Repairs

Telephone service problems can result from a number of different factors. Often, your telephone service problem is a simple one that you can quickly identify and fix yourself — saving you time and money. For problems that you are unable to correct, you may call SouthEast Telephone or a qualified contractor for assistance. Repairs may or may not result in a service charge for a technician to be dispatched to your home.

Generally, SouthEast Telephone maintains the telephone lines and related equipment located outside your home or business. If the problem is outside and in SouthEast Telephone's network, SouthEast Telephone is responsible for repairs (usually at no additional charge to you). You are responsible for maintenance for that part of the line inside your home or business leading from the Network Interface Device (NID). Accordingly, telephone sets, line cords, jacks and other equipment also attached to this inside wire are your responsibility. SouthEast Telephone offers optional plans to help you maintain inside wiring, jacks and equipment as well as to help you isolate potential problems inside your home or business.

Before you call for repair assistance, you might try these Quick Troubleshooting Tips to help you determine the cause of your service interruption. These tips can help you get your telephone service working again in the shortest time possible and may also help you avoid the expense of a service charge.

1. Noise or static on the line? Generally, you might try disconnecting all of your telephone and related equipment (answering machines, computers, FAX, transformers, etc.) and waiting at least one minute. Then, reconnect your telephones one at a time to see if the trouble still exists. If it stops, the problem is most likely associated with a specific telephone or related equipment.
2. No dial tone on any of your telephones? The problem may be in the telephone line outside your home or business. If you can located your Network Interface Device (NID) and can access the test jack, connect a working telephone set to it. If you connect a telephone to the NID and hear dial tone, the problem is most likely associated with your telephone sets, jacks, equipment or inside wiring (follow steps outlined above for "Noise or static on the line".) If you can't hear dial tone, the problem is most likely associated with the telephone line outside your home or business.
3. Dial tone on some but not all telephones? Chances are the service outage your are experiencing is due to telephone-related equipment failure in your home or business. Disconnect the non-working equipment and reconnect it to a telephone jack that has working telephone. If still no dial tone, the problem is in the telephone set. If you get dial tone, the problem is most likely associated with the inside wire or telephone jack.
4. Do you have a cordless phone? If so, unplug it (including any electrical transformer) and then try your other telephones. Check to see if the problem still exists.
5. Do you have a problem with your Caller ID display units? Check to see that it is properly connected as well as that the batteries are fresh. Caller ID service also requires subscription to this feature from SouthEast Telephone.
6. Can't receive telephone calls even though you have dial tone? It is possible that Call Forwarding has been activated on your telephone. Try dialing *73 (or 1173 from a rotary dial telephone) to disable this feature.

Follow these simple guidelines to help you restore your telephone service in the shortest amount of time and at the least possible cost to you: If the problem appears to be in your telephone line outside your home or business, you should contact SouthEast Telephone. If the problem appears to be in the wiring or jacks inside your home or business, options for repair are to contact SouthEast Telephone, another qualified company/contractor or attempt the repair yourself. SouthEast Telephone offers optional maintenance service plans, or can provide maintenance services on a time and materials basis. Look in the Yellow Pages for contractors and service companies. If the problem appears to be with your telephone set or other related equipment, you should contact your equipment supplier or vendor for repair. If you have dial tone and can make telephone calls but cannot receive calls, contact SouthEast Telephone for assistance. If you cannot make Long Distance telephone calls, call 1-700-555-4141 from the line where the trouble occurs for additional support. If the problem is associated with a pay (coin operated) telephone, please contact the appropriate supplier of the pay telephone equipment.