BEWARE OF BT

[Jacksparrow]

This is turning into a saga and one that could drag on for weeks yet. BT don't appear to have a handle on what the problem actually is and are thrashing around hoping to nail it by chance.
I shall be writing to the CEO of BT to complain that the forum is being deprived of the comments of a long standing member and we are demanding compensation for our loss.

[nuthatch]

What a to-do

This is disgraceful - how much cricket have you missed, Placi?

Good thinking, Jacksparrow

[Placido]

Thank you, Jacksparrow - I knew the heavyweights would join in !!

If any Forum members ever get stuck in this nightmare with BT here's how I finally got some action (last week the next date they gave me for fixing stuff was 21 November and that was the point at which I cracked) - when the automated voice first asks you for a few words to describe the problem, make sure you say the words, either "Engineer" or "technical support" then you won't get shunted to one of the general query little boys who have no power and no appreciation of your serious problem, and in my experience are paid to do nothing to actually help. When you get a technical bod tell him or her that you are 72 years old and the internet is your lifeline for ordering groceries for delivery to your door because you can't carry heavy weights, and (most of all) you need to order your repeat prescription medication online. (All true in my case.)
I engaged a Dundee lady so much at one point that she asked me in a worried voice whether I have a panic emergency button ; I assured her that I do so that calmed her down and I was immediately told about the Case Manager being assigned to me, blah blah, see above post.

No cricket lost thus far, Nuthatch but the 23rd is creeping up on me .

No BT tv yet but back into bakkle tomorrow morning .

[Jacksparrow]

"worried from Dundee" seems to be an upgrade on the usual wage slave from the sub continent but the acid test is whether anything actually gets done. Good luck old friend.

[Placido]

Thank you for appreciating this salutory lesson.
Overwhelmed to be included in your very select coterie of "friends", Jacksparrow, but a likkle less of the 'old' would be good .

(What this Forum needs is an elderly female smiley, or angrey - the gentleman doesn't fit my image (no beard ... yet.)

[nuthatch]

The 21st? TWENTY FIRST? streuth

Is it just Freeview you get now, Placi?

You can't order repeat prescriptions by phone here either. I keep toying with the idea of having them delivered, which the pharmacy nextdoor to the surgery advertise so much. One of their vans is often parked outside .. maybe they have only the one
It's a long way to walk there.

Shopping though ... when you're used to having most of it delivered

I hope they can get something done about the tv long before 23rd.

[Placido]

Yes, Nuthatch, just Freeview; not much but better than the 3 days when the tv wouldn't work at all .

I think the prescription delivery service is brilliant. It's always the same chap who brings it - you get to know him and, importantly, he gets to know you. He's a lovely guy.
This service is run by the independent chemist next door to my doc's surgery but there's an ad on tv now for an NHS nationwide service which I s'pose is the same sort of thing.
Wouldn't be without .

[Placido]

I rang BT this morning as they had not rung me since their promise on Wednesday. Was put through to "Alan" the engineer in Belfast (the BT sprawling network is bigger than HMRC tax centres !) at 0930 hours.
At 1045 hours my BT television channels came on .
We (yes, we) had dun it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Am now a fully qualified electronics engineer and shall apply for a job with NASA.
Alan talked me through all the procedures on-screen, the BT box and the BT hub and finally all the pieces fell into place.
16 October to 11 November.

Taking an overview of this sorry tale of fibbles and incompetence, it is obvious that BT must be losing money hand over fist. I can't be the only one (see BT's forum) and, upon receiving my first bill yesterday, BT have credited me with the entire amount I paid up front for the channels, the hardware and an engineer to call to fit it all together, so I won't pay anything until, I estimate, the Middle of February.
And to cap it all, Alan said, at the end of our marathon, that as a goodwill gesture he was giving me a £10 goodwill payment !!

[nuthatch]

Absolutely hilarious, Placi you had to do all that engineering whilst Alan just sat there with his feet up eating Jaffa Cakes
Well well done you!

Good news with the money you paid!! HB all round

[Placido]

Thank you, Nuthatch for listening to my marathon of moans - here, have a flower .

Paaaaarty, paaaaaaaarty, paaaaaarty