A crossed line occurs when two separate telephone circuits physically or electrically interfere with each other, allowing callers to hear a completely different conversation in the background. This typically results from damaged insulation in copper cable bundles, moisture ingress, or faulty switching equipment bridging circuits that should remain isolated.
Heard on the job
Customer on line four is complaining about a crossed line, saying she can hear her neighbor ordering a pizza.
Also heard as
- crosstalk