Jim Howes wrote:
> allnewtonyg wrote:
>> I'm currently using Telewest however work are installing a BT line +
>> broadband into my house for me.
>>
>> I'm concerned about how much i download and if I'll be capped on the
>> new BT BB line. However my question is can i have another BB
>> supplier and simply unplug my work BB and plug in my priviate BB
>> using the one line?
>
> The problem is the upside-down way in which ADSL broadband is sold in
> this country. The ISP 'owns' the broadband connection, not you.
>
> When your line is connected to Brand-X internet, BT set what is
> called 'Service Selection Barring' on your line, which prevents you
> from using the line to connect to Brand-Y internet, even if you have
> an account with them elsewhere which you are not using.
>
> This, of course, makes any form of broadband failover/backup
> impossible on a single line.
>
> Thus there are only political/commercial reasons, and no technical
> reason why you cannot disconnect your ATM session to Brand-X, and set
> up a second session to Brand-Y. It is, with suitable kit, be
> possible to set up multiple PPP-over-ATM sessions at the same time on
> the same line.
>
> Shame that the current business model does not allow this.
>
> Shame also, that once you cease being a customer of Brand-X, if their
> spitefulness or downright incompetence does not release their 'tag'
> from your line, you cannot sign up with anyone else, short of ceasing
> the BT line altogether (and even then, it doesn't always work..)
>
> One of our guys is currently moving home. The house he is moving to
> already has ADSL service. The people moving out are taking their
> service with them, and also taking their telephone number with them.
> If you thought changing service provider was difficult, try this
> situation. BT have given him the number that the new line 'will be'.
> We tried to order ADSL on that line, which was rejected because the
> number is out-of-service. This was despite the ISP being told this,
> and saying that they could sort it out with BT. BT have since
> 'withdrawn' that number, saying that they cannot guarantee that the
> number will be correct.
I had a hellish time last spring with something similar, moving my Plusnet
account from the line in the flat I was moving out of to a new line due to
be installed at my new home. Repeated attempts to get the ADSL ordered for
the changeover failed, because the BT database kept showing the new number
at its old address. I spent hours on the phone with Plusnet, getting
different answers every time, and ended up paying, but not having a
connection, for nearly two months. I begged them to call BT wholesale, but
they refused because "we have this procedure" and I kept pointing out that
it wasn't going to work this time if it didn't work last time, but they did
it anyway, and it failed again. And again. It was a total shambles.
My favourite answers included "the guy who deals with this is on holiday" so
when I asked them why somebody else couldn't phone BT wholesale, I was told
"he's taken his phone numbers on holiday with him". Talking to a supervisor
achieved nothing since the supervisor didn't seem to know anything at all.
To be fair, the Plusnet support bod had said that the supervisor didn't know
anything, so fair dos on that. Eventually one of the Plusnet "well known
names" took the thing in hand and got me connected, apologised, and even
admitted, yes, they should have just phoned BT Wholesale. He also promised
me a refund for the weeks sans connection. I never got it.
Anyway, ranting again. I think it's fair to say tho that unless things have
improved since then, the whole ordering system is a complete shambles.
What's particularly infuriating is that the customer (i.e. me) isn't allowed
to talk to the actual provider (BT wholesale) and is stuck ranting at
support bods at the ISP (who are, after all, just resellers of BT
connectivity, truth be told, they no longer actually provide internet
service, any more than your local electricity company actually supply
electricity) and thus one is totally stymied.
I'm dreading moving again.
Ian
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