Alan Smith on the phoneThe phone system in Sheerness has returned to normal following two days of chaos.

On Wednesday and Thursday, people across the town were reporting crossed lines.

Callers' communications were thrown open to the public with 76,000 lines across Kent thought to be affected.

There was a problem with the telephone exchange in Maidstone where many businesses reported problems.

Kent County Council, Maidstone Hospital and Kent Policewere all affected. Personal conversations were also overheard as crossed lines led to accidental eavesdropping.

They included Aaron making his stationery sales pitch to a client, Jill reporting how she “burnt her bum” on holiday, and Jackie checking on the results of her cholesterol tests.

One unlucky caller stumbled across a couple having a blazing row while another woman was heard blaming the chaos on "the foreigners on Talk Talk".

Hogben's funeral director's Andy Hyland said he had been talking business when he was interupted by a woman reporting her Jack Russell missing.

Thursday, July 02 2009

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Visitor Comments

  • BT Chaos!!!!

    7/2/2009 8:56:03 PM
    by Sabrina Jones

    I too am having this problem, however, I can not hear the caller at all, only someone elses conversations! I have contacted BT several times who tell me there is no fault on my line. After seeing the story regarding Maidstone telephone exchange I contacted BT once again who told me my problem was not related to this incident. After seeing this story saying others in Sheerness have been affected I am inclined to believe he did not know fully the situation! It is made even odder by the fact that I do not yet know of anyone else in the area with this issue, or that calls to my landline from mobiles can be heard perfectly.

  • BT CHAOS

    7/3/2009 6:40:23 PM
    by L Reddin

    We are also having the same problem in Whitstable and our phone provider is Sky. We know of one other person two roads away, that is having exactly the same problem.

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