Crossed lines (telephone)

[AlwaysConfused]

I was on the phone to the bank earlier, when the operator said several times, 'can you hear that? I can hear voices, can't you hear anything?'. I reassured that I could hear no voices, other than the ones that were obviously (obviously to me, that is) in the background at the call centre. She said she was not confident in following the phone call through, as she thought there was a crossed line or an interception.

I was taken aback, but pleased that she did not want me to give out sensitive information if someone else could overhear.

I haven't come across this before. How does a line become crossed? Is there a difference between a crossed line and an interception?

[Beechy101]

Dunno.

[bookbinder]

If you enter 'crossed phone line' into Google, you'll get plenty of websites on this topic. I've just done it, and I didn't find anything of help. You might find this one mildly interesting:
http://www.astrocommunications.com.au/blog/?p=253

[AlwaysConfused]

I googled crossed lines, bookbinder, and had already checked out the link you put on here, but it was a bit over my head! Not very technical minded, was hoping someone could simplify it for a simpleton! Other searches were unproductive. Cheers for the link, anyhow

[BlueToffee]

Used to happen a lot.

Back in the early 80's I phoned my boss at home, got a crossed line, it was him talking to the woman he was having an affair with! Hot stuff.

No, I never told him, nor anybody else for that matter, tempted a time or two, but conscience wouldn't let me.