british telecom test call

[jules77]

At prescisely 11.59 last night, when I was 'fast' asleep, the telephone rang. I answered it and a recorded message said 'BT test call complete'. I called 1471 and called back the 0800 number given, and it said that BT had tried to call me, and would call back if they needed me. I was not impressed, my son lives in America and due to time difference I thought it was him, and he would only call in the middle of the night if there was a problem. I just called BT, first advisor said the engineers do tests in the night, but usually betwen 3am - 4am when people are asleep so they dont answer the telephone. The next advisor said it was unusual for the telephone to actually ring when they do test calls. I asked for confirmation in writing it wouldnt happen again, and he said that would cost me �10!! His supervisor was too busy to speak to me. I am absolutely furious, I want to take this higher, but not to Oftel, I was thinking of the paper or something, anyone any ideas, or had this happen to them? thanks

[jules77]

A - it woke us both up......and the dogs
B - I am a bad sleeper and didnt get back to sleep and I had to be at work today at 7.30am
C - who gives them the right to call me in the middle of the night
D - Before I pressed 1471 I tried to call my son in america as I worried there was a problem as he wouldnt call me at that time of night if there wasnt
E - first advisor said they normally test lines between 3am - 4am when customers are asleep so they dont have to get up to answer the call
F - second advisor said he had never heard of them testing lines and the telephone actually ringing
G - the supervisor was too busy to speak to me!!

is that enough reason? my friend says to go to Ed Doolan, whoever he is, some radio station I think

[B00]

Well do that then.

You asked for an opinion and I gave you one, sorry it's not one that was to your liking :-)

[jules77]

I asked if anyone had any ideas of where to complain to, or if it had happened to them. I am a stickler for good customer service, and I am absolutely furious, I was worried sick last night when I got this call - and I dont think you appreciate that

[THECORBYLOON]

I've not seen what B00 and it's gone now. It's the first I've heard of BT testing the lines and I can't see a newspaper being interested in it unless thousands of folk were affected.

I'm not sure why you rang yir son in America after you'd heard the recorded message telling you it was a BT test call.

They may disturb folk who are asleep no matter what time it is, if you had come off nightshift and they'd 'phoned at 10 am you may have been annoyed then.

If you look in the front pages of the 'Phone Book there should be an address you can write to complain.

[jno]

as a shiftworker myself I often get woken up by the phone. It hadn't occurrred to me to sue anyone, but perhaps I may yet make my fortune.

No, I can't see the Sun splashing the headline MAN WOKEN BY PHONE on their front page, not while Big Brother is still going and Kate Middleton is there to be harassed.

[THECORBYLOON]

I think the solution is

1 make a recorded message telling folk you are asleep and to leave a message.

2 turn the ringing volume down.

end of disturbed sleep.

[joko]

i don't blame you for being pished off - they should not be ringing people at those sorts of hours.

however, i doubt there is much you can do but write a formal complaint and instruct them not to do it again.
the paper will not be intersted - "person woken up at midnight- once" - hardly news.... i would try oftel - they are the only ones who will be able to impact on this.

call bt and say that if they do it again, you will be on that phone first thing to arrange to install cable.

[jules77]

To Corbyloon - I called my son as I thought he was having problems getting through and had reported the line as faulty. Joko - I am not suggesting National newspapers, more along the lines of our local rag. It is not so much one person is being woken up once, it is BT's practice of actually doing this, which is why I asked the question, has this happened to other people. BT tell me it is regular practice.

[jno]

I guess there's nothing wrong in principle with BT testing lines. Maybe you could tell them what hours you would prefer it to be done? That might be an issue to take up with Oftel.

[galltin]

I'd be seriously plssed off if this happened to . I've got an elderly sick mother and I dread the "phone call in the night".
Complain.

[spanner7853]

I would ring the customer service number and ask them to take them off the list of testing. I used to get this and complained but my phone didn't ring it just used to ping a few times. The only other answer is to unplug your phone at night so it doesn't disturb you, doing this still tells you who has called when you plug it back in.

[joko]

yes but jules, even your local rag probably won't care either - everyone knows phone companies test the lines sometimes, but very few people have a big issue with it.

find a few more people who it has happened to, who have a problem with it, get some evidence from bt and give the paper a ring and see, can't hurt.

[B00]

I don't understand why my answer was removed? All I said was that without belittling her concerns it really wasn't that big a deal and that the papers/media would not be interested in such a mediocre story. I then advised it really would be better to let the matter go as it's not worth the aggravation (to herself) at the end of the day.

Surely nothing offensive in that is there?

[jno]

sounds like good advice to me, B00. Jules may find himself/herself losing more sleep over putting together a protest than was caused by the phone call. (Quite literally: that's the sort of thing you lie awake at night turning over in your mind.) Sometimes you just have to say stuff happens, let it go. If it hadn't been BT, it might have been someone from Slough dialling a wrong number. Unplug the phone at night and relax.

[stanwixman]

I agree with you Boo, more trouble than its worth she should just let it drop. Dont get why your answer was removed either stupid ehi

[jules77]

answer was removed as it was irrelevant. i asked if it had happened to anyone else, not for opinions. If you think it is more trouble than it is worth, why bother to respond to question. And as it is my question, why do you call me 'she' !! I am not amused !!

[THECORBYLOON]

Have you not heard any "Julies" being called "Jules" before? Sounds like there could be another newspaper article in the making here...

[jno]

your post ended 'Is that enough reason?', which I personally interpreted as 'Is that enough reason to pursue the matter?' I said I thought it wasn't and so did B00. Sorry if I misunderstood. But the advice is still good: worrying about lack of sleep just tends to cause more lack of sleep. Sad but true.