Landline Useless

[Woodstock]

After the storms at the weekend, my landline (main phone plus 3 extensions in the house) has been out of action. The line is still intact according to supplier, but all the receivers give off the 'engaged' tone when the number is rung - even when THEY ARE ALL UNPLUGGED!!! Is there any way of restoring this system or does it mean it is totally knackered?

[sunny-dave]

Unplug all phones and base units from extensions. Plug a simple, corded phone into the master socket (where the line enters the house).

If thgis still doesn't get a dial tone (and/or sounds engaged if you ring in) then there is a line fault of some kind.

[Old_Geezer]

Engaged tone comes from the exchange local to the caller. If there is a fault it may be played anyway. The problem is to isolate the fault and see if it is on your premises or off them.

It seems to me that removing all the phones is a good first step. I'd suggest opening up the main socket (the one the incoming line comes in on) and seeing if you can disconnect the extensions. That's what I'd try anyway.

Then I'd try connecting a trusted phone directly and seeing if the problem still exists. If it does then the likelihood is that the phone service supplier hasn't checked properly and you and insist they do so, reasonably confident that they aren't going to chase the problem back to your property and start charging.

[whiskeryron]

If you use cordless land line phones always keep a spare corded phone in a cupboard for emergencies ( if you have a power cut your cordless phones are out of action ).

WR.