on the house phones. Whenever I lift a receiver to call out, there is no dialling tone, so can make no calls.
(This includes plugging a handset directly into the BT supplied wall socket. Nothing. Zilch.)
Anybody any ideas?
0
Comments
-
Start by unplugging absolutely everything phone-wise and go to the master socket - does it work now? How about with a different (wired) handset? If not, unscrew the faceplate and go to the engineers test socket which is just behind it - plug a wired phone straight in and does it work now? If yes, it's your internal stuff that's failed, if no, then it's on BT's side.0
-
Sounds like a line fault or a fault within your house up to and including the master socket. Are there any junction boxes before the master socket?0
-
Have no advice to give. Just want to say that I've had BT out on numerous occasions for similar faults to the one you describe. EVERY time they've told me when I reported the fault that the line test their end is fine and that the fault is inside the house and a charge will be made for the engineers visit. And EVERY time it has been a BT fault caused by a problem in the junction box 200 yards up the road.
The last time it was spotty broadband and no phone line. The fault was a loose connection in the aforementioned junction box.
Some people only exist as examples of what to avoid....0 -
Crinkmeister wrote: »Sounds like a line fault or a fault within your house up to and including the master socket. Are there any junction boxes before the master socket?
Not as far as I know.
I've now tried a working handset in the 'engineer's test socket' and there's still no dialling tone... although there's a ringing tone when I dial it from a mobile.
What on earth is going on?
We've been at this house for nearly 30 years and have never had anything like this.0 -
Done as much as you can by the sounds of things, wait for the engineer.0
-
Line fault. I very much doubt that you will be shelling out 130 quid!0
-
Charlton_King wrote: »morrow afternoon but BT keep saying they detect this is an 'internal fault' and will charge me £130+ for the visit if this proves to be the case.
Obviously, I'm concerned
They always say that....
It's intended to put off the idiots who've unplugged their phone whilst hoovering and can't be bothered to use some common sense.
Imagine how many waste of time call outs they'd get if they didn't have that charge......
They've been out to fix my line twice in the last 6 years, the last time was after i'd had no internet for the xmas week, fault was found at the local cab, engineer said it was probably another engineer trying to get his xmas bonus by meeting his monthly targets (he went into a bit of a rant), he'd swapped me onto the faulty cable and given another customer mine, instead of replacing the faulty kit.
Apparently this happens a lot because it's the easiest way to meet their targets.“I may not agree with you, but I will defend to the death your right to make an a** of yourself.”
<><><><><><><><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><> Don't forget to like and subscribe \/ \/ \/0 -
when you ring the number it is the exchange equipment that generates the ringing tone, but if there is a line fault or no dial tone at the master socket the exchange will ring to nothing
the line could have a fault on one leg of the pair hence no dial tone but your broadband will work over one leg of the copper pair
sounds like a line fault to me0 -
I'm saying thanks to all while I still have an internet connection.
Have just been next door to find out that they have a similar problem... with a BT engineer coming tomorrow!
Good news, in a sense...0 -
check all phones are set to TONE (beeps when you tap a number) rather than PULSE (clicking).
Do any have a display? Check / replace batteries!
Unplug phones for about 20 mins- if last call didn't hang up correctly, may have got 'stuck' in a loop..Long time away from MSE, been dealing real life stuff..
Sometimes seen lurking on the compers forum :-)0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 353.8K Banking & Borrowing
- 254.3K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 455.2K Spending & Discounts
- 246.9K Work, Benefits & Business
- 603.4K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 178.2K Life & Family
- 261K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards