Broadband Service Providers

By : Forum Regular
Published 23rd April 2018 |
Read latest comment - 15th May 2018

Whilst I am mid rant and have unresolved issues with my 'ex' service provider it would perhaps be inappropriate to name them at this delicate stage. However...the saga so far;

In early March 2018 I was approached by the residential arm of my current 'business' provider of telephone line and broadband services. Given the recent changes to our own business and on the back of their assurance/promise that I could switch from a 'business' contract to a residential contract 'without any' penalty being imposed.

Being both cynical and suspicious I requested the above promise be put in writing from both side of the offending organisation. By switching I received 'fibre' broadband, faster speeds and lower bills. Hooray for competitive salesmen... "leave it to me said the man, we will arrange everything"

Well within hours of signing up, I received a call warning me that I would have to pay £125 to be released from my contract (we have been with the same company for over 8 years now, very long contract me thinks). I confirmed that I had it in writing that I would 'not' have to pay that or any other charge... after a few grumbles the angry man agreed....phew what a relief that was, crisis averted.

3 days later I received written confirmation that I would now be charged £125 for 'cancelling my contract',  I called the nice arm of the company who were going to give me a great service for less money, I was told to ignore the angry sibling. After many, many calls everyone kissed and made up, we all agreed I was not in contract to anyone and was free to switch away...

Fearing the angry sibling would take my money anyway, I paid my bill, in advance and in full up to an including the 02 April 2018, I then cancelled my direct debit. On the 17 March my landline and broadband was 'cut' off without any warning or explanation. I called the angry man and asked how they could do that given my account was in credit and paid up to the 02 April 2018?. He stated no direct debit, no broadband... It was their new policy and I would be charged the £125 for leaving my contract early and I would not be reconnected until I reinstated my direct debit. I was a little angry, I did shout and I did point out that my account was in credit, I was planning to switch my service to his nice sibling and unless I was reconnected I would take all of my business elsewhere. 

I received an apology, was reconnected after several hours and the nice arm of the business then confirmed my service would 'switch' to them on the 05 April 2018. The switch was seamless, the connection speed was fantastic, I even left a nice comment on Twitter to show my gratitude for the nice sibling for doing exactly what they said they would do.  However....

The grumpy side of the bushiness had other ideas, feeling grumpy because I had left them, he wrote to me telling me in a very grumpy and threatening way that I had better reinstate my direct debit to pay for the 3 days service I had in April (02 April to the 05 April). I called him and asked him to send me a bill and even offered to pay him his £2.55 over the telephone. Unfortunately he was not old enough to handle money and he needed to get a grown up to ring me back on Monday to take payment. He then gleefully agreed I owed 3 days at 0.85 per day (£2.55) but his boss still wanted me to pay for the whole month of April (£26) plus an extra £5 charge for cancelling my direct debit.  They added they will keep adding charges until I pay, but if I was good I could always ask for a refund of any over payment?

I voiced my disapproval on twitter and was contacted immediately, I was promised a manager would call me today. I waited and waited, I waited some more. I got three apologies via email/direct message and was told that a manger will ring me ASAP.

watch this space, I am still waiting


Thanks,
Ray Priestley
Comments

Oh my.....you tell it so well!   But how embarrassing for a company to act in this way with part of their own business. In many ways I wish so much that we didn't have to deal with these huge conglomerates but inevitably we do! Good luck, I hope the manager sorts it out...


Well it took another rant and several calls to the residential side and the big brother business side 'but' on the 30 April, I did get a Manager to agree that things were getting beyond a joke.  I even threatened to seek legal advice in respect of ongoing harassment. I added that a Restraining Order made against Talk Talk Business preventing them from contacting me in any way was my next step....

Then...... on the 04th May I got a bill for £19.00 via email, stating that had to be paid or I would be cut off..!! Even though I switched my supplier on the 05 April. What they were actually planning to cut off was far beyond my feeble brain to comprehend? To add insult to injury I also got a paper bill dated 19 April and 20 April (all on the same page) for £31.98. They were going to cut me of and suspend my services too!

I called, I shouted, I begged, I pleaded like a dying man on death row to end the misery. I even offered to pay them any amount to stop the harassment. I only asked that we agree that amount in advance, like Noel Edmons Deal or No Deal I was prepared to take a risk. Would it be £1.70, £2.55, £6.88, £8.90, £8.95, £18.95, £21.00, £31.00 or £31.98? I explained I had been told by many 'contestants' or as they would say Customer Service Advisers that it was one of those mystery amounts and if they had got it wrong I would possibly get a refund....

A quote from my final email; "How much time do I need to spend on this sorry saga? Just what do Talk Talk Business want me to do? I am so exhausted by the whole experience I would happily pay them to leave me alone!"

Well I Finally received the following on the 09 May 2018. (this sorry saga started on the 05 March 2018 when I decided to switch supplier)

Dear Ray, The credits that we agreed to place on your account will be on there within the next 3-5 days. Once these are on the account no further amounts will be owed or added. I will today close this case as no further actions are needed on the account. Thank you for allowing me time to investigate and resolve this issue for you. If you have any further queries please call our team on ************

 Kind Regards,

XXXXXXXXXXX
Complaints Resolutions Team | TalkTalk Business
Direct Dial: 03330011052

 


Thanks,
Ray Priestley

HEhehehehe , could have guessed it was talk talk .. There broadband was soo bad , I couldn't wait for the year to finish 


Thanks,
Andy-C | Pewter World

But have you had the credits yet.....


hahaha, you have to laugh 

The nice manager assured me the matter was now resolved even though the accounts department were having none of it. They insisted on reconciling the account, squaring the circle to the penny so to speak.

Well, the manager gave me a credit to clear the bill, accounts then deducted what they thought I owed, the manager then gave me more credit to appease his accounts department and finally close the account... The problem was they could not agree (within Talk Talk itself) who was paying what and to whom..! The account was then left in credit to the value of £1.78 and I was told they could not close it until the end of May and a refund issued.

I was then asked how I wanted my refund and how it would be so much easier if I gave them my account details so they could undertake a bank transfer.. "Over my dead body was the reply" I then graciously suggested that they could donate any outstanding balance to a charity of their choice or simply add it to the Chief Executives bonus. You never know this could turn out to be the biggest refund in living history.. then again it may take them years to work it out.

Either way, I have had no more begging or threatening letters or emails for several days now. This could be the end..

Yay 


Thanks,
Ray Priestley

You gotta just love companies that don't know who's doing what and what's doing who .It's no wonder they at the bottom of the league


Thanks,
Andy-C | Pewter World

I've missed this Ray, great to have you back  

A pure thoroughbred of a rant 


Steve Richardson
Gaffer of My Local Services
My Local Services | Me on LinkedIn

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