AboutSpencer Holcombe Expertise Hi, thanks for checking me out, I have several years in the telecom industry, working for Pacific Telephone,American Bell,AT&T,AT&T Communications,AT&T Information Systems, and Pacific Bell-SBC. I can answer most questions regarding Telephones,wiring,jacks,PBX, Local and Long Distance,Billing,Custom calling services, Customer Service,and Fraud. I can`t answer Cellular questions.
Expert: Spencer Holcombe Date: 12/23/2006 Subject: clicking on home phone
Question Hi Spencer. When I call my mom on her home phone (from either my cell or home phone), there is clicking throughout the conversaton. My mom swears there is someone listening, and it DOES sound like a pick-up/hang-up. I never have this problem on either of my phones when talking to others, so I'm sure the problem is on her phone. She lives in an old farm-house, and had and ADT security system installed about 2 years ago...seems to me that's when this started. Could it be the ADT line? I appreciate any advice you can give.
Answer Linda,
Yes it could very well be the security system she had put in, it also could be a number of other things. Have her call telephone repair service to check the line(s) FIRST.
They will do testing to her network interface to isolate if it's their portion of the line or your mothers. You can also check other items she may have on her line IE: cordless phone, caller id, answering machine, tivo, etc.
You can also do a test by going to her telephone line network interface box (that gray box where the telco lines and your moms wiring join) and disconnect the alarm line
and see if the clicking stops, if so-it's time to call the alarm company for service. You didn't state who provides her telephone service but most telcos will do a line test for free up to the interface point. Just test the items she has plugged into her jacks one at a time, till you find the one thats causing the click. I doubt anyone is tapping her line, but even if they were YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW IT, "clicking" is old movie type stuff of yesteryear.It's probably a short in the line or wiring.
Spencer
