Problem using telephone

[monty0703]

When I use my land line to dial a specific phone number in the States, it doesn't dial the first zero and I end up phoning somewhere in the UK. I can phone other international numbers, including in the States but just not this particular one. I've tried 3 different phones but the problem persists. Anyone any ideas?

[Vagrant]

What are the first 3 digits of the US number?

[buildersmate]

2 thoughts, both of which may be wrong.
1) the US number is actually set up to divert to a number in the UK?
2) the US number has too many digits in it and the system is dropping a digit (unlikely I suspect).
Are you sure it starts 001?

[monty0703]

I'm dialling the code for the US i.e. 001 then the next three digits are 503. I've been dialling this number for 4 years with no problems so it's a bit of a mystery.. Incidentally, when it drops the first 0 it makes the UK code 01503 which is somewhere in Cornwall..

[Vagrant]

Not a solution as such, but they appear to have tinkered with the phone system in that area a few days ago ...
http://www.kgw.com/ne...-Jan-10-80509657.html

[monty0703]

Thanks for your insight guys. My mum can get through ok which just adds to the mystery. My landline is with Sky. Do you think they would be able to do a test in some way? Is is perhaps a fault in the line unique to that number? Seems a bit unlikely but I'm really stumped.

[Vagrant]

On sky, do have some kind of a box between the phone and the wall? Sky used to provide these, I believe they automatically add a prefix to certain numbers - if you've got one, try removing it.

[monty0703]

ok, I'll try that but it might mess with my internet connection? The box is a splitter thingie so that my phone line and internet connection are kept separate.

[buildersmate]

I think that it is fairly safe box that it is something to do with this Sky box then.
If your phone provider is Sky, they will be routing your calls using whatever method of line leasing they have got. Somehow the translating system is losing a digit. Its very odd through.

[Vagrant]

It's not the ADSL filter I was thinking of - all that does is split phone and broadband - Sky used to use another box, (bigger than the ADSL splitter) to modify the numbers you dial to route them via Sky rather than BT - I'm not sure if they do it anymore.
Another thought - is your phone automatically inserting a prefix (e.g. to withhold your number) - this might confuse the routing.

[monty0703]

Hi Guys. An update... Unplugging the splitter box and plugging the phone directly into the wall didn't do anything except muck up the internet connection. I phoned Sky and after being passed from pillar to post, was put through to the 'Voice Support Team'. They tested the line when I was dialling the number and couldn't see anything wrong but said they'd have another think and get back to me. I tried the number 10 mins later and...got through! Whether Sky done something or not who knows. I've tried again since with the same success so it seems this mysterious problem has sorted itself. Thanks Vagrant and Buildersmate for all your help!

[Vagrant]

Thanks for the update - I'd almost given up posting on this site as so few people let you know the outcome of the problem.
I have no experience with Sky - but about 30 years experience as an IT professional dealing with telephone related problems caused by BT - in 99% of cases like this (weird, inexplicable behaviour), what happens is you ring BT, spend hours on the phone trying to find a responsible adult, going round in circles, being told nothing is wrong, and then, (usually about 30 minutes later) the fault miraculously disappears, and BT deny all knowledge of it!