The 14713 that wasn't - a Telecomms scam?

DerekTheTortoise

Just over a week ago, my wife answered a random call on our landline, at 02:30 in the morning; when she answered, the call was termimated.

So she dialled 1471, but got a call that was made the day before - the caller at 02:30 had withheld their number.

I then checked our statement (Now TV), and found that we had been charged 20p for dialling 14713 - which we did NOT do - and we're not the only ones: I used Google to find any other information about a "nuisance call" relating to 14713, and found that many other people had the same problem.  

Somewhere in the system, the "3" is being added AUTOMATICALLY. Customer Services at Now TV say that we must have keyed it accidentally. I KNOW my wife didn't, and I have told them we didn't (and neither did many other subscribers).

I don't believe it is a "scam" by a criminal, because it is the Telecomms company which is benefitting from it!!

One is tempted to think there is some kind of conspiracy going on . . . .

Neil_Jones

1471 3 does not work if the number has been withheld, because there is no number for the system to call back with, otherwise it defeats the whole point of a number being withheld.

DerekTheTortoise

I'm aware of that, thanks.

The point is we did NOT dial 14713 - we only dialled 1471 !!

Neil_Jones

Sorry, perhaps I wasn't clear.  You have to opt in call back on 1471 by pressing 3, because its chargeable you have to opt in as it were by pressing 3  to start the process, it will not happen automatically..  This does not work on a withheld number so its more likely not to be on this call but another one with a number available.

Actually I've just read your post again and you say - "She dialled 1471, but got a call that was made the day before".  1471 should reset itself each time a new call comes in regardless of whether it was a withheld number or not.  So if there was a call from 07700 900001 for example at 7:30pm and this new withheld call at 2:30am (seven hours later), 1471 should update itself to the 2:30am call.  If its not doing that then you need to tell your provider because that is not normal behaviour for 1471.

iniltous

Not sure about NowTV ( Sky ) network, on WLR ( BT ) type providers , if a caller withheld their number , then using 1471 should say the time the call was received and ‘the caller withheld their number’ , rather than giving the details of an earlier call …FWIW, at 2.30am , the phone ringing could be the result of some sort of overnight testing regime ( albeit a flawed one ) , it’s not unheard of, in some circumstances, by undertaking overnight testing, the testing process makes your  phone ‘ring’ , although it’s not the usual cadence ( ring ring , pause , ring ring )  more like a single short duration  ‘ring’ , but it would explain why 1471 had no entry.
If you were charged for 14713 ( the call back option ) that you never used , it suggests some glitch in Sky LLU network, especially if you have seen similar complaints from others.

MalMonroe

What iniltous, above, says makes sense. 

I'm with BT and if I dial 1471 and a number is withheld, the robot lady tells me that. When I dial out, I'm listed on others' phones as 'withheld'.

I don't think it's a scam or a conspiracy but I'd definitely phone and tell them I want my money back, even if it is 'only' 20p.  

Also my ringer's turned off after 10 pm. My mobile is switched off then too. No, I have no idea what anyone would do if they really wanted me, they'd either have to find someone else to contact or wait until I wake up. Or send some coppers round. Just like in the olden days. 

DerekTheTortoise

Thanks for your comments, folks.

Of course, the other possibility for the 'old' 1471 result is that the caller hung up JUST BEFORE my wife picked up - so the call wasn't withheld, just never mafe contact.

NOW TV have been helpful, and have indeed credited me with the 20p !

We shall be monitoring the siutation, and hope it was a one-off glitch.

iniltous

The caller hung up before the wife answered would not explain this, calling line info ( CLI ) is sent before the ringing signal is applied to the line ,not when the call is answered,  so in this case, if the line ‘ringing’ was from a legitimate call, then any CLI info would have been sent in the few milliseconds before the ‘ringing’ starts, and if no CLI ( because it was withheld) that would be indicated as well, after all  you can still check incoming calls you don’t answer with 1471 , even if they don’t ‘ring’ for very long time