Southern landline phone question

[AustinPowers]

Folks, hoping someone can help

Im ringing from the North ,  trying to reach a relative in the South all day on  their landline

It doesn't actually ring, but  a voice says "the number you have dialled is not answering. Please try again later "

I'm not familiar with the South's  phone networks. So I'm not sure if this phone is off the hook, out of service or engaged

Can anyone confirm?

[armaghniac]

It doesn't sound like something you would get on old fashioned landline, but things are more varied nowadays.
Could the number have been redirected to a mobile or VOIP type service?

[Itchy]

It's off the hook or pulled out of the wall and has no voicemail set up on it

[Mikhail Prokhorov]

this should be in the wtf thread 

[AustinPowers]

this should be in the wtf thread 

I probably should have said it  was an urgent matter.