159 anti-banking fraud supported

Well anti-banking fraud number 159 started over year ago. Sadly not all telcoms (ie VoIP) have active support for this service.

https://stopscamsuk.org.uk/159
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58722201
https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/can-the-new-159...

If you are telecom provider then I have simple question for you, Why not?

Edited by amiga_dude (Thu 13-Oct-22 13:56:49)

Thanks, I wasn't aware of the 159 number so your post is very interesting. Thanks again

It's certainly up and running for Voipfone users and has been for quite some time.

If you look hard enough, you will discover all these system wide short codes, there maybe more, so if my list is incomplete, then please mention it on this thread. There was some talk a while back about 888 (Personal safety when you can't speak) but I think that has fallen by the wayside.

112 Emergency Services
999 Emergency Services
101 Police Non-Emergency Number
111 NHS Mon-Emergency Number
105 Power Cut Information Line
116 999 Missing children helpline
116 111 NSPCC ChildLine
116 123 Samaritans
119 COVID-19 Help Line (Also used to make appointments)
123 Gives Day, Date and Time
141 Withhold your number (If you must – Not Recommended)
1470 Un-withhold your number
150 Voipfone Customer Services (Password protected service)
152 Echo test. Shows how good your connection to Voipfone is.
154 A recording of call credit left to use before top-up is necessary
155 Confirms that you have set up your phone correctly
159 Report a Banking Scam (See https://stopscamsuk.org.uk/159)
166 Voipfone Anti-Sales call tool (Optional monthly fee payable)
118 797 Connects to BT's Directory Enquiry services (Very expensive to use)
1280 Carrier pre-select disconnect from Voipfone (Only available to BT subscribers with pre-registration required)
1471 Plays back the last incoming number
1571 Voicemail for the extension you are using
1572 Voicemail for the Master Account (Used where your account does not have extension numbers)
1573 Voicemail for Group messages (Input the Group Number of Interest)
1995 Music on Hold (Listen to what is playing now)
## Transfer the call (Example ##01252758123 and hang up - Call charges may apply)
#0 Stops and starts call recording (Charged at 2.5 ppm)
** Generally used in business environments (Example **205 for call pickup from that extension)

Some of those may be Voipfone specific; I'm pretty sure BT's DQ is normally 118 500.

Also useful: on a BT line, 17070 is the line test service which reads back the phone number to you. Option 2 gives you a quiet line test IIRC.

In reply to a post by candlerb:

Some of those may be Voipfone specific; I'm pretty sure BT's DQ is normally 118 500.

Also useful: on a BT line, 17070 is the line test service which reads back the phone number to you. Option 2 gives you a quiet line test IIRC.

You are quite right of course, some codes may indeed be Voipfone specific. 17070 is a number not recognized on the Voipfone platform and their doesn't seem to be an equivalent code either on their system.

>123 Gives Day, Date and Time

Most people call that the "Speaking Clock", it may be Voipfone don't route this through to BT plc, but provide themselves for less money. On most fixed lines and mobiles this is VERY expensive!

In reply to a post by jchamier:

>123 Gives Day, Date and Time

Most people call that the "Speaking Clock", it may be Voipfone don't route this through to BT plc, but provide themselves for less money. On most fixed lines and mobiles this is VERY expensive!

On the Voipfone platform, 123 is indeed a home brew version of the speaking clock. Furthermore calls to that service are free. The response is different to that from BT in that there are no pips, just a statement of fact.

I often wondered who would actually need such a service but it appears to be used extensively in the electricity supply industry and also in public transport undertakings.

I've had to dispute charges on my phone bill on a couple of occasions. Several calls to 123 at 50p each.

For some reason, engineers working at a cabinet make a quick call to 123 to confirm it's a live/in use pair and the person paying the bill stands the cost unless, like me they are aware of what is happening.

Apparently there is a dedicated number that should be used for the purpose but 123 is so much easier.

In reply to a post by longedge:

I've had to dispute charges on my phone bill on a couple of occasions. Several calls to 123 at 50p each.

I think a long time ago it was free.

Reported on ISPreview in 2015:
https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2015/11/phanto...

In reply to a post by longedge:

I've had to dispute charges on my phone bill on a couple of occasions. Several calls to 123 at 50p each.

For some reason, engineers working at a cabinet make a quick call to 123 to confirm it's a live/in use pair and the person paying the bill stands the cost unless, like me they are aware of what is happening.

Apparently there is a dedicated number that should be used for the purpose but 123 is so much easier.

To me your statement seems a bit odd to me. The system wide code for the Speaking Clock on a BT landline and also on the Voipfone platform is indeed 123 but with a fundamental difference; one is over a copper pair to the home and the other is a service over a broadband connection. You won't find any Voipfone services in a roadside cabinet!

Your message did not say from which telecom company was charging you for your speaking clock calls but it certainly would not have been Voipfone.