topic Re: Bizarre charges in My Account/Billing

Bizarre charges

evasz — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 15:36:32 GMT

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?

Re: Bizarre charges

jab1 — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 15:41:42 GMT

@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'?

Re: Bizarre charges

Mustrum — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 16:25:56 GMT

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

Re: Bizarre charges

Townman — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 16:33:47 GMT

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.

Re: Bizarre charges

jab1 — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 16:31:50 GMT

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

Re: Bizarre charges

jab1 — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 16:33:30 GMT

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

Re: Bizarre charges

Townman — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 16:38:05 GMT

@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.

Re: Bizarre charges

jab1 — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 16:39:42 GMT

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

Re: Bizarre charges

evasz — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 17:19:38 GMT

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.

Re: Bizarre charges

jab1 — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 17:24:24 GMT

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,

Re: Bizarre charges

evasz — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 17:36:54 GMT

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

Re: Bizarre charges

Dan_the_Van — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 17:43:35 GMT

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?

Re: Bizarre charges

jab1 — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 17:44:45 GMT

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?

Re: Bizarre charges

jab1 — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 17:46:26 GMT

@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?

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

Re: Bizarre charges

Dan_the_Van — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 18:08:11 GMT

@jab1

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

Re: Bizarre charges

jab1 — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 18:14:21 GMT

OK, @Dan_the_Van , but if @evasz is not even in the UK, is it possible the house is currently unoccupied?

Re: Bizarre charges

Dan_the_Van — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 18:18:20 GMT

@jab1

Not really sure what point your are trying to make, I know they are not in the country and they have no phone connected, so something is making calls.

If you have an issue PM me!

Re: Bizarre charges

evasz — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 18:31:09 GMT

Thanks jab1! Much appreciated.

Dan - I can assure you there is no physical phone at my property - I only pay for the line rental to get my broadband. It is also unoccupied at present, but without an actual phone even a ghost dial would be tricky

I have had my broadband for 18 months now and there has never been a single landline call so surely Plusnet will be able to see something dodgy is going on…

Re: Bizarre charges

jab1 — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 18:32:00 GMT

No issue, @Dan_the_Van - just didn't don't quite follow you.

However, I'm only going to answer when it helps hopefully) the OP.

Re: Bizarre charges

RobPN — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 18:58:12 GMT

@jab1 and @Dan_the_Van keep your hair/wigs on!

As pointed out by @Mustrum and @Townman very early in the thread, there is almost certainly a fault on the line causing the calls to be made, which can be as simple as a broken/intermittent connection on a dropwire which is blowing in the wind.