telephone fault

MargaretR · 20-01-2014, 11:32

My BT internet is working but my telephone isn't

I was wakened from a nap at 10.55am by a repeated message from my Age UK personal alarm box which is connected to the BT landline - couldn't hear all of it - just the end - "at Thetford".

Is anyone else having landline problems?

maxthecollie · 20-01-2014, 11:34

I've had that before with bt. they found damp connections on the pole

Retlaw · 20-01-2014, 11:42

I've also had that fault, they found the cover had'nt been replaced properly on the pole box and connections were wet.

MargaretR · 20-01-2014, 11:44

Thanks gents - I have now reported the fault on the BT website and it is being investigated - thank goodness my internet connection still works,

MargaretR · 20-01-2014, 22:37

My phone is still out of order. I have been in a BT help chatroom and have had the fault upgraded to priority status on health grounds. This has reduced the target repair time down from 3 days to 30 hours.
If I need medical help tonight I have no way of using my Age UK pendant and hope I can manage to get on this forum and ask you to phone my son .

PS I don't have a mobile phone - even though there was credit left on it - they cut it off due to non use.

Margaret Pilkington · 20-01-2014, 22:59

I hope they sort you out soon Margaret.
Had I seen this earlier I would have nipped down with a mobile you could have used for emergency purposes.
Do you know your neighbours?
Would they help in the event of an emergency?

MargaretR · 20-01-2014, 23:44

I have met some of the neighbours briefly - one family actually gave me a box of biscuits at christmas and said sorry for noise of children running in flat above - I assured her it isn't a problem.

I don't think I know them well enough to rouse them from sleep. They work.

There is usually someone awake on here at night who could phone my son for me.

I am having a mediocre day healthwise - been worse - getting bad withdrawl symptoms from tapering off oral steroids.

I am seriously thinking of getting a mobile phone again - thanks for your concern.

dotti34 · 21-01-2014, 00:04

Thinking of you MargaretR - hope everything is fixed for you soon. Also hope you get over those withdrawal symptoms quickly. If they don't fix that phone within the time they have given you (or before would be better!) get your son onto your local M.P. quick sharp and make him/her earn their keep.
Best wishes.

MargaretR · 21-01-2014, 12:16

Telephone connection restored - was 'off' for 25 hours.

maxthecollie · 21-01-2014, 12:20

Too long in my opinion.Given your situation

Margaret Pilkington · 21-01-2014, 12:32

Glad to hear that you have your phone back on Margaret.

gpick24 · 21-01-2014, 12:47

Have you thought of setting up skype?

MargaretR · 21-01-2014, 14:39

I don't know enough about it. I do have a webcam I could set up.
I think, maybe wrongly, that you can only phone people who have it in use.

My reluctance includes the fact that I am not a pretty sight.

gpick24 · 21-01-2014, 14:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by MargaretR

I don't know enough about it. I do have a webcam I could set up.
I think, maybe wrongly, that you can only phone people who have it in use.

My reluctance includes the fact that I am not a pretty sight.

You don`t need to use the webcam, mic and speakers is all that`s needed, it`s just using your internet connection as a phone line. You can even get skype phones so you can use it without a PC -
Skype desktop and home phones - Make Skype calls from your desk or home phone - Skype Shop

Free to ring other skype users. You can also ring landlines and mobiles but there is a charge.
Here are current rates - Skype Calling Rates - Cheap international calls & low-cost calling plans

If you have similar problems in the future, you at least have a way of contacting people (unless you lose internet connection as well).

Morecambe Ex Pat · 22-01-2014, 19:14

Did BT say what the problem was - loose/wet connections would have affected both phone and internet signals.

Your neighbours sound like decent folk - I doubt if waking them in an emergency would cause problems but get yourself a loud, canister powered, air horn just in case.

In an emergency, open a window and blow the horn, even if nobody helps, somebody will complain to the police about the noise.

What kind of people would not help in a genuine emergency?