Any Idea

[jennyjoan]

Sister's BT landline is not working - when you ring it it is constantly engaged. She contacted BT via mobile and they told her there was no fault on the line.

I too chatted with BT and they said too - no fault on the line in fact the chat guy said the problem was coming from inside the house.

I told her to take plug out from wall etc, changed her batteries in the phone and also look at the phone cable itself.

It is still beeping. Anybody know of any other attempts to try. Thanks

[RATTER15]

Batteries are only for power cuts.

No Prudie, on a cordless phone, the phone runs on battery power as soon as you remove it from the cradle = recharging unit. They rarely need replacing though, the batteries in mine are about 6 years ols.

[Tilly2]

If we have a power cut our phone doesn't work.

[SparklyKid]

Avatar Image Tilly2


If we have a power cut our phone doesn't work.

17:24 Sat 17th Nov 2018


Spot on, they should be rechargeable.

[SparklyKid]

Prudie, remove the phone batteries and confirm they are not rechargeable.

[SparklyKid]

I meant to say that if you unplug the cradle the phone will not work. The cradle recharges the batteries which must be rechargeable.

[Prudie]

Yes sorry I meant in my corded normal phone, it keeps the data and messages in a power cut (when I agree I can't use my cordless phones).

[Tilly2]

Sparklykid, are you telling me that if we have rechargeable batteries we will be able to use the phone during a power cut?

When I put the phone back into the cradle it always says...Charging...

[SparklyKid]

Avatar Image Tilly2


Sparklykid, are you telling me that if we have rechargeable batteries we will be able to use the phone during a power cut?

When I put the phone back into the cradle it always says...Charging...

17:39 Sat 17th Nov 2018



No, if the cradle is plugged into the mains, the phone will not work during a power cut.

[bhg481]

The base unit requires mains power to operate. If there is a power cut it doesn't matter what state the handset batteries are in as the base unit cannot listen to the handsets.

[woofgang]

OP says its a corded phone so no idea why batteries

[Tuvok]

Take a look here

https://btbusiness.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/15770/~/how-do-i-identify-what-type-of-socket-i-have%3F/c/5108/

If its one of those sockets, then take off the faceplate and plug the phone into the test socket - I'm surprised that BT did not suggest that.

If there are any ADSL filters in use, remove them and try the phone direct into the socket rather than into the filter.

As has been suggested, try a known working phone.

I think you can also test the line online.

[Tuvok]

Another thought - perhaps her last caller has not hung up their phone correctly - thus keeping the line open.

[New Judge]

"Another thought - perhaps her last caller has not hung up their phone correctly - thus keeping the line open."

Would only cause problems for a minute or two,. After that, if the called party has hung up but the caller hasn't the line is "forced released". Does your sister have dial tone? If she has not the fault is unlikely to be in her house.

As suggested the test is to remove any ADSL filters and plug a standard phone (that you know is working correctly)into the primary socker.

[jennyjoan]

Just wanted to let you know that sister's phone was broke. BT checked her line several times.

I was able to buy her a new one today very similar to the one she had - tried it out in my house and it was great.

Thanks everyone for your replies.

[maggiebee]

Glad things are sorted out JJ. Your OP turned into an argument which I'm sure you didn't need.

[jennyjoan]

I never noticed any argument Maggie - just the usual helpful debate.

[Mamyalynne]

Glad you got it sorted, so the other phone she tried out was broken too - bad luck.

Thanks for coming back to us JJ.

[maggiebee]

A rose by any other name JJ.

[bainbrig]

I’ve had cordless Panasonics for nigh on 20 years.

Of course they don’t work in a power cut as the base unit needs mains power.

I’ve used ordinary AA batteries for years, far cheaper than Panasonic ones, and they work just fine.

As an earlier correspondent wrote, as soon as you take them off the cradle, they are on battery power.

Thus, if you talk on the telephone for hours, your cheapo batteries will run down.

I don’t have a pound-and-a-half of cream upon my face, so they last for years.

BB