Do BT Discriminate ?

Do BT discriminate when activating lines for broadband? Work was completed
in October to upgrade the microwave link to our island under a scheme funded
with grant money for the Highlands & Islands. Twice I have placed orders for
Virgin broadband, the first one being rejected because "conversion to ADSL
is outside BT cost limits". A phone call to Brendan Dick (BT Manager for
Scotland) brought the response that it was just one department that hadn't
informed another that the work had already been done and he would see it was
sorted out within a couple of days.
The second order was then placed with Virgin and BT gave the 21st Nov for
the line to be activated. Now they have rejectd this order giving the reason
that 'there is no copper overlay available'. The Scottish Affairs
representative at BT is unable to assist as I am not a BT broadband customer
and BT wholesale doesn't talk to end users. Not much use when they have just
effectively cancelled my order.
I wonder if I took broadband with BT whether it would be sorted out quickly?
Anybody have any ideas how to find out what the actual problem is?
Our exchange was enabled in July 2005 but it took BT a good while to realise
that the existing equipment wouldn't support asdl even theough they were
informed of the potential problem almost a year previous.

Mike

(E-Mail Removed) change hog to org

On 23 Nov 2006, "Mike" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Anybody have any ideas how to find out what the actual problem is?

Try placing an order for BT Broadband - (but before you go down this
route, do check on distance selling and any other possible rules and
charges) - and see if your order is immediately rejected or not, and
if not rejected, cancel it anyway, but then ask Ofcom to investigate

"NoNeedToKnow" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On 23 Nov 2006, "Mike" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>Anybody have any ideas how to find out what the actual problem is?
>
> Try placing an order for BT Broadband - (but before you go down this
> route, do check on distance selling and any other possible rules and
> charges) - and see if your order is immediately rejected or not, and
> if not rejected, cancel it anyway, but then ask Ofcom to investigate

That sounded a good idea and tried it but unfortunately it showed up
staright away that I had previously ordered elewhere. The chap said that my
line was showing up as ok on their test but I explained that it had showed
that since July2005. He then read all the notes on my line and said that a
senior regional manager had raised a high level complaint with another
department at 1600hrs today and that should be answered within 4 worknig
hours. The only other islander to order broadband placed an order with BT
broadband and his is to be activated tomorrow, if his does get activated as
he placed his order well after me I will take your advice on contacting
ofcom. - Thanks - Mike

On Thu, 23 Nov 2006 19:04:54 GMT, "Mike" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>The second order was then placed with Virgin and BT gave the 21st Nov for
>the line to be activated. Now they have rejectd this order giving the reason
>that 'there is no copper overlay available'.

what is the full text (minus the phone number !) of the response from
the number checker at www.btwholesale.com/getbroadband ?

Phil
--
http://www.notspot.info/ - if you can't get the Broadband you want.

"Phil Thompson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Thu, 23 Nov 2006 19:04:54 GMT, "Mike" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
>>The second order was then placed with Virgin and BT gave the 21st Nov for
>>the line to be activated. Now they have rejectd this order giving the
>>reason
>>that 'there is no copper overlay available'.
>
> what is the full text (minus the phone number !) of the response from
> the number checker at www.btwholesale.com/getbroadband ?
>
> Phil
> --
> http://www.notspot.info/ - if you can't get the Broadband you want.

Hi Phil - The check gives asdl at 2mb with 4.5mb indicated - couldn,t cut
and paste as no right click on the popup.

The engineers that fitted the initial upgrade to the microwave link on the
island said that bit cost £18,000 and then there was the local end with
specialist engineers up from south to fit more equipment. All reported to
Highland & Island Enterprise as being operational from end Oct 2006 with a
couple of weeks to test. Seems a lot of money but we understand that BT got
almost £30 million of EU & HIE grant money to do the job, with our island
being included. If the newly fitted equipment isn't going to work then BT
have wasted a lot of money on a system that just has 17 phone lines and one
isdn line. - Mike

On 23 Nov 2006, "Mike" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> If the newly fitted equipment isn't going to work then BT have wasted
> a lot of money on a system that just has 17 phone lines and one isdn line.

Minor correction - I'd suggest HIE + EU were the ones that might have
"wasted" the money, but if the kit isn't working, those engineers will
get another long distance trip to sort it out... at the moment, I'd be
guessing it's not exactly a tourist spot, so they would not be spending
a bit of off-duty time in the sun, or having a relaxing, lazy, walk!

"NoNeedToKnow" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On 23 Nov 2006, "Mike" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> If the newly fitted equipment isn't going to work then BT have wasted
>> a lot of money on a system that just has 17 phone lines and one isdn
>> line.
>
> Minor correction - I'd suggest HIE + EU were the ones that might have
> "wasted" the money, but if the kit isn't working, those engineers will
> get another long distance trip to sort it out... at the moment, I'd be
> guessing it's not exactly a tourist spot, so they would not be spending
> a bit of off-duty time in the sun, or having a relaxing, lazy, walk!

It's a bit of a tourist area but your right and most tourists only come in
the summer. Plenty of wild birds and seals but no pubs or fish shops on the
island. That's why broadband would be nice in the winter evenings apart from
being good for the kids educational needs. - Mike

"Mike" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:qhm9h.23195$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Anybody have any ideas how to find out what the actual problem is?
> Mike
>
> (E-Mail Removed) change hog to org
>
Yes, contact BT. The other alternative is to post your full details here
and I am sure someone from the group will call on your behalf.
How do you expect anyone here to answer a question specific to you only
unless they work for BT nd have knowledge of it? No one from BT is going to
spend time looking through groups giving out advice!

On Thu, 23 Nov 2006 22:06:14 GMT, "Mike" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

> couldn,t cut
>and paste as no right click on the popup.

whatever happened to Ctrl/c and Ctrl/v :-)

On a piffling little exchange I would expect them to use their
"Exchange Activate" 512k only solution, as they have in other places
under the Scottish funded rollout. Maybe you've been lucky.

The email address works if you want to send the phone number so I can
see what an ISP system says about it.

Phil
--
http://www.notspot.info/ - if you can't get the Broadband you want.

On 23 Nov 2006, "Ron" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>No one from BT is going to spend time looking through groups
>giving out advice!

However, there are some helpful BT staff (or ex-staff) who do post from
time to time, so is this your first post (without a period of time
'lurking'), and you are unaware of any BT staff's posts ?