Intermittent engaged tone

[#1]

For 2 or 3 months, some of my telephone conversations have been ended by the engaged tone.  It's very intermittent and either myself or the person I'm speaking to can successfully call back almost immediately.

Has anyone had and resolved a similar problem?

[#2]

@Ash70 is this happening on multiple handsets as well?

[#3]

That's a good question which I cant answer!  We have two identical handsets which are interchangeable upstairs and downstairs.  I will now monitor each of these sets to see if one has a fault but not the other.   Thank you.  If it is just one of the handsets - new battery (although only recently replaced or?  

[#4]

As suggested I checked my two handsets ie batteries etc. All seemed well.

Both have remained subject to intermittent engaged tones and cut off mid conversation.  I  kept a record:

AUGUST - Sat 3rd x 2 about 6.15ish pm

                  Tues 6 x 1 at 8 ish pm

                  Sat 24 x 1 at 7ish pm

                  Sun 25 x 1 at 11.50 am

                  Mon 26 x 2 at 11.30ish am 

SEPTEMBER 

                   Tues 3 x2 at 10 ish am

The x2 usually indicates that either myself or the person I was speaking to called to resume the call and it was interrupted by the dialling tone and switch off.  It seems to affect calls out AND calls in.

Any suggestions?  When I complained originally the lines were checked and found to be ok.

[#5]

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@Ash70 wrote:

Any suggestions?  When I complained originally the lines were checked and found to be ok.

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That's to be expected, as it's almost certainly a problem in the switching network within the exchange, and they're very difficult to pin down.

However, as it seems that you encounter it fairly frequently, it might well be fixed by a change of your line card.

Good luck! 😉

[#6]

Thank you for the prompt response.  What is a Line Card?  And how do I go about having it changed?

[#7]

The line card is the equipment where your line terminates - the interface to the exchange switching network.

As far as I'm aware, Plusnet's only option is to pass the fault to an Openreach engineer who, having found no fault on your external line or phones, will be able to contact the exchange staff, if s/he deem it appropriate.

@willcutforth