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.

In reply to Trolleybus emergency "can't speak". see :-

https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/sites/default/files...

In reply to a post by westlodge:

In reply to Trolleybus emergency "can't speak". see :-

https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/sites/default/files...

Shame that the process can't be kicked off by dialling 888, it would save vital seconds when a life is under threat with any kind of sound making the situation more desperate..

In reply to a post by trolleybus:

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.

That's correct. It was my BT landline billed by PlusNet. It was just that specific situation of charging for calls to 123 to which I was responding. At the time Google showed me how common my complaint of spurious charges for 123 calls was.

In reply to a post by longedge:

It was my BT landline billed by PlusNet.

A Plusnet landline, run by Openreach using Wholesale Line Rental (WLR). Not a "BT landline".

Edited by jchamier (Mon 17-Oct-22 14:50:05)

Thanks. Didn’t know this was a thing until your post. Hopefully saves some poor unsuspecting folks.

It works on Vodafone (mobile) clearly. Didn’t work on Sipgate 🥲. Busy tone.

In reply to a post by trolleybus:

In reply to a post by westlodge:

In reply to Trolleybus emergency "can't speak". see :-

https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/sites/default/files...

Shame that the process can't be kicked off by dialling 888, it would save vital seconds when a life is under threat with any kind of sound making the situation more desperate..

888? What country are you in, and what process do you mean?

In reply to a post by pluralist:

In reply to a post by trolleybus:

In reply to a post by westlodge:

In reply to Trolleybus emergency "can't speak". see :-

https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/sites/default/files...

Shame that the process can't be kicked off by dialling 888, it would save vital seconds when a life is under threat with any kind of sound making the situation more desperate..

888? What country are you in, and what process do you mean?

I am in the UK.

I read through https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/sites/default/files... which explains the process for handling 999 calls when nobody responds. There could be a various reasons for a silent call to 999 and more often or not the number has been accidently dialled and usually from a mobile.

However it could just be that the call for help could be from someone who is in immediate danger when any kind of sound is life threatening and time is of the essence. It does seem to me that the use of 888 might be useful in this situation to get through immediately to police call management and respond with 55 when ask to do so. Do you not agree?

In reply to a post by trolleybus:

However it could just be that the call for help could be from someone who is in immediate danger when any kind of sound is life threatening and time is of the essence. It does seem to me that the use of 888 might be useful in this situation to get through immediately to police call management and respond with 55 when ask to do so. Do you not agree?

You have the issue that 888 could also be accidentally dialled.

Admittedly not a much as 999, as it would only be dialled through accidental phone keypad dialler activation and not via the "make an emergency call" feature like 999 can be. However the "make an emergency call" feature on iPhone at least requires holding down physical two buttons, then swiping a slider. So I'm guessing most accidental 999 calls from mobile are butt dialling on the on-screen keypad.

So I suspect 888 would get nearly as many accidental calls as 999, which would make you plan unworkable I'm afraid.

Ummm.

The first two paragraphs of your link:

What to do if you need urgent police help through the 999 service, but can’t speak.

If you’re in an emergency situation and need police help, but can’t speak, Make Yourself Heard and let the 999 operator know your call is genuine.

That's just gibberish.

The rest does look too complex. Making the 55 response on 999 available sooner looks more sensible to me. Also including it on landline and pseudo-landline (PSTN replacement). Adding 888 isn't necessary.

The 55 also needs to reveal location if available.

An interesting article re 999 answering times. Though that refers to the police response, which presumably comes after the call handler transfers it to the requested service. AIUI that initial response can be longer.

Also a significant number of local numbers start 888 (my childhood home was 888835) and not all places are full figure dial as far as I recall.

In reply to a post by hunnymonster:

Also a significant number of local numbers start 888 (my childhood home was 888835) and not all places are full figure dial as far as I recall.

I think full dialling is mandated with the switch away from PSTN due by 2025. So everyone will dial the code even for "next door".

Is this because 888 accesses the subtitles for 999?

If this means nothing to you - Do a search for Ceefax and Oracle subtitles...

In reply to a post by ferretuk:

Ceefax and Oracle

I was amazed to be reminded they were introduced back in 1974, seems like only yesterday