0844 Telephone Number Mystery

[Dusty Bin]

On my phone bill each month I see charges for short calls - usually less than 15 seconds - to one particular 0844 number.

I have no recollection of making calls to this number.

I've contacted BT and they've told me that as they're all outgoing calls then I must be phoning this number myself - there is no-one else in the house but me.

I have tried an online search for this number, but no results are found other than reports of other people having had a similar experience.

Unsure if it's ok to post the full number here, but I'd like to know who is behind this number.

Is it acceptable to share the number here?

[Buenchico]

If your searches can't find it then I doubt that ours will but people are constantly posting 'mystery numbers' here, so it's certainly not problem.

[Dusty Bin]

OK. It's 0844 892 0012

[mazie]

Found this

https://psauthority.org.uk/about-us/number-checker/check-a-number-results

It's from this site https://psauthority.org.uk/for-consumers/unexpected-phone-charge

[Dusty Bin]

Thanks, mazie.

The first link just came back with the response that it is an 0844 number - I know that much!

However, the second link may help me to complain about it, so I may well follow that through. Cheers!

[mazie]

The first link is the number checker page and tells you how to apply to the PSA. Look down the page on the 2nd link and you'll see the number checker link. Good luck

[Buenchico]

Mazie's first link doesn't work. I think it was meant to show this:
https://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/9935410844.jpg

You're not the first person to find outgoing calls to that number on a phone bill:
https://www.unknownphone.com/search.php?num=08448920012

The number actually seems to go to a fax service or other data-only type of connection. (I've just called it and listened to the tones). That makes me wonder whether it's actually your computer which is managing to dial that number (or even, possibly, some other device, such as an all-in-one printer that incorporates a fax facility). It could be something which is configured to connect to an old-style dial-up internet service.

[mazie]

Thanks Chris, that's the one x

[Buenchico]

Just a thought:

Have you got any type of equipment which is connected to your phone line for the purposes of 'remote monitoring'? e.g. a burglar alarm or the types of alarms which elderly people (or those with certain health conditions) have in order to alert a call centre when an emergency button is pressed. If so, it could be that equipment which is configured to periodically check that there's still a valid data connection.

[Dusty Bin]

Buenchico, I did get the same result from mazie's first link.

I also saw those same results from the website you linked to. I'm not alone!

However, no info on who owns the number.

Thanks for trying it. Interesting you say it links to a machine.

Really baffled now! Don't own a fax or a printer linked to a phone line.

I haven't had a dial-up connection for years!

[Dusty Bin]

Sorry only just read your latest reply.

As it happens, yes I do have a so called 'Lifeline' link which links me to a monitoring station.

I wear a pendant that I can press if I were to be in trouble, but I've never had cause to use it.

Is it that then?

[Buenchico]

I can't prove that it's your Lifeline device but I'd be prepared to put money on it ;-)

[Dusty Bin]

Thanks.

[Hopkirk]

Perhaps it has to do an automatic test occasionally, to check in with HQ.