My home phone says "Line in Use" even though no phones aren't being used?

Question

When I pick up any phone in my house there's just this silence. I can't call anyone and everyone who calls me just gets sent to the message box. Anyone know what I can do? I've checked all the phones in my house, and they're all not being used.

Answer 1

You have a box outside your home (usually w gas and electic meter.) It says on it Telephone network interface device. There is a test jack inside of this box. Plug a phone in. If you have the same trouble there, that means its an outside trouble in the lines. If there is no trouble there, it means the trouble is on the inside of your home with your wiring of equipment. Most phone co. have a maintenance plan, but if you dont have one, its very expensive to have a tech come and repair your inside wiring. But with most co. the outside trouble will be fixed free of charge.

Answer 2

Have you paid you phone bill latley ???.

Answer 3

do you know if there is a gray box it is Network Interface Device or NID. take a corded phone to the NID with a flat bladed s***w driver and open with the driver. there is a test jack there unplug in and plug in you corded for and see if you have dail tone. if it is dead there it is on the ILEC side I.E. AT&T or Verizon. then if you don't have AT&T or Verizon you will have to call your telephone Company and the will have to get in touch with AT&T or Verizon to come out and fix the promblem. if you have dail tone at the NID there is a problem with you inside wires.

Answer 4

the reason u have no dial tone is a short circuit or ground on your line, that is why when people call u they get your voice mail. Try unplugging your phones one at a time and check the other phones, if your dial tone is restored when u remove a phone, that means that phone that u just unplugged is the one that is causing the problem. Check the site below it has useful information about troubleshooting and repairing phone lines. Good luck.

http://www.fix-your-phone-line.com

Answer 5

call the phone company

Answer 6

If you have traditional phone service somewhere in your house there's a line crossed.

Answer 7

Do you use a broadband carrier like Vonage or something?  Try power cycling the router.  

If you go through a regular carrier, call the company.

Answer 8

Be sure your fax line is turned off when you are not using it. Check the line leading into your computer and include it in your check of the lines too.  Also you may have to unplug one phone at a time and check the lines after unplugging one line.  Unplug one line and then check with another phone, if it is the same dead air then plug that one back in and go around the house doing this.  You may have one outlet that is bad and is messing the others up.  If this does not help out then you will have to put a repair order in with your phone carrier.  Hope this helps!