Trouble Shooting|Telephone Repair Tips

Why doesn't my phone work?

Problem: No dial tone, your phone rings once and then cuts off or static is on your line

Check all telephone cords from the jack to the telephone base and from the telephone base to the handset to make sure they are not loose or damaged.
If you own a cordless phone, unplug it from the electrical power supply as well as the telephone jack.
Make sure all telephones are hung up properly, and all additional equipment such as answering machines, fax machines, caller ID units and computer modems are working. To check, unplug each piece of equipment from the telephone jack and the electrical outlet, if applicable. Leave everything unplugged for 5 minutes. Then try plugging in the equipment one at a time to see if the trouble still exists.
If so, call BTC at 295-1001 to report trouble on your line.

Please note: Cordless phones will not work in the event of power outages.

My phone is ringing, but there is no one on the line when I answer?

Problem: You have answered a ringing phone, but there is no one on the line. Check for the following:

Is your customer activated call forwarding service on? If you subscribe to Call Forwarding and have it turned on, your calls may simply be bypassing your phone at home and going directly to your forwarding number or to Voice Mail. This will cause your phone to ring one time. review the deactivation process for Voice Mail under At Home - Calling Features.
Unplug all of the telephones, answering machines or fax machines, caller ID units, and computers from the wall or baseboard jacks inside your home. (If any of the above equipment is powered by an AC adapter, unplug it from the AC outlet also). Next, try plugging a corded telephone into one of the jacks. Ask someone to call you. If that doesn't work, try a different telephone and jack.
This may possibly br a misdirected call. A computer or fax machine could be programmed incorrectly to dial your telephone number. You could answer a ringing phone and get no one on the line, a fax tone, or a computer tone.
If you discontinue one phone call by depressing your switch hook and then hang up the phone, the central office may ring you back. The central office may see that switch hook flash as a request to make a 3-way conference call and therefore ring your phone.
Telemarketers may use a calling-out system (auto-dialer) that causes a delay in the representative greeting you as you answer your phone.

I haven't received any phone calls; it seems no one can call me

Inside Testing: Possible trouble on one phone or piece of equipment can cause trouble on the telephone line until that piece of equipment is removed. If you are unable to receive calls, try the following:

First verify that your telephone ringer is turned on
Check whether or not your Call Forwarding Service has been turned on.
Unplug all of the telephones, answering machines or fax machines, caller ID units, and computers from the wall or baseboard jacks inside your home. (If any of the above equipment is powered by an AC adapter, unplug it from the AC outlet also).
Next, try one of the phones in several of the jacks. If the phone does not work in a any of the jacks, then try a different phone.
If the second phone works then the first phone you used may have been causing the trouble. If the trouble is with your phone, call BTC at 295-1001 to purchase a new phone. If the second or even third phone you try does not work, call BTC at 295-1001.

I hear other conversations on my telephone line

The interference may be caused by radio frequency signals from amateur citizens band (CB) and AM/FM broadcast stations. Sometimes your telephone equipment can act like an antenna for these signals. The installation of a modular filter, obtainable from most stores selling telephone equipment, may help. There are also a few other things you can try to clear up the problem.

If you have a Cordless Telephone

Unplug it from the telephone jack and AC outlet.
Plug in another telephone and place a call.
If the problem goes away, your cordless phone is the problem.
Note: Some of these phones have buttons to change channels or frequencies. If yours does not, you may want to have it repaired or replaced.
If you do not have a cordless phone, or the problem still persists, the problem may be outside your home.
Call BTC at 295-1001

If you have a Corded Telephone

Unplug the telephone set from the telephone jack.
Plug in another corded telephone set and place a call.
If the problem goes away, the problem telephone set may need to be replaced call BTC at 295-1001, to rent a new Telephone Set.
If the problem persists, the cause may be outside your home, call BTC at 295-1001.

I'm Having A Problem With My Phone Jack/Plug

Your phone is in good working order so you think the problem may be with the telephone jack.

Inside Testing:

Unplug the phone from the broken jack.
If the phone works in another jack, then the jack or the inside wire is the problem.
If the problem persist call BTC at 295-1001.

I'm Having Problems With The Wiring Inside My Home

Inside wire, which includes phone jacks, is he responsibility of the customer to maintain and repair. If you suspect that the problems you are experiencing are due to inside wire or phone jacks you can:

Call BTC at 295-1001

I Can't Make Long Distance Calls

If you find that you are able to make local, but no "1+" long distance dialed calls through your designated long distance carrier, consider the following:

Your long distance calls may be restricted by your designated carrier if your payments are not current.
If this is a new installation, did you subscribe to a long distance carrier?
You or someone in your house may have placed a "toll blocking" restriction on your telephone line.
There may be a problem with the long distance carrier's switch, and you may want to contact your long distance carrier.