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Can BT trace withheld numbers?


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Old 19-11-2007, 01:15
Sakina
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Just received a phone call and at 1am that is pretty worrying - they hung up so I know it wasn't any of my family thankfully. I called BT to ask if they were able to find out the number as it was withheld and they said it wasn't possible.

This seems really strange to me, I read online that the number is only withheld to the person receiving the call but the provider still knows the number, surely BT has it in their power to trace calls? It seems really odd to me if they really can't! Does anyone know?
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Old 19-11-2007, 07:38
prking
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In many circumstances the call can be traced. However, they cannot just give you a number and there is no instant access to the number.
In fact, this information is only available following an official request from a body like the police.
Its probably just a wrong number, but if it happens regularly then keep a record and report them as malicious calls.
What you can do is ask BT to bar number withheld calls from calling you, there might be a charge for this.
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Old 19-11-2007, 10:14
simonp820
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If this is the only time it's happened, I would imagine it was a mistake. Either a wrong number or somebody just messing around dialing random numbers.

I really wouldn't worry about it! The invention of 'caller display' seems to have us all paranoid about who's ringing us!
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Old 19-11-2007, 10:24
Steve™
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Just received a phone call and at 1am that is pretty worrying - they hung up so I know it wasn't any of my family thankfully. I called BT to ask if they were able to find out the number as it was withheld and they said it wasn't possible.

This seems really strange to me, I read online that the number is only withheld to the person receiving the call but the provider still knows the number, surely BT has it in their power to trace calls? It seems really odd to me if they really can't! Does anyone know?
Sounds suspicious to me. You should keep a record of any further calls and report it if it continues.
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Old 19-11-2007, 10:49
simonp820
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Sounds suspicious to me. You should keep a record of any further calls and report it if it continues.
Why does 1 missed call sound suspicious?!
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Old 19-11-2007, 11:03
Steve™
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Why does 1 missed call sound suspicious?!

Its abnormal to ring someone at 1am and just hang up isnt it???
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Old 19-11-2007, 11:06
simonp820
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I agree it's abnormal but hardly unusual. If it continues to happen do some further investigation . . . but it could just be a mistake!

I've just been to Sainsbury's for a croissant and my phone rang for two rings then rang off . . . I'm not worried about who it was!
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Old 19-11-2007, 11:26
Steve™
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I agree it's abnormal but hardly unusual. If it continues to happen do some further investigation . . . but it could just be a mistake!

I've just been to Sainsbury's for a croissant and my phone rang for two rings then rang off . . . I'm not worried about who it was!


You agree its abnormal but state its not unusual?? haha get a grip

A phone ringing during normal daylight hours is not the same as a phone ringing at 1am is it
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Old 19-11-2007, 11:29
Barry Scott
 
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Just received a phone call and at 1am that is pretty worrying - they hung up so I know it wasn't any of my family thankfully. I called BT to ask if they were able to find out the number as it was withheld and they said it wasn't possible.

This seems really strange to me, I read online that the number is only withheld to the person receiving the call but the provider still knows the number, surely BT has it in their power to trace calls? It seems really odd to me if they really can't! Does anyone know?
BT Operator was telling you porkies. Of course they can trace every call, regardless of wether it was withheld or not.
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Old 19-11-2007, 11:44
Sakina
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Well it happened again at 4am, rang three times then hung up, bit more concerned now!
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Old 19-11-2007, 11:48
simonp820
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Well it happened again at 4am, rang three times then hung up, bit more concerned now!
OK - fair enough. I'm still sure it's nothing but give BT's Nuisance call team a ring - they'll help you out.
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Old 19-11-2007, 12:01
Sakina
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Called the Nuisance calls team, apparently they are very busy and I have to call back later...sigh.
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Old 19-11-2007, 12:19
Steve™
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Well it happened again at 4am, rang three times then hung up, bit more concerned now!

Ah yes but someone rang me yesterday 3 times in the afternoon and hung up so its really quite normal to get calls like this

©simonpearce

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Old 19-11-2007, 12:27
liquidJP
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If you start getting nuicance calles BT can offer you something called 'Right to Refuse' this alows you to bar someone who calls you (you enter a code after they have called) even if they have withheld their number.

Yes BT will know the number but will not give it out.
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Old 19-11-2007, 12:31
Sakina
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BT were very helpful actually when I eventually got through, a very nice bloke said they will put call tracing equipment on the line this afternoon and will call me to test it later, they said that will trace withheld numbers and they will get the police involved if it happens again!
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Old 19-11-2007, 12:34
liquidJP
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BT were very helpful actually when I eventually got through, a very nice bloke said they will put call tracing equipment on the line this afternoon and will call me to test it later, they said that will trace withheld numbers and they will get the police involved if it happens again!
BT in "good customer service" shocker...
Hope you get it sorted!
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Old 27-11-2007, 21:36
Mike_1101
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How bad do nuisance calls have to be before someone is prosecuted for making them? Does it have to serious harrassment, stalking or threats with some recorded evidence to back it up?
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Old 27-11-2007, 23:55
ntlhellworld
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Just received a phone call and at 1am that is pretty worrying - they hung up so I know it wasn't any of my family thankfully. I called BT to ask if they were able to find out the number as it was withheld and they said it wasn't possible.

This seems really strange to me, I read online that the number is only withheld to the person receiving the call but the provider still knows the number, surely BT has it in their power to trace calls? It seems really odd to me if they really can't! Does anyone know?
Why dont you just turn on Anonymous Caller Rejection on your line ? If someone calls you with a withheld number, the caller gets a message saying "This number does not accept anonymous calls", and your phone wont even ring.

To turn it on dial *227# and to turn it off you can dial #227#

-Chris
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Old 28-11-2007, 09:34
sean2003
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Why dont you just turn on Anonymous Caller Rejection on your line ? If someone calls you with a withheld number, the caller gets a message saying "This number does not accept anonymous calls", and your phone wont even ring.

To turn it on dial *227# and to turn it off you can dial #227#

-Chris
It costs £48 a year for that service... Not every wishes to pay so much. If it get's that bad then i guess it's worth it.
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Old 28-11-2007, 09:35
qpw3141
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Why dont you just turn on Anonymous Caller Rejection on your line ? If someone calls you with a withheld number, the caller gets a message saying "This number does not accept anonymous calls", and your phone wont even ring.

To turn it on dial *227# and to turn it off you can dial #227#

-Chris
The trouble with that is that there may be many people with withheld numbers that you want to hear from.

Larger Doctor's surgeries, hospitals - a whole variety of companies.

Plus people using services such as 1899 sometimes come through as withheld/unavailabe and sometimes don't depending on how the call was routed.
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Old 28-11-2007, 09:36
stud u like
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I don't answer caller withheld calls. I also don't answer numbers I don't know.
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Old 01-12-2007, 23:05
ntlhellworld
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It costs £48 a year for that service... Not every wishes to pay so much. If it get's that bad then i guess it's worth it.
Ouch ! I honestly dident know that ... Im on virgin media who arent charging me at all for it...

-Chris
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Old 08-12-2007, 01:34
Seiken
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I report nuisance calls and offer the calling features to reduce them or offer renumbers, and I don't have the facility to view or trace a withheld number at all. If it was a legal issue it could be requested, however I personally cannot see any details of calls received on someone's account, withheld or otherwise.
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Old 08-12-2007, 13:59
coopermanyorks
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I don't answer caller withheld calls. I also don't answer numbers I don't know.
Don't use your phone a lot then ?
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Old 12-12-2007, 03:15
airfix
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Well it happened again at 4am, rang three times then hung up, bit more concerned now!
It could be an automated dialler that's calling your number. We had something similar happen a year or two back.
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