This topic

Digital Phone Caller ID problem

FMP — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 16:31:18 GMT

I have recently moved to full fibre and digital voice and from the start I have had no Caller ID, following a Tech visit and conversations with BT tech I had a new/second phone sent to me this is exactly the same. I contacted tech help and was advised that my Caller ID was not active, we checked My BT there was no way of activating it from my home PC, very helpfully the operative was able to get permission to call me back sadly there were problems:

Hi Fred! Its ***** from bt, i tried to call you today but it doesn't let me ring your landlines and your mobile goes straight to voicemail. I've set up caller display for you but if you're having any troubles please don't hesitate to contact us!
Have a happy healthy christmas

Now nothing has changed on my BT Home page and when I use the *#234# to find out if I am truly active I'm advised that this is the wrong number. I'm 73 and not that tech savvy...Help Please!

Frederick Powell

Re: Digital Phone Caller ID problem

Keith_Beddoe — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 16:34:44 GMT

@FMP

Its not enabled by default, you have to enable it.

See https://www.bt.com/help/landline/digital-voice--how-do-i-use-my-calling-features-

Re: Digital Phone Caller ID problem

FMP — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 17:16:01 GMT

The BT Operative has set up Caller ID for me. I have followed your link however there is this message:

Caller Display shows you the number of the person calling, so you can decide whether to pick up the phone or leave it to your answering service. If the caller is listed in your handsets Address Book, Caller Display will also display the name of the person trying to contact you.

Note that numbers will not be displayed if the call is from payphones, some switchboards, non-BT networks or where a caller's number is withheld.

Caller Display is free for all Digital Voice customers.

For more information etc.

But there is no way to activate or manage it there or indeed via the link immediately above any further idea's

Many thanks

Re: Digital Phone Caller ID problem

Keith_Beddoe — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 17:19:55 GMT

The page links look broken.

I will inform a moderator.

Re: Digital Phone Caller ID problem

DavidM — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 17:23:59 GMT

Hi @FMP and welcome to our community.

Sorry there's some confusion with your Caller Display. I can help. Please check your inbox for my message and drop me a reply with the details.

Cheers

David

Re: Digital Phone Caller ID problem

NeilO — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 15:48:13 GMT

Hi @FMP Thanks for confirming that the caller display is now working, I was glad that I could help.

Thanks

Neil

Re: Digital Phone Caller ID problem

Tim123 — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 14:27:38 GMT

Once Caller Display has been activated on your line at network level, you can 'superficially' deactivate it (in the unlikely event that you should want to) by dialling #234# on your telephone keypad.

*234# will reactivate and *#234# will confirm the current status.

That's how it works on PSTN and I assume that Digital Voice is the same.

Re: Digital Phone Caller ID problem

Keith_Beddoe — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 14:37:46 GMT

@Tim123

That may no longer be the case, as those commands are specific to the PSTN exchange software, and like all the other MMI sequences and special features, will no longer exist.

With Digital Voice, features are software controlled per account, via MyBT.

https://www.bt.com/help/landline/digital-voice--how-do-i-use-my-calling-features-

Re: Digital Phone Caller ID problem

Tim123 — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 15:15:23 GMT

@Keith_Beddoe

BT still give the touch-tone codes for Call Diversion on Digital Voice:

https://www.bt.com/help/landline/all-about-call-diversion-for-digital-voice

Re: Digital Phone Caller ID problem

Keith_Beddoe — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 15:33:22 GMT

Then it does look like those commands are being accepted by the network.

Re: Digital Phone Caller ID problem

Tim123 — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 16:04:08 GMT

@Keith_Beddoe

I do hope so, as not everyone will want to manage their features online, especially those who only have a phone service with BT - i.e. no broadband or My BT account.

Incidentally, I note that Virgin Media's 'Fibre Phone' service (as they call it) supports Reminder Call, using the same *55* command as they (and BT) require on PSTN. It's listed in their user guide as an available feature on Virgin fibre (and I've read online of someone using it), whereas BT don't mention it at all in their Digital Voice Calling Features guide and a DV user I asked on here said it doesn't work. Admittedly, Virgin don't support Regular Reminder Call on fibre, but even BT only does on System X exchanges (hence why they only promote it to Business customers, I assume).

I don't suppose allowing the use of touch-tone commands to continue on digital is technically difficult. An undergrad I.T. student could probably write a software that does it!

Also, to my astonishment, Virgin's instructions for Call Waiting and 3-Way Calling quote the use of the Recall button for customers in their Purple (fibre) zone, the same as in their other zones. A picture of their 'Emergency Backup Line' corded phone (model V3) also appears to show a Recall button, whereas there is no such button on BT's digital models. I thought that timed-break Recall is a loop-disconnect command and is therefore unsupported by digital services. Does Virgin fibre actually support pulse dialling?

In fact, the only Virgin calling feature that doesn't work at all on their fibre service is Ring Back When Free - presumably because of the ringing cadence issue. But as Caller Display tells you if the call is a Ring Back, the triple ring is no longer strictly necessary and I really don't see why it shouldn't continue. It's a very useful and probably highly used feature.