There was a lightening strike on the local exchange. Many peoples phones were effected for many days. BT came out to our house and the engineer said that we would be charged because it was our socket front that was damaged. They replaced the socket front at a cost of £5.88. They charged me £115 for the call out. They say they are not responsible for lightening damage. I say, the lightening struck the exchange, NOT my house so they ARE responsible! Can ANYONE with knowledge of these things please let me know if I have a leg to stand on?
Many Thanks.
PS I will post this again later so I can get as many replies as possible. Please don't grass me for repeated postings if you see it again!
2007-01-02 21:38:45 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Consumer Electronics ➔ Land Phones
I had a bill for a call out charge from BT when I had a problem with my line. The problem seemed to be with the box at the end of the road and the wiring in that but the engineer came to test my phone. I called BT customer services and explained and they actually deleted the amount from my bill. Try writing to them explaining too. I think if you have a genuine complaint and make it clearly they can usually resolve it. The ombudsman wont help you till you have done this and not got a result for 3 months anyway. Trading standards will help you set out your complaint if you need help.
2007-01-02 23:56:34 · answer #1 · answered by garfish 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
£115!!! That is DAYLIGHT robbery. I don't know much about legal stuff so I'd first suggest you contact OFCOM or your local citizens advice bureau. They should be able to give you some advice on what BT are expected to do in this situation. I'd also see if you can contact some of the other people who were affected and see if they were also charged - if everyone affected was charged £115 callout I'd get on to your local press and get some pressure on BT. Also, don't just make your complaint to BT over the phone, put it in writing to their head office. And last but not least contact BBC Watchdog, particularly if there are other people who have been charged.
2007-01-03 05:57:35 · answer #2 · answered by Pickle 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
lightning will be classed as an act of god and due to electricity being the main source for our making and recieving calls it is very likely that you will have to pay that charge for the call out, even though it was at their exchange. I work in comms and teh only other way i can think of would be simply to write a letter of disatisfaction claiming that you are a long standing customer and would not think twice about moving your business or you play the single old person living alone and not really being able to afford it.
2007-01-03 05:51:47 · answer #3 · answered by ? 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
that is disgusting you pay your line rental every month and that its for the up keep of your line, and where on earth does it say in writing that you need to pay if lightning strikes!
my advise contact bt ask to make a complaint also write in a complaint....
then contact ofcom at www.ofcom.co.uk explain the situation they regulate all telephone providers they can give you legal advise and help and support (ofcom regulate service providers)
... and if worse comes to worse contact a national newspaper bt will hate bad publicity
2007-01-03 12:33:48 · answer #4 · answered by foxy lady 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have a word with Trading Standards about it. After all you are a paying customer and you do have rights.
2007-01-03 05:57:33 · answer #5 · answered by Allan S 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Contact these people...they are a telecoms ombudsman company and BT is a member.
http://www.otelo.org.uk/content.php?pageID=43&PHPSESSID=ecbaedc464de25c911d7230d71726a93
2007-01-03 05:50:43 · answer #6 · answered by sarch_uk 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
you are definitley in the right. i work for bt. ring ofcom or email them to report this.
2007-01-03 08:42:54 · answer #7 · answered by Jane 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋