[Paul4]

I had exactly the same trouble for at least a month.

After a few goes ringing Virgin (I'm really not prepared to sit there for 20 minutes), I got through and tried to explain my simple problem. This also took a few goes! The chap said I should ring the next time it happens. I said that that wasn't possible as it entails using a phone, and wasn't prepared to use any more of my mobile money. He said there wasn't any point in investigating the fault if it wasn't manifesting at the time. I managed to get him to send someone out anyway, to see if the engineer could find anything.

Some days later a very nice man called Paul came and "fixed it". There were two wires in the master socket touching that shouldn't be, blamed on the plasterers who did the hall. He then wisely said I should try it while he was there. No dialling tone. At just the right moment, the fault at the exchange had kicked in, contrary to sod's law. He went to the exchange or somewhere to see what he could find. Half an hour later he rang back to tell me he had instantly found two very obvious faults. All fixed now as far as I am aware.

Maybe I'm just lucky.