BT Landline - have I reached the end of the line?

Bigphil1474

CLI = Calling Line Identity - you don't have one apparently? It may be that your number is blocked to outgoing receivers?


Not an expert, but happy to throw some thoughts into the hat if it may help. This has to be some sort of automated system as it can't be possible for any person to make a call lasting 0.02 ish seconds every time at such specific times - would have thought therefore not to be crossed line. Also, if it was to some premium number you'd expect that cost, but a local number should either be free or cheaper than 30p a time surely?
You say you use a pre-dial when making calls for business - could it be linked to that? I would have thought that it's either the phone or the router sending some sort of data call out. As it's a local number suggests it could be the local BT exchange maybe? You would have thought BT could at least find out where the telephone number is for. Could it be a fault on the router perhaps - do you have a spare of either to try out.
You say you are an end terrace - is the green telephone box nearest your house - I've read before that Openreach engineers can sometimes test lines by using a customer line, and as all these calls are through the day, could be something like that maybe - has there been any upgrade work in the area recently?

takman

linclass wrote: »

Hello Ian, negative to both suggestions. No playstations, Wii or any other gaming stuff. I will try what you've suggested, thanks

linclass wrote: »

Hello Tadley, all I have is the BT Router they sent to me when I joined BT. I have a wireless printer, but that's only a few months old and the issue started way before I bought that, but I can see where you're coming from,

No modern gaming equipment or computers/printers have a modem in them so it would be impossible for them to make any calls.


What devices you have that are connected to the telephone line?. I think you should disconnect everything and then connect only the broadband and a new telephone and see if the numbers still appear on your bill.

linclass

AS expected then. Yesterday I posted pretty much the same as I've posted here, onto the BT customer forum. Received the following from one of the moderators:

Thanks for posting on the forum and for filling in the webform. I am sorry but I am afraid that BT will not be able to revisit your complaint as we have issued you a deadlock decision and you have taken your complaint to the Ombudsman who have made a judgement based on the evidence provided to them. If not you are not happy with the Ombudsman's decision they will provide you with advice on how you can follow alternative routes to resolve your complaint. Any further contacts made to BT regarding this complaint will be recorded against your account but we may not respond.

Soooo ... I posted this reply onto the ongoing conversation and ... guess what! The Mods have removed it!! Then got this post:

Under these circumstances, there is nothing anyone on this user forum can do to help. If you had visited this forum when the problem started, then you may have stood a better chance of finding the problem.

If you ever move to a different provider, then it would be interesting to see if the problem is still there, then at least it would prove whether it was a BT Retail problem, which I doubt. In my personal opinion, its more likely an external line contact.

I asked the contributor regarding *more likely an external line contact* but he's refused to explain, and suggests:

Sorry, but it would be inappropriate to comment further, as you are in a deadlock situation. If you do reach a resolution, and are still a BT Retail customer, then the situation would be different.

You can read about the external network, which is owned by Openreach, on many Internet websites.

So! Another brick wall then. Anyone got a sharp knife? My wrists are waiting....

Stevie_Palimo

You need this route now linclass : https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/alternative-dispute-resolution/settling-out-of-court/complaining-to-the-telecommunications-ombudsman/

linclass

Stevie_Palimo wrote: »

You need this route now linclass : https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/alternative-dispute-resolution/settling-out-of-court/complaining-to-the-telecommunications-ombudsman/

Been through Ombudsman Services Stevie. They decided BT aren't at fault, and have therefore reached deadlock. In other words, BT are calling me a liar, as they refuse to admit it's a glitch with their equipment/billing. Ofcom are next to useless, 'we can't DO anything, but we can make a note of your complaint' is what I got. I can see the template for the letter of complaint, but this would just go to BT - who have seemingly washed their hands of the problem.

Stevie_Palimo

linclass wrote: »

Been through Ombudsman Services Stevie. They decided BT aren't at fault, and have therefore reached deadlock. In other words, BT are calling me a liar, as they refuse to admit it's a glitch with their equipment/billing. Ofcom are next to useless, 'we can't DO anything, but we can make a note of your complaint' is what I got. I can see the template for the letter of complaint, but this would just go to BT - who have seemingly washed their hands of the problem.

You seem to have two choices here now then as follows :-

Forget about it and move on.

Take legal action and I would only suggest this if you are 1000% sure that you are in the right with this, Do not let your own judgment be the deciding factor to make this move and ask some friends or family maybe for an outside perspective as this can be long and drawn out whilst in some cases costly.

Small claims court are not overally expensive to utilise but you really do have be totally sure that the case you want to bring is correct and in your favour, These cases are weighed up on the balance of probabilities so with this in mind if you can catagorically state that you think this is the right move then look into it, To seek a few hundred pound would not costs a fortune either.

[Deleted User]

linclass wrote: »

Well! Just dialled as you suggested Iniltous, 'welcome to your openreach line test facility .. there was no CLI detected on this line'. So what's that all about then? What's CLI detection? I live in an old end of terrace property. None of my neighbours have experienced anything like this.

Just to rule the phone out, have you tried a different one plugged in? Just a cheap £5.49 job from Argos if you don't have an alternative.

http://www.argos.co.uk/product/3924358

linclass

Well here we go then. Today, I've spoken with BT, refuse to do anything as with Ombudsman services. Spoke with Ombudsman services, who cannot go further as the case has ended in deadlock, and unless it's NEW numbers being supposedly called, they won't discuss further. I've had an online discussion with Citizens Advice. NO help, other than suggest I walk into the local branch who 'might be able to contact BT or Ombudsman services on my behalf' ... Also suggested maybe the local MP, so perhaps that's the way forward. Just been speaking with BT and asked re. call barring - that is, barring certain OUTGOING numbers. Can do that, charging £4.25 per month. So unless the MP can intervene and get a resolution, seems I'm totally stuffed by BT.

Bigphil1474

Did you ask them where the phone number is for? I'd have thought it was the first question they could answer. Sounds like a pickle but also sounds like you're the only one who is gonna have a chance of sorting it. Is it worth getting anytime calls on your home phone or do you not make enough calls to save money that way?

SamDude

As a last resort, could you move your landline to another provider - Sky, Post Office, Virgin??

A bit drastic, but if the charges do not appear on the new provider bills, you can rule out the equipment in your home. This is then proof that the BT billing system was wrong.
If the calls do still appear on the new provider bills however... :think: