BT line fault

[dunc]

Just fired onto the website and reported this, basically getting an intermittant dial tone - sometimes I get one, sometimes I don't. Dialling out rarely works too. This is the message I got back straight away (see attachment).

I'll pretty confused as to why it would state a fault at the house without anyone checking other poosibility's out first. I was using the line on the internet when I reported the fault.

Has anyone had the BT guys out for a fault, do they charge alot? The wiring in my house is well dodgey, but I fired into the phone sockets and got it working as good as I could, but still thje fault as stated above persists.

Cheers,

Dunc :(

[Martin T]

If you ask for an engineer you should hopefully see one before you retire if you're lucky :thumbs:

Sorry I cant offer more help than that :(

[s13silvia]

dunc are you on broadband, im an ex bt broadband engineer PM me your problem

[dunc]

Nah, just phoneline. Exchange is getting updated next month so will probs be changing then. Was trying to phone up freeserve to cancell but couldn't get through because of the dodgey line. It just stopped working properly as of today :(

Took ages to get online, the PC couldn't get a dial tone half the time.

What info do you want PM'd? Thats pretty much all the detail there is TBH unless there's something in particular you need to know?

Cheers,

Dunc.

[s13silvia]

still, try the usual shit, reinstall your modem, check the phone cable itself, try using the cable with your phone, and if theres any background noise, its either too high a db rating on the external cables (i.e. bt's ones) or its a dodgy phone cable of yours, so try another cable, if its still noisy its BT's problem, and they will probably fix it in a year... go for broadband, anythin else is a rip off :|

[Leon]

lets all sing the BT song

if you're crap and you know it clap your hands
if you're crap and you know it clap your hands
if you're crap and you know it and you really want to show it,
if you're crap and you know it, take the following steps:

Put an UNDERGROUND joint in the phone lines 20 foot up in the air.
Send out an UNDERGROUND engineer to fix it, twice. U.E. won't go up poles so they send out an OVERGROUND engineer, who won't fix underground joints.

Repeat twice.

Cut off the telephone to Number 3 Cottages when a resident moves out of Number 3 Flats
Twice.

Refuse to believe that a customer has moved from Flat 2 to Cottage 3 and proceed to cut off Flat 2 and Flat 3, then give Flat 3 Cottage 3s number. Get told your mistake and give Cottage 3 Flat Threes calls on flat twos number.
Cut off everyone.
Give Cottage 3 Flat 2s phone line (YAY) then cut it off two hours later (boo)
Connect Flat 3 to Flat 3s number, cottage 3 to cottage 3s number and leave flat 2 disconnected until the new residents move in. Bingo. Then have some rain get into the junction box and short out Cottage 3s number, after cross wiring it with Cottage 1s line.

Lets sing again! All together now...

If you're crap and you know it...

[dunc]

Will the BT engineer come out and check all the BT related lines and tell me if its my problem or there's without charge then?

I'm going with Eclipse or Nildram for broadband going by speed and cost compaired to others (inc. BT).

Dunc.

[s13silvia]

I never wrote anythin ere about BT... what are ya sayin

[s13silvia]

Will the BT engineer come out and check all the BT related lines and tell me if its my problem or there's without charge then?
in direct answer form, no, its done over the phone.. engineers have better things to do with their time, like eating donuts, and charging 54 quid an hour to do so :P

[dunc]

Cheers for the advice silvia, delete away. Its a fault with the normal phone line not really the internet. I'll make sure an engineer doesn't get called out but I don't understand how I'm supposed to know where the fault lies - in my house or elsewhere?

Anyways - cheers for the help,

Dunc.

[Mike_S13]

We had a problem with our phone line. It was crackly for ages. BT tried to tell us that it was a fault with the equipment and would cost £60 for an engineer to be called out.
Kept moaning at them to come and check the wiring because it wasn't our phone(s). After about 6 phone calls an engineer came and fixed the knackered wire between the house and telegraph pole for free :rolleyes:
BT customer service :indiff: :no:

[dunc]

Up to what point is BT resposible for the wiring? To the house or to the socket in the house?

Cheers,

Dunc.

[s13silvia]

its a very odd thing is BT dunc.... no clear cut rules really............. and i didnt work in the PSTN section so i cant give you a set of codes of conduct that they run to...... but after a whoosh test has been done (jus say its a net and phone problem and both have crackly lines after youve tried multiple phone cables - between phone and socket on wall - MAKE SURE YOU DO, DONT LIE cuz if an engineer finds that THAT IS the problem youll get charged over 50 quid for their troubles - what lovely peeps eh) right, so they find out theres a fault at the exchange they will send out an engineer to fix, and if its true that there is a fault they will fix it..... however.... if there is not a problem YOU will be charged for BT's mistake..... now, they can acctually tell the db rating accross the line, this increases with distance from the exchange and this can cause noise over (i believe) 98db .... now also ask the guys at the helpdesk to call PSTN faults, they will check the line to see if there really is noise, and if there is im sure an engineer will be sent out to fix it free mate....... BT are not responsible for the wiring in your house mate, thats up to you, though they can certainly give you some advice at the helpdesks, but more on the internet side..... so you should be nice n easy if its just a phone problem, give them a ring and tell them that its the line thats noisy whilst using the phone , and different cables dont alter it!! then they SHOULD diagnose it nice n quick for ya mate..... good luck :thumbs:

edit:- Im assuming you DO have a crackly/noisy line when using the phone aye?!

[Jonny]

Remove absolutely everything all the way back to the BT master socket, and check it from there.. If it's OK there, then it's a prob with your wiring...

From memory, you can also take the front off the master socket, and plug a phone in direct there...

faulty modem cables etc can all screw up the line, so make sure they are all unplugged :)

[dunc]

Just fired onto the website and reported this, basically getting an intermittant dial tone - sometimes I get one, sometimes I don't. Dialling out rarely works too. This is the message I got back straight away (see attachment).

I'll pretty confused as to why it would state a fault at the house without anyone checking other poosibility's out first. I was using the line on the internet when I reported the fault.


Fault as above (crackling not really an issue), nothing to do with modem just phone line. Where's the master socket in the house? Just the bits the phone plugs into?

Dunc.

[s13silvia]

ok. your phone line dont crackle.......

heres how well do it, and try these then get reply to this post
first also, please tell me if your running one line and switching it for telephone and modem use, or are you running DACS (is there a big box there and it 'splits' one line into two different no. so u can use phone and modem together) or do you have 2 totally seperate lines for phone and modem.....
1. make sure there is 1 phone line going straight from your modem to the phone box (where u plug your phone into - are you in a flat? if so it might confuse issues if theyve got a big phone network but ignore that for now)
2. take this phone 'line' and plug one end into the box at the wall, and one end into your telephone, listen to it, is it making a noise, wiggle it around, does it crackle etc.
3. buy another phone line, try using it, do you still get a dodgy connection/ intermittent dial tone? is it still noisy with the phone? if so, its a bt problem and let them know this, if not, its a prob at your end

4. if so, first go to my computer- control panel - right click on 'system' icon - on the pop up menu click on open .. in the new window thats opened, click the device manager tab at the top... scroll down to modems, look at your modem in the list, does it have a yellow exclamation mark or red mark? if so, double click it and check whats wrong with it...

stroke uninstalling modem, on 2nd thoughts thats not gunna be a problem..... now if you are in a flat, ask the owner if the line is split elsewhere..... if another person uses their phone if it is split then your connection will drop or not dial out, and if you have other phone lines running to the same box disconnect them and try!

if your still gettin the problem let me know....... also mate, are you getting an error no. when it dont dial out? you should do, reply with this aswell.... hope this helps :D

[tDR]

dunc, try unplugging your digibox from the phoneline m8 ;) :nod:

Bri.

[dunc]

Just got home from work ready to do some investigations to find an answer machine message on my phone from BT. They said that they have fixed the fault and that they apologise for it.

And yes, you can now pick yourself off the floor.

Thanks for the great advice guys, glad I didn't have to delve too deep into this mystery though.

Dunc :thumbs:

[s13silvia]

good stuff mate, im still gobsmacked BT fix a problem within 30 hours :rolleyes: well mate, nxt time you have an issue like this PM me or woteva or any o the other guys im sure.....
cheers
Dave

[dunc]

Cheers, will take you up on that mate :thumbs: