Phantom calls to 123

mrsyardbroom

I've just checked the latest usage on my phone bill and found a call charged to my account that was made to the speaking clock at 1.30am. (It wasn't made by anyone in my household). There are also several other calls that we haven't made that have been charged to me. I know this has happened in the past to Sky customers and Talk Talk but this time it's BT. I've asked them to get it sorted but haven't had a response yet. I'm just wondering if anyone else has this problem.

mrsyardbroom

My phone bill is now recording loads of calls that I haven't made. An engineer is calling tomorrow to check for problems. I have spent two and a half hours on my mobile to BT trying to get this problem sorted out and at one point I was referred to a helpline for the mentally impaired who keep dialling the speaking clock all the time. It would be funny if I was rich and didn't have to worry about the bill.
I am due to be starting my next novel soon and believe me, this little episode will be worked into the story. If I do accidentally pay any of the bill then at least I might get something back in royalties.

Ian011

Turn off any answer machine or voicemail that may be active on your landline then try calling your landline number from another phone number, such as a mobile.

Make sure that no-one else in your household answers the call. Keep calling your landline number at a variety of times during the day and night. If someone else answers, then your line is crossed with someone else.

mrsyardbroom

I'll see what the engineer says tomorrow. They were actually testing the line and found that it was engaged when no-one was on it. I think they have a pretty good idea of what's wrong but we'll have to wait and see.

Scotlands_Lite

This does sound more like a fault on the line, but if you search the web you'll find many stories of these phantom 123 calls appearing on peoples bills. I had a few myself some months back - all of 1 second duration and in circumstances I couldn't possibly have made such calls (although BT did refund all the costs on request). Suspicion is that, despite being told not to do so, openreach engineers continue to remotely test circuit bundles by dialling the speaking clock on random customer lines, even though they have their own dedicated (but longer!) number on which to do so.

Lindlou

I had this.
Eventually wrote to head office in London and they refunded all my calls.

Ian011

Did you find out what the cause was?

Lindlou

Erm.... not really.
see my post for full details but wrote to head office after several fruitless emails and phone calls. They phoned me and said they had a report of a crossed line and refunded my call charges. Got the result but not convinced by the explanation really. Scary - could have been lots of money.