Bizarre charges

[#1]

Hello,
I have broadband deal, but also pay for the line rental. However, I do not actually have a landline phone, just the router. My latest bill is almost £10 more due to the calls made from my landline?! What sort of scam is it if I don’t even have a phone connected to it?! Apparently I’ve been calling numbers 123, 01429221111, 01429231111 ?! How is this even possible Plusnet?

[#2]

@evasz  I'm guessing your dialling code is 01429? These calls are the result of Openreach (or their subcontractors) engineers liooking for spare connections and being too lazy to use the proper official number they are supposed to - or it could possibly be an exchange fault. What times are these calls being 'made'?

[#3]

@evasz  it sounds as if you have a dodgy connection which is causing the false calls. Report to PN and ask them to investigate.

[#4]

No scam here!!

Take away the area code and you end up with low digit numbers dialled.  This is a characteristic of some line faults, which can make the phone line appear to be off hook and then generate pulses on the line which become detected as digit dialling.  Before tone dialling was invented, numbers were dialled (on rotary phones) by sending pluses (clicks) on the line.  A faulty line can do the same.

If you did have a handset on the line (extremely useful) you would probably discover that the line is noisy.  Report a phone line fault ... and ask if the charges for the phantom calls might be reimbursed.

@jab1 - calls to 123 (which have premium charges) are the usual naughty engineer go to phone number.

[#5]

@Mustrum  - see the second suggestion in my post.😉

[#6]

@Townman Yep, I know that, and they were mentioned in the OP.😀

[#7]

@jab1 

Oooops!! I missed that first number.  I would expect that there are a host of numbers being 'dialled' but most probably do not exist.

[#8]

Would be interesting to see a sample - if the OP comes back?

[#9]

Thank you, the calls were allegedly made at different times ranging from 6am to 10pm throughout October. I am really worried this bizarre ‘fault’ escalates into even higher charges. The only three numbers I allegedly keep dialling are the ones I listed.
Is there an email address for Plusnet I can use? I am currently working overseas.

[#10]

Thanks for the clarification, @evasz . Unfortunately, there is no email address for PN - faults etc can only be reported either on here, via Twitter/'X' or via phone,

[#11]

Thanks! How I can ask Plusnet here to look into this? Do they generally check the forum?

[#12]

Not saying there is not an issue.

Checking 01429 221111 turns out to be business Bridgman I B C in Hartlepool, maybe 01429 231111 was the number being missed dialed?

[#13]

The Help Team do drop in, but not as often as they used to. If I spot any around tomorrow, I'll try and give them a nudge. How long are you away for, as it would be easier/better for you to call?

[#14]

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@Dan_the_Van wrote:

Not saying there is not an issue.

Checking 01429 221111 turns out to be business Bridgman I B C in Hartlepool, maybe 01429 231111 was the number being missed dialed?

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From a property which is not being used, and in any case, does not have a landline phone connected?

[#15]

@jab1 

Yes I did read the thread, I just pointing who the phone number belonged to, okay?