I thought the phone companies were pretty past that. Nobody pays for every phone unless they have the phone company do the wiring which is really expensive.
But what I have had a problem with is the phone company coming out to do a repair and saying the problem was with my wiring when I know there was no dialtone at the outside box. But if I'm not there, my wife doesn't have the technical expertise to argue with them. And once she lets them in, it's too late.