Running the BT gauntlet again, recent post.

19 Aug 2004

He came back to no electricity. I was asleep redface

Something smells funny in the kitchen. I was asleep. surprised

ops:
The girls went down the shop to buy catfood, and didn`t come back for hours mad

I lost the family credit card. It has 109 quid on it :oops:
I didn`t keep an eye on the gymnastics, he wanted to know who won. I was on here, and I don`t think he was impressed when I told him the TV was merely a burble in the background. dunno

Some people have football, he has the olympics! He was just shouting at the hockey :shock:
In my defense, I did look after his mum yesterday :uhoh:
On another note, my 13 year old just bought over the counter medication for period pains, is this allowed?!
Venusxxx

19 Aug 2004

:therethere: and hump

to you both
Somedays are best spent in bed!

19 Aug 2004

Especially after a day with the MIL! surprised

Venusxxx

19 Aug 2004

Quote by VenusnMars
He came back to no electricity. I was asleep
Something smells funny in the kitchen. I was asleep. ops:
The girls went down the shop to buy catfood, and didn`t come back for hours
I lost the family credit card. It has 109 quid on it :oops:
I didn`t keep an eye on the gymnastics, he wanted to know who won. I was on here, and I don`t think he was impressed when I told him the TV was merely a burble in the background.
Some people have football, he has the olympics! He was just shouting at the hockey :shock:
In my defense, I did look after his mum yesterday :uhoh:
On another note, my 13 year old just bought over the counter medication for period pains, is this allowed?!
Venusxxx

1. Tell him you wanted a romantic setting for him to come home too. Say that you are planning to swallow too. Distraction techinque....works every time.
2. Tell him a funny smell is better than a 'rotten' one.
3. Tell him the cat was being particularly fussy and wanted something a la carte for tea. Luckily your children place so much energy into looking after the family pet. You both must be wonderful parents and exemplary role models.
4. I don't know how to approach this one as I don't do credit cards. Most credit cards are insured luckily.
5. Highlights of all the Olympic action can be found tonight on BBC 2 (i think)!
6. Tell him his mother is wonderful woman as she raised such a patient and understanding son.
7. To completely forgetout that your 13 year old daughter has become a woman, please see this site and block out the reality of things to come!

19 Aug 2004

Awww poor Mars :therethere: :therethere: :therethere:
I know how you feel, I love the Olympics. Carly Patterson USA won the Gold (great floor routine), Korkovina just wasn't at her best sad

Jas
XXX

19 Aug 2004

Hehehe, we don`t do credit cards either, it`s a card which replaces benefit books., roughly translated as 10 hours trying to contact the Inland Revenue, and still getting to talk to a machine at the end of it!
The rest works for me though :mrgreen:
Venusxxx

19 Aug 2004

Quote by VenusnMars
Hehehe, we don`t do credit cards either, it`s a card which replaces benefit books., roughly translated as 10 hours trying to contact the Inland Revenue, and still getting to talk to a machine at the end of it!
The rest works for me though :mrgreen:
Venusxxx

Oh we must start a club then cause I have been on the phone with BT for frigging HOURS! Its become a part of Big G and my weekly routine. To the point, we know some of them on a first name basis. Big G discovered you can get through to the sales line A.S.A.P. though. Curious and curiouser!

19 Aug 2004

I can empathise. I once told BT I wanted to change to BT broadband because I only wanted to deal with one set of pillocks instead of two (AOL)
They took it on the chin too! lol

Oh, I have a post somewhere I can share, I`ll see if I can find it!
Venusxxx

19 Aug 2004

Here it is. I am still scarred. surprised

Never did work out why I couldnt use dial up. Phoned AOL and heard a message telling us that broadband was down for BT customers in my area (no shit sherlock,I tried telling them that yesterday, but they wouldn`t listen to me ), asked AOL to help me find out what was wrong with dial up, and they kept giving me the same damn number over again to dial up on........
READ MY LIPS DIPSHITS, I CANT DIAL OUT ON THAT NUMBER, SO IT DOESNT MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU GIVE IT TO ME!
Try this they told me, then you will be online
I try it, phone back to tell a different advisor that it wont work, and they start putting me through steps to try it again
I phone up dial up support to be told they cant help me because I am a broadband member, I explain broadband told me to talk to them because I am setting up dial up............
He says he doesnt know how he can help me :o
I refuse to be transferred to another adviser, my tone wasnt too happy at this point, so he puts me on hold whilst he talks to another advisor, comes back, and I discover he doesnt even know how to set up a new number on the software, and refuses to listen to me when I am telling him that the steps he is talking me through will only put me through the procedure that will get the browser to connect online to retreive access numbers. Lets just put me online to get numbers which will get me online! :crazy:
He kept getting confused because the screen he wanted me to get wasn`t appearing!
THAT`S BECAUSE YOU ARE ASKING ME TO GO TO THE WRONG SCREENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LISTEN TO ME YOU FUCKING DEAF AND RETARDED IDIOT, YOU NEED TO GO TO EXPERT SET UP ETC
and I`VE ALREADY DONE IT ANYWAY, YOU GOT ME TO DELETE THE PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS SO YOU CAN TALK ME THROUGH IT AGAIN ONLY TO FIND YOU DONT KNOW HOW, AND REFUSE TO LISTEN TO ME WHEN I TELL YOU YOU ARE DOING IT ALL WRONG BUT IF YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW, ITS THIS PAGE HERE!!!!!
He asks me to try logging on, and he will phone back to see if I was successful. I knew I wouldn`t be.
ESPECIALLY AS WE`D DELETED THE EXISTING IDENTICAL ACCESS NUMBERS TWO ADVISORS HAD GIVEN ME BEFORE HIM :banghead:
How the fuck does he expect me to get online with AOL with no aol access numbers at all?!!
What is so hard to understand about
Two different PCs, unformatted, formatted, two different windows systems, four different modems, (complete with drivers) three different phone cables and a phone that can connect to a working line, and the access numbers, both AOL access and net wizard access numbers not being able to connect
MUST MEAN THAT THE PROBLEM ISN`T WITH ME?!!!!
OMFG,And to think I thought I was crap at my job!
BT were just as bad
I am ditching AOL asap and taking up BT broadband, so next time I have a problem I only have to deal with one set of idiots instead of two.........
And when I phone BT to request broadband with them, that is exactly what I will be telling them.

Venusxxx

19 Aug 2004

oh venus

((( at AOL not mars! ;-) )))
i am still waiting some months down the line, for an explanation as to why AOL debitted 4 lots of 16 quid one month. . . . . .
"sir, do you have more than one account?"
you tell me? do i? i reckon not, less you're charging me per e-mail address???
"of course not sir we wouldn't do that"
so your explanation is?
"erm . . . . can i suggest you contact your card supplier sir?"
for why? cos you bleeding well debitted it and they paid you according to an agreement WE have, yes??
"erm . . . . . . . . "
"can i get back to you on that?"
yup but be quick about it! and i have just copied this entire convo so i expect some service?
they we're surprised the other day when they rang to offer me an "exclusive" deal on broadband for the same fabulous price of Â£16 a month, and i said no ta! i'm waiting on BT too . . . . . . wankers . . . .
oh! and big (((((((hug))))))) kiss

;-)
neil x x x x x ;-)

19 Aug 2004

lol, another good one was............
`I received an email saying my payment didn`t go through. I`m pretty sure it`s spam, but I`m checking just in case.`
`Ok madam how do you pay`
`I use an electron card.`
`I`m sorry, we don`t accept electron`
`But I`ve been paying via electron for the past three years.`
`I`m sorry madam, but you couldn`t have been. We don`t accept electron` rolleyes

They don`t, but I`m guessing the sales woman I dealt with at the beginning wanted her brownie points and made an exception.
I think I know three years worth of my own bank statements
Last month I changed to Direct debit, they charged me three months worth, if I hadn`t have caught and cancelled it on the day, I would have been facing bank charges because it put my account overdrawn. As a result I couldn`t pay the vet when I told them I would, and they have now refused to treat my cats unless I have money up front in future! mad

Sorry hun, I hijacked your hug thread. I`m really on a roll with Mars today! rotflmao

Venusxxx

20 Aug 2004

Quote by VenusnMars
On another note, my 13 year old just bought over the counter medication for period pains, is this allowed?!

From a more qualified source than me:

There are no legal rules on this other than at the Pharmacist discretion.

20 Aug 2004

Thanks TnH, I know how qualified your source was smile

Damn good job my 13 year old is sensible!
Venusxxx

1 May 2005

Continued........ :huh:

Never did work out why I couldnt use dial up. Phoned AOL and heard a message telling us that broadband was down for BT customers in my area (no shit sherlock, I tried telling them that yesterday, but they wouldn`t listen to me ), asked AOL to help me find out what was wrong with dial up, and they kept giving me the same damn number over again to dial up on........
READ MY LIPS DIPSHITS, I CANT DIAL OUT ON THAT NUMBER, SO IT DOESNT MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU GIVE IT TO ME!
Try this they told me, then you will be online
I try it, phone back to tell a different advisor that it wont work, and they start putting me through steps to try it again
I phone up dial up support to be told they cant help me because I am a broadband member, I explain broadband told me to talk to them because I am setting up dial up............
He says he doesnt know how he can help me
I refuse to be transferred to another adviser, my tone wasnt too happy at this point, so he puts me on hold whilst he talks to another advisor, comes back, and I discover he doesnt even know how to set up a new number on the software, and refuses to listen to me when I am telling him that the steps he is talking me through will only put me through the procedure that will get the browser to connect online to retreive access numbers. Lets just put me online to get numbers which will get me online! :crazy:
He kept getting confused because the screen he wanted me to get wasn`t appearing!
THAT`S BECAUSE YOU ARE ASKING ME TO GO TO THE WRONG SCREENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LISTEN TO ME YOU FUCKING DEAF AND RETARDED IDIOT, YOU NEED TO GO TO EXPERT SET UP ETC
and I`VE ALREADY DONE IT ANYWAY, YOU GOT ME TO DELETE THE PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS SO YOU CAN TALK ME THROUGH IT AGAIN ONLY TO FIND YOU DONT KNOW HOW, AND REFUSE TO LISTEN TO ME WHEN I TELL YOU YOU ARE DOING IT ALL WRONG BUT IF YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW, ITS THIS PAGE HERE!!!!!
He asks me to try logging on, and he will phone back to see if I was successful. I knew I wouldn`t be.
ESPECIALLY AS WE`D DELETED THE EXISTING IDENTICAL ACCESS NUMBERS TWO ADVISORS HAD GIVEN ME BEFORE HIM :banghead:
How the fuck does he expect me to get online with AOL with no aol access numbers at all?!!
What is so hard to understand about
Two different PCs, unformatted, formatted, two different windows systems, four different modems, (complete with drivers) three different phone cables and a phone that can connect to a working line, and the access numbers, both AOL access and net wizard access numbers not being able to connect
MUST MEAN THAT THE PROBLEM ISN`T WITH ME?!!!!
OMFG,And to think I thought I was crap at my job!
BT were just as bad
I am ditching AOL asap and taking up BT broadband, so next time I have a problem I only have to deal with one set of idiots instead of two.........
And when I phone BT to request broadband with them, that is exactly what I will be telling them.

It's our line, not us, we never could get dial up, they couldn't find out why, but said that if it was a problem with the line inside our house, that we might have to pay for the engineer, so I thought 'bollocks to this' and upgraded to Broadband.....
Then the problems started again :huh:
The connection started to drop again, so an engineer came out, checked the connection on his own equipment, scratched his chin, said he 'didn't get it' and started testing at different points along the road, replaced the socket in the house, scratched his chin again, and went home. Well, tell a lie, I told him that our net was going down at night, and not coming back until the following afternoon, and asked him what would happen if he was fiddling with something as the net decided to kick back in? Would he assume he'd fixed the problem?
"Oh no', he said, 'I will be able to tell."
The net kicked back in, he went home :huh:
The problem was reported as solved.
The net goes again that night, so we phone again,
Advisor, reading off of a card......
"How many lights do you have on? Can you try this, can you try that........ "
Me- 'The problem is not with us, these tests are pointless.'
"yes, yes, now if you could just unplug your modem and reboot your PC" :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
However, we do discover that our one chance of kicking our connection back in is to phone 151, and do an automated line test, it sometimes gets the light flashing, sometimes it even sticks, so this is what we do, but we still report that we are having issues, as sometimes we are offline for 15+ hours at a time.
We phone again, they get the wholesalers to deal with it, they do, but still no joy, so I phone again and they recalibrate us. It works for a day. A whole fucking 24 hours :bounce:
Goes again-
Advisor - "Do you have an extention lead plugged in?"
Me- "Well yes, this time we do, because I recently used the phone in another room, but this is not our usual set up, and we still have these problems when the phone is plugged in direct."
"Oh, well that's your problem then. Goodbye" :huh:
Another advisor
"How many lights do you have on your modem? Could you try rebooting your PC and plugging your modem back in" :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
Eventually they decide it's the wholesalers problem...again. Meanwhile I try kicking the connection back in by doing an automated line test again.........
Cept I can't, because a problem has been reported, and it bypasses this option and connects me to another fucking advisor.
Me- "Hello, BT are aware there is a problem, and are dealing with it, all I need you to do is set the 151 automated line testing for me to enable me to do a line test from home so I can get net access. It's been down for 18 hours now, and I have no way of gaining access from my end without that."
Advisor, " I can do a line test from here, phone up in 2-3 minutes and I will have the results on the database."
Me- "Thankyou, but who do I phone to set up the automated line test so I can do this again myself when the connection goes again?"
I get another(I find out later) irrelevant number.
No lights start flashing, but I phone up 20 minutes later, a different advisor, telling me I have the wrong department, but he would be happy to do a line test........:huh:
Oh, and making me aware that this is a premium rate phonecall.
Me- Don't worry about it, I'm paying for net access I'm not getting as well, and A line test has already been done, give me the results.
Advisor-" What is it you actually want?"! :banghead:
I tell him, in short measured tones.
"There are no results on your database, I'll be happy to do a line test"
He does the line test, the modem starts flashing, but doesn't stick.
I start phoning irrelevent numbers which have been given me, result? Look up.^^^^^^
I phone a 150 to get a normal advisor,
Automated message- 'Sorry, we don't work on Sundays.' (do you fucking ever?)
I phone broadband, "listen VERY carefully. I am going to phone 151, and choose the option that states the problem is fixed. It's the only way I am going to be able to use the automated line check so I can get back online. I need you to note that I do NOT want any work on my line cancelled as a result. I am simply doing this so I can kickstart my connection."
Advisor, "OK."
I phone 151, press 1, to state that the problem no longer exists.
I phone 151 again, WOOHOO, I am now able to do a line test, instead of having the option bypassed because they are aware of a problem.
Two attempts, and my connection is back smile

.
Now somewhen in the middle of ^^^^^^^^^ that lot, I get a phonecall from BT, because one of the dappy numbers entailed a long wait, and I requested a ring back.
I explain what I've done, and that I don't want any work cancelled.
Advisor - "Oh, you mean the problem that has just been closed?!" :x :x :x
The above is the short version. :huh: This has been going on for months on and off, the past three weeks it's been constant.
Now two days ago I asked for a discount, they said they would sort it, deducting the hours offline off of my 24/7 payment. However, this is beyond a joke. I need to take stronger action. I spend more time on the phone to BT than I do online. I don't have time or energy for this shit, and the inconveniance goes beyond just time offline.
Any ideas which do not involve phoning an advisor?
Venusxxx

1 May 2005

Strongle worded letter to Watchdog maybe?
get the media involved and problems tend to get fixed.

1 May 2005

I have used NTL for a number of years now, and used to think they were shit. But having read some of the posts about BT (not just in here), I have decided to stick with what i have. Better the devil you know, so they say!

1 May 2005

BT is the only devil available to me :huh:
Venusxxx

1 May 2005

I am so pissed off with BT.
My Broadband connection drops repeatedly for about the first half hour I get on line and then it's usually ok.
I've wasted hours of time texting on the BT Help link.
More recently I came home to find my line's disconnected despit the fact that I've paid all my bills promptly. They still claim not to have received payment (I paid at a post office) and they've been sent the receipts.
Every time I try calling them It takes ages to trawl through the menu options and then I get a call centre in India and find myself talking to someone whose English I can only half understand. They promise to do this and that and eventually try putting me through to someone else.
After waiting for ages in another call queue, guess what? The phone starts to ring on the extension they've put me through to and then promptly cuts me off.
I've a theory that half the operators can't be assed to deal with the call but can claim they answered it. I reckon they get paid a bonus depending on the number of calls logged to their extension.
I'm seriously considering giving up on BT. I've paid my bills and I still have no service and I can't get through to anyone who seems able to sort it out FFS!
I am so mad

:x :x :x

1 May 2005

(((((((Eager))))))))
I so know how you feel.
Venusxxx

1 May 2005

Its just an idea but sounds like the type of conection you want may not be compatable with the modem/phone line Voice communication over a telephone line is a whole lot different to data transmittion .and it sounds like your computer set up is poss too advanced for the BT line out to the exchange! Changing service provider is not going to solve much if you are still using the same old telephone cables ! Maybe try a old low band 52K type modem and see if that works, or if there is a proper cable network company using their own cable then try them. Its only a thought ,so it may not work !

1 May 2005

Quote by peenut
Its just an idea but sounds like the type of conection you want may not be compatable with the modem/phone line Voice communication over a telephone line is a whole lot different to data transmittion .and it sounds like your computer set up is poss too advanced for the BT line out to the exchange! Changing service provider is not going to solve much if you are still using the same old telephone cables ! Maybe try a old low band 52K type modem and see if that works, or if there is a proper cable network company using their own cable then try them. Its only a thought ,so it may not work !

Quote by VenusnMars
It's our line, not us, we never could get dial up, they couldn't find out why.........
The connection started to drop again, so an engineer came out, checked the connection on his own equipment, scratched his chin, said he 'didn't get it' and started testing at different points along the road.......

You don't work for BT do you by any chance?!
Ta anyway kiss

Venusxxx

1 May 2005

Been with AOL for years.
LONG ago got used to the fact that their advisors couldn't advise a drunk how to drink.
Now I'm broadband, with AOL.
Same advisors, same lack of advice.
But, since the setup works who gives a shit what their advisors don't know ?
So, you're AOL....when I have problems (rarely, and usually to do with adware and other crap) I ignore their browser.
If I click twice on the modem icon (taskbar bottom right, two green arrows) and then click on the connect icon....I then enter my pass and screename and away it goes....at least it means I can tell if the line is down or AOL is pissing me off.

1 May 2005

I'm not with AOL any longer. I'm on BT broadband. Same shit, different day.
Venusxxx

1 May 2005

No I don't work for BT! however if you really want to know.....please press one, ...... biggrin

ps the maddest thing I find is why do they give us a number to ring to report that our phone does not work How can I phone it if my phone don't work ?????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1 May 2005

Quote by VenusnMars
I'm not with AOL any longer. I'm on BT broadband. Same shit, different day.
Venusxxx

Im with BT broadband and have to say I havent had any probs (so far) with em at all...
But like what was said earlier in the thread...it doesnt help the matter when the help centre is based in India and the person trying to sort your problem cant hardly speak a word of english....
Be a bit like a indian chap phoning me and asking for advice on how his curry recipe as gone wrong or something....I would waffle on to him in my yorkshire accent and after he would turn to his missus and say "What the fook was that all about...I dont have a clue what he just said to me"
But anyway...stick with...they are good once they sort their shit out..
wink

:wink:

1 May 2005

Venus....
:therethere:
As an ex-BT dial-up customer/mug :dry: I know how you feel. I finally got fed up enough to jump ship and I haven't looked back since. My current ISP gives me cheap unmetered broadband with no hassle. The only time I needed their help they pulled out all the stops (after a local rate call) and even called me back three times to make sure the problem hadn't come back.
I'm really sorry I can't help you solve your problem but if it helps I just heard that my ISP are "unbundling" (whatever that means) and putting their own kit in BT exchanges. Because of that the price is going through the floor. If you feel like changing supplier drop me a PM and I'll send you a link to their website.
Good luck!

1 May 2005

After my own experiences with customer service helplines (not just BT/broadband), I totally sympathise with you. The ones that really piss me off are the companies that employ generic monkeys who know nothing about the company or their products, but work from not-very-flexible scripts. If you have a problem that's outside their box, you're screwed unless you can find someone who actually knows something about it. You need to get passed to an engineer to get anywhere then. Preferably not going via the monkey 'cos that'll make it worse.
Every single time I've ever had to do anything non-trivial (so paying a bill is, surprise, quick and easy) BT have cocked it up or taken a looooong time over it, or both.. Majority of those times I've had compensation and the first time I remember actually paid for my next years line rental it was out so long. Thank god for mobile phones in situations like that. I have several friends with almost exactly the same experience too.
No experience with anyone else to compare but have heard horror stories about ntl too, but there's no other options where I live without paying for a leased line at quite a bit more per month - No cable available, and satellite's too expensive and crap up-pipe bandwidth via modem. If I was running a business or could afford it, I'd lease a line and support the routers/bridge/.. myself (I'm a PC techy).
While it works and is the most convenient, value-for-money option, I'm staying put with BT's line for broadband (actually with Demon Internet as the ISP who I rather like).. No problems yet. I can't wait for the fun when I next move...

2 May 2005

Quote by VenusnMars
Any ideas which do not involve phoning an advisor?
Venusxxx

Venus
have you tried unplugging your modem and rebooting your PC dunno

4 May 2005

Venus,
I'd suggest a strongly worded letter to BT sent asking for a reply by x date as the what the actual problem is. Let them know you have been paying for the service and they have not been delivering and are breaching their contract with you, you have incurred substantial phone costs and been driven practically insane by their apparently incompetent call centre, you have endured this problem for the best part of 8 months and now feel that it is time to make a complaint to Ofcom, bring it to the attention of Watchdog and your local press.
Indicate a date by which you expect the work to be carried out and then send the letter recorded delivery.
C x

4 May 2005

Just a thought .. are you on BTBroadband or BTYahoo Broadband????