Specifically on a RESIDENTIAL line not a business one. I know marketing companies etc do this but what does it mean on a bog standard residential number?

That someone has opted not to accept calls on that number. Could be a modem line.

I thought that but according to this you get a different message as follows:

The Number you have dialled is not accepting calls at present.'

* The called party had Incoming Call Barring (*261#) set, costs 7gbp per quarter.

And it's definitely the normal telephone number not a modem line etc.
Last edited by DavidT : 12-08-2006 at 11:47

No the service you're talking about is a user selectable service (what BT used to call 'star services'). The other message is where they have asked for calls to be stopped and their provider has done it for them.

If the number normally accepts calls, chances are the account holder has called their provider to have this put in place recently.

This also happens when they have barred calls from numbers that have been with held.

If you are referring to ACR (anonymous caller reject) then the message usually informs the caller that the receiver has rejected the call for that reason, and possibly gives instructions as to how to call again and disclose your number

If you are referring to the choose to refuse number, the message specifically says that the receiver has opted to refuse calls 'from this number'.

When we had our BT line disconnected (no longer needed it as we use VoIP on cable broadband) for a couple of months you would hear the recorded message you posted.

It can be an exchange fault.

I've had it a couple of times when phoning people I know well (and phone frequently), and in each case I've immediatley re-dialed and got through.

It might also be a Synergy answer phone mode.