Model KX-FPC165 We used another phone to test the answering…

Question

Model KX-FPC165 We used another phone to test the answering machine. When the
phone rings there are noises like a fax is coming through. I let the phone ring
until the recording comes on to leave a message. I leave a brief message, but
the message isn't there. The red light does not flash, and if I hit play, it
says there are no messages. What is wrong here? One footnote - the message
screen on the back of the handset says there are 30 new messages.

Nathan · Accepted Answer

Nathan :

Hello, I’m Nathan, and I’ll be assisting you today. My livelihood depends on
your positive feedback, so your satisfaction is my highest priority.

Nathan :

Sorry to hear you’re having trouble. We’ll get started chatting here.

If you’d prefer support beyond the chat format, you may also reach me directly
via phone or a remote support session. I’ll send an additional services offer
for these options - feel free to ignore it for now, it will be available to you
at any time during or after our conversation.

Nathan :

I'd like you to test something for me please: could you please unplug both the
power cord and phone line going to your panasonic machine, and then call your
home number from another phone (like your cell phone) and let me know if you
still are prompted to leave a message?

Customer:

Unplugged both cords, waited a bit, and plugged them back in. I got the message
to leave a message. I left a brief message but it didn't record. No flashing red
light. No message to listen to.

Nathan :

Good morning,

Nathan :

sorry I missed you a moment ago,

Nathan :

I'm not quite clear if you followed the steps as I intended,

Nathan :

are you saying that you got the greeting to leave a message, while the panasonic
was unplugged? Or you just unplugged and replugged it, then made the test call
to yourself?

Customer:

I plugged it back in before making the test call from my cell phone. I gather
that was not right. So I did it as you wrote it and I did get the greeting to
leave a message. I don't know where that is coming from with the answering
machine unplugged.

Nathan :

Okay thanks for checking,

Nathan :

If you do hear that same message in this situation, then what is happening is
that you are reaching a voicemail service provided by the phone company. It is
answering before your home answering machine has a chance to pick up the line,
which is why you hear a different greeting, and why you get no messages when
checking your home answering machine. It is also possible that you have
something else in the home picking up the line - another answering machine, a
fax machine, computer modem, satellite receiver, security system, etc.

The solution in that case is to contact the phone company and have them
cancel/remove the voicemail service from your account, OR as an alternative, you
could get rid (or just stop using) the answering machine and use the voicemail
function instead. You can record your own greeting on the voicemail if you like,
and voicemail actually has several advantages: it is always on, meaning it will
work even if the power goes out, while the answering machine could stop taking
or playing messages if it is ever damaged or unplugged. VM will also work even
if you're on another call, with answering machine, the 2nd caller would just get
a busy signal. For these reasons, I tend to recommend voicemail over using your
own machine, simply because it tends to be more reliable and accessible. The
choice is yours of course though.

Customer:

I have contacted the phone company & asked them to remove voice mail from my
account. I've checked & they have done so. Now I am not getting any greeting to
leave a message. I have the machine set on TAD/FAX, and the AUTO ANSWER is on.
The message should come on after 4 rings but it does not.

Nathan :

Okay,

Nathan :

well the "auto answer" mode is in relation to the fax function,

Nathan :

does the machine receive a fax automatically if one is sent?

Nathan :

the tad/fax mode is the correct one,

Nathan :

but you may need to re-record your greeting,

Nathan :

and check that the auto answer mode really is on.

Nathan :

I can send you a copy of the manual, if you'd like, if that would help you
through the answering system configuration

Model KX-FPC165 We used another phone to test the answering…

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