bit hard to explain but... I found a "new" message on my BT 1571 which sounded like someone I know answering the phone, saying "no, there's no one there... CLICK... no, there's still no one there." My phone's incoming call register doesn't show their number as having rung me on the day in question, so is it possible that somehow BT Call Minder could have rung them instead of ringing me? The only alternative I can think of is that they rang while I was on the phone and by some bizarre coincidence the "leave your message" greeting didn't play out so they just heard silence. Any other theories?

When someone calls you and they reach BT answer/Callminder and you lift the handset whilst they are on the system, they won't be able to hear you and you won't be able to hear them.

You probably have some kind of fault on the line or with the messaging service. The fault can somtimes be a cross line.

I would suggest that you call BT messaging services direct on: 0800-077-771 between 8am and 8pm monday to saturday.

For faults with your line dial 151 or 154 or if dialling externally and from a non-BT payphone dial 0800-800-151/154.

OK, thanks. Still waiting to speak to the other person to find out whether he actually called me or not. I think he would have called back later and told me he'd had a problem, but will wait and see what he says.

I think it's very likely your friend just called you, got the 1571 greeting, and just mumbled to someone else in the room that there was no-one there. Might sound like a strange thing for them to say, but from past experience people do sometimes say strange things when they encounter an answerphone and weren't expecting it.

If the call is not on your call register then it obviously happened while you were on the line.

I don't think there's any great mystery here!

Dan

Not convinced. He's perfectly capable of leaving a message, and that CLICK sounded very like someone putting the phone back on the hook then picking it up again, and saying "no there's still no one there". But I will ask.

Don't worry about it!

If it is an important call they'll call back.

Meanwhile to check if the line is working dial 17070. Your telephone number will be played back to you, if someone elses telephone number is played back then you have a cross line. Afterwards, you will hear a list of options, select option 1 for ring back test.

You should then recieve an automated call back saying 'Ring back test completed'.

If you do not recieve a call back within 3 minutes, then there is a fault either with your phone or your line.

NOTE: If you have unconditional number withold on your line dial 1470 before 17070.

Interestingly if you leave a 1571 message then press 3 at the end of it, when they listen to the message and hear the 3 tone the exchange will actually call you back!!!!!

That's a bit naughty. That person may not want to be charged by BT for using 3 to call back, they may also have wanted to route the call over 1899.