How To Stop Phone Ringing

[Toorak]

We have a landline phone that we rarely use. It has a very loud ring (inherited from previous owners). Despite having the phone and extension phone unplugged today at the landline point the phone rang. How can I turn the ring off while I have confidential online meetings so that it doesn’t intrude? The current phone is from BT.

Do we just to unplug the phone (having already taken out the phone line connections) or do we need to do more? Sorry for being such a numptie :-(

[Buenchico]

I got lost somewhere there!

You've written "Despite having the phone and extension phone unplugged today at the landline point the phone rang", which doesn't seem to make sense to me. The phone ringing is triggered by a voltage passing along the telephone line. If the line's disconnected, the voltage can't pass along it; it's impossible!

Then you've written "Do we just to unplug the phone (having already taken out the phone line connections)". To me, if you've 'taken out the phone line connections', you've already unplugged it!

However, as long as you make sure that there's a break in the connection along the line somewhere (by unplugging whatever's needed to achieve that position), the phone can't possibly ring.

My own phone though has a switch underneath it for the ringer volume, which can be moved between 'high', 'low' and 'off'. (I always leave it in the 'off' position unless I'm expecting a call from someone on my landline).

[gingejbee]

Two ABers with exactly the same problem. Apparently.

[ToraToraTora]

I am also confused if it's not pugged in it can't ring.

[dustypuss]

Put a pillow over it !. Is there a switch on the back that says ring on/off ?
Or chuck it in the bin.

[ToraToraTora]

There is probably a function to turn the ringer off but I am still confused how it's even ringing when not plugged in.

[Peter Pedant]

turn it over and look at the base
there may be on/off toggles
or even vol

( assuming this is a dial phone)

[Toorak]

Thanks for the replies. I am still baffled. The ring tone seems to be amplified in some way but we can’t figure out how (or why it still rings when the phones can’t be receiving a signal). We have a friend who used to be a BT engineer so we will see if he can enlighten any further. Fortunately it rings very rarely.

[dustypuss]

It's haunted.

[William51]

You can get rid of this phone and do some research online about a new one that suits your needs.

[nero2024]

is it an electronic ring or a bell could be just could be same as my sisters chime door bell which rang every time the neighbour used his car fob to lock / unlock his car (they later found out)

[Toorak]

My current theory is that there is a box that produces an amplified ring tone above a door in the hall. I suspect that it also has a connection to the phone line and is activated by an incoming call, even if the phones have been disconnected. I think the only solution would be to have it removed, though that would probably mean redecorating the hall so I think we will just have to live with it meantime. I am going to stop disconnecting the phones when I have meetings because at least if it rings it will go onto the answering machine after a few rings. I am guessing that if the phones are disconnected it could carry on ringing for ages!

My theory, of course, could be bonkers:-)

Thanks for all your replies.

[Maydup]

That sounds possible and might date back to a time when someone who was hard of hearing lived there. It should still have an on/ff switch though. Have a look at the device inside the box.

[Toorak]

Thanks Maydup - that could be the reason. I’ll try to have a look over the weekend if we can get the cover off without too much difficulty. We have a large garden so it may also have been installed so that the phone could be heard from the garden.

[BIll]

Are your lights dimmed every now and then? If so, there may be someone in your attic.