Just answered it this time, apparently from "generator" quoting a mobile number and suggesting a drink.
Now if I can just include these in the TPS...

Ah, that's an excellent thought. Thank you Cruz.
I think that it was 078 1353 etc, but deleted it.
I think that the three or four rings is shabby (again), encouraging people to return the profitable call. 

This appears to be "BT Text". Presumably, someone has sent a text message to your non-text enabled landline phone. If you didn't have an answering machine, it would probably have simply called you later. But now, as far as they are concerned, you've already heard the message.

See http://www2.bt.com/static/i/btretail/consumer/bttext/faq_trouble.html

Note that they say they only keep messages for 24 hours!

Barbara wrote on Feb 19^th, 2014 at 5:50pm:

Barbara, this has nothing to do with marketing and therefore nothing to do with TPS. It (or an equivalent service from another provider) is the usual delivery method when SMS texts are sent to landline numbers because landline phones generally don't have the capability to show them.

Go to the alternative numbers database and enter the 0845 number you will see the 0800 number that you need to call in order to opt out.

Barbara wrote on Feb 19^th, 2014 at 6:36pm:

Reception of SMS texts are activated by default on landlines, just as they are on mobiles. This means that the assumption by calling/sending telephone users is that these numbers can receive text messages, or to put it another way the assumption is "true".

If the default position were to be "false", i.e. landline numbers don't usually receive SMS texts, then telephone users would not generally send such messages to these numbers. The only time they would be when they had the prior knowledge that they can be received on a particular number.

How do you think this would work? Do you think people who could receive SMS text messages would, when giving out their number, also indicate that they can receive SMS texts? Do you think that the person hearing this would remember?

In practice there would be no texts sent to landlines. This would be not because it isn't technically possible but because some prefer not to receive such messages by voice.

The point is that you have chosen not to receive any SMS messages sent to your landline number. So if someone sends you one you will not receive it. That is your right as is not being notified (and so not take) of voice calls by turning off the bell on your phone or unplugging it.

Voice telephony has always worked on the basis that the default position is to accept communications rather than not. It is every user's responsibility to decide how to deal with communications received and SMS is no different.