How can it be so hard to get an Internet connection in central London!!!!! - DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate

**amimabremiBit** · 07-10-2009, 07:19 PM

Massive Massive Rant Warning

I've been living in a new house conversion flat in Wimbledon since 1st July this year - on a 6 month basis due to end at the start of 2010. I'm here for Uni and since we moved in we have been trying to sort out an internet connection.

As we were only here for 6 months I decided to go with a Post Office landline, as BT tie you into a 12 month minimum contract whereas Post Office is a rolling 30 day, then use o2 for the broadband. First of all it turned out none of the phone points in the place were live so were told an engineer needed to come out and hook them up (£107 connection fee!)

The engineer turned up about a week later, had a look around and determined that not only were the phone points not live, but that there was no cabling to the BT grid running down the road and needed the landlords permission to connect the place up.

I called the landlord and he said not to worry as he was sorting that out with BT directly as part of a wayleave agreement to get the house (and all 5 flats) connected to the grid - giving me all the reference numbers, so I sent the engineer away as the Landlord was taking care of things, called the Post Office and put the order on hold until the work was completed - then I should have been able to get a line through them and avoid the connection charge.

After a few weeks I called the BT Wayleave people to find out what was going on, apparently, as the point they had to run the cable from went under a railway bridge they needed permission from Network Rail to work underneath it. When I asked the guy how long it usually takes to get permission he replyed "Pfft.... anywhere between 3-6 months" (This was in August)

Lovely!

I called them periodically, being told different things, some knew nothing about the Network Rail issue, others just told me they were waiting for the permission still. I went on holiday at the start of last month to America and at the same time my flatmate was back home in Germany. While on holiday I got a call from the Landlord, which I missed due to the time difference as I was asleep at the time. When I called back I got a relative who said it was "something to do with BT, they will need to enter the flat" as we were both out of the country I said I don't mind them letting them in if need be - however they are based in North London so didn't expect they would go all that way just for us.

Anyway, I got back from holiday and went to the flat to discover a note from Openreach (The company that installs the lines) saying they needed access to the flat to finish the work and to ring back and rearrange the appointment. I was starting to think we were getting somewhere! However, the only information they left was that the service provider was BT, the number I needed to call was "151" (?!?) and they left no order/job/reference numbers.

I eventually worked out he meant the generic BT number with "151" at the end (so 0800800151) called them back and predictably, without a reference number, nobody was able to help me - nor could they find any order at that address!

Next I contacted the Landlord again asking for a reference number and he came back with the actual mobile number of the engineer that did the work, very handy thinks I. Called the guy up and he knows all about the job and explains the cable has been run into the property and into the other flats but to get it into my flat, another cable needs to be run from the socket to the main connection which he told me was located under the stairs. But to rearrange the work he also tells me I need to call BT and get them to arrange it - he also didn't have the reference number that would allow me to do this. So I have gone back to the Landlord explaining the situation and asking again for the reference number, still waiting to hear back.

In the mean time, getting fed up with all this I decide to go back to the Post Office and restart the order as at least with them I managed to get to the stage where an engineer turned up and was ready to do the work and I will happily pay the £107 connection charge myself just to get all this sorted! Called them up on Friday and they tell me that my original order has been cancelled (I asked for it to be put on hold and explained why) and that I would need to order again. So I get transferred through to the new sales team and go through all the usual process get to the part where they Credit Check you and they predictably hit a snag, apparently I was not registered with Experion at that address - I said I only recently moved into that address and offered my old one for them to check instead, although apparently that can't be done and it needs to be for the address that the line would be installed to (Is this right? If I'm the one paying the bill shouldn't the check be on me, not the address?) Anyway, they said they would register me at the address with Experion and call me back on Tuesday (Not knowing if this was right or not I just agreed and waited until Tuesday)

Tuesday was a phonecall-free affair as I imagined it would be. I gave them until 4:30pm before I called back myself to chase up only to be told that not only had they not been able to do what they had said but that the address dosen't appear to be registered on the Royal Mail database (Which is true is so far as if you use those automatic address lookups on the internet my address doesn't come up off the postcode, but the houses both side of me do) they apparently have to process orders based on that and because it isn't there they can't proceed with the order!!

I ask about my previous order and they tell me the credit check was done on another address in the road and that is why it went through! I asked how this can be resolved and was told I need to register the address with the Royal Mail - I have looked on the net and can see no mention anywhere about being able to do this!

I am at my wits end trying to sort this bloody thing out, being a Uni student, an internet connection is pretty much essential for research and most of the course information is given out via the Uni Intranet so having to go to Uni to use the internet is going to be incredibly inconvenient. One of my friends has a mobile broadband contact they don't use with 3 and was happy to lend it to me for a couple of months providing I paid the bill (All halfway decent mobile broadband contacts are 24 months long!) but when I tried it the signal was abysmal so that's a no go. There are no other wireless access points I can pick up or I would find out who's they are and ask if they want to share and split the bill, there's not even an unsecured one I can hijack!

I just can't think what else I can do to sort this, especially as I'm only there for just under 3 more months! Does anyone know anything about registering the address with Royal Mail also?

**Annnnnd Breathe**

**horaAppagob** · 07-10-2009, 10:08 PM

Man, thats one helluva f**ked up situtation you are in there. And all over getting a phone line?

Good luck, hope it gets sorted out for you and you get broadband up and running.

If I were you suggest writing a letter to BBC Watchdog, the love these kinds of stories and you nbever know may be able to help you out.

**blogwado** · 07-10-2009, 10:29 PM

How is Wimbledon "central" London?

**feeshyLew** · 07-10-2009, 11:52 PM

Have you considered getting a wireless broadband card?

**amimabremiBit** · 07-11-2009, 12:03 AM

How is Wimbledon "central" London?

I thought that afterwards.... but you know what I mean, It's hardly a rural area.

FoodStampz - Not quite sure what you mean? The only type of wireless connection I know of is the mobile dongle things, but pay-as-you-go ones are far to expensive for the limits you get and the only other choice is to get a 24 month contract, which is also no good for me.

**blodwarttufla** · 07-11-2009, 12:05 AM

FoodStampz - Not quite sure what you mean? The only type of wireless connection I know of is the mobile dongle things, but pay-as-you-go ones are far to expensive for the limits you get and the only other choice is to get a 24 month contract, which is also no good for me.

You are just a little trouble maker aren't ya? Get with the program and live in a house for at least 12 months

**feeshyLew** · 07-11-2009, 12:07 AM

I thought that afterwards.... but you know what I mean, It's hardly a rural area.

FoodStampz - Not quite sure what you mean? The only type of wireless connection I know of is the mobile dongle things, but pay-as-you-go ones are far to expensive for the limits you get and the only other choice is to get a 24 month contract, which is also no good for me.

These are the only two companies I know of over the pond. Virgin mobile doesn't seem to offer it over there (they do here tho...weird)

http://shop.orange.co.uk/shop/mobile-broadband

http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/mobile-broadband/

**engideNedmupe** · 07-11-2009, 12:20 AM

Well, from what I've read so far I've only got 2 suggestions...

Have you thought about Cable/Virgin broadband? They don't need a BT phone line and you might even be covered in their fibre optic network.

You said BT managed to install the line in all the other flats. Do you know anyone in those flats well enough to use their socket for broadband with you paying the costs? This way you can even let them share your connection for free.

**amimabremiBit** · 07-11-2009, 12:43 AM

You are just a little trouble maker aren't ya? Get with the program and live in a house for at least 12 months

Well I would do, but I'm go to Australia for 6 months in January as part of the Uni study abroad program

Well, from what I've read so far I've only got 2 suggestions...

Have you thought about Cable/Virgin broadband? They don't need a BT phone line and you might even be covered in their fibre optic network.

You said BT managed to install the line in all the other flats. Do you know anyone in those flats well enough to use their socket for broadband with you paying the costs? This way you can even let them share your connection for free.

Looked into Virgin right at the start, would have been no problem to install, but they also have a 12 month minimum contract, If I wasn't leaving the country for 6 months in January then I would have taken it and just moved the contract around with me. I'll be up at the flat tomorrow and am going to ask all the neighbours about the possibility of doing that, or even if they have any reference numbers at all but to be honest I've only spoken to any of them a few times so not sure what sort of luck I'll have. Fingers crossed anyway.

**plaiskegizils** · 07-11-2009, 01:01 AM

How is Wimbledon "central" London?

When you're nitpicking and generally being a self righteous tosspot, do you actually make a face like that? Can you do the independant eyeball spinny thing? I'd love to learn how.

**blogwado** · 07-11-2009, 01:06 AM

When you're nitpicking and generally being a self righteous tosspot, do you actually make a face like that? Can you do the independant eyeball spinny thing? I'd love to learn how.

[yawn]

**glamourcitys** · 07-11-2009, 01:16 AM

When you're nitpicking and generally being a self righteous tosspot, do you actually make a face like that? Can you do the independant eyeball spinny thing? I'd love to learn how.

LOL.

Everyone on heres got so insulting in recent times.

Anyway, if you're leaving the country in 6 months, dare I say you should really even worry about getting an internet connection?

07-10-2009, 07:19 PM	#1
amimabremiBit Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 447 Senior Member	How can it be so hard to get an Internet connection in central London!!!!! Massive Massive Rant Warning I've been living in a new house conversion flat in Wimbledon since 1st July this year - on a 6 month basis due to end at the start of 2010. I'm here for Uni and since we moved in we have been trying to sort out an internet connection. As we were only here for 6 months I decided to go with a Post Office landline, as BT tie you into a 12 month minimum contract whereas Post Office is a rolling 30 day, then use o2 for the broadband. First of all it turned out none of the phone points in the place were live so were told an engineer needed to come out and hook them up (£107 connection fee!) The engineer turned up about a week later, had a look around and determined that not only were the phone points not live, but that there was no cabling to the BT grid running down the road and needed the landlords permission to connect the place up. I called the landlord and he said not to worry as he was sorting that out with BT directly as part of a wayleave agreement to get the house (and all 5 flats) connected to the grid - giving me all the reference numbers, so I sent the engineer away as the Landlord was taking care of things, called the Post Office and put the order on hold until the work was completed - then I should have been able to get a line through them and avoid the connection charge. After a few weeks I called the BT Wayleave people to find out what was going on, apparently, as the point they had to run the cable from went under a railway bridge they needed permission from Network Rail to work underneath it. When I asked the guy how long it usually takes to get permission he replyed "Pfft.... anywhere between 3-6 months" (This was in August) Lovely! I called them periodically, being told different things, some knew nothing about the Network Rail issue, others just told me they were waiting for the permission still. I went on holiday at the start of last month to America and at the same time my flatmate was back home in Germany. While on holiday I got a call from the Landlord, which I missed due to the time difference as I was asleep at the time. When I called back I got a relative who said it was "something to do with BT, they will need to enter the flat" as we were both out of the country I said I don't mind them letting them in if need be - however they are based in North London so didn't expect they would go all that way just for us. Anyway, I got back from holiday and went to the flat to discover a note from Openreach (The company that installs the lines) saying they needed access to the flat to finish the work and to ring back and rearrange the appointment. I was starting to think we were getting somewhere! However, the only information they left was that the service provider was BT, the number I needed to call was "151" (?!?) and they left no order/job/reference numbers. I eventually worked out he meant the generic BT number with "151" at the end (so 0800800151) called them back and predictably, without a reference number, nobody was able to help me - nor could they find any order at that address! Next I contacted the Landlord again asking for a reference number and he came back with the actual mobile number of the engineer that did the work, very handy thinks I. Called the guy up and he knows all about the job and explains the cable has been run into the property and into the other flats but to get it into my flat, another cable needs to be run from the socket to the main connection which he told me was located under the stairs. But to rearrange the work he also tells me I need to call BT and get them to arrange it - he also didn't have the reference number that would allow me to do this. So I have gone back to the Landlord explaining the situation and asking again for the reference number, still waiting to hear back. In the mean time, getting fed up with all this I decide to go back to the Post Office and restart the order as at least with them I managed to get to the stage where an engineer turned up and was ready to do the work and I will happily pay the £107 connection charge myself just to get all this sorted! Called them up on Friday and they tell me that my original order has been cancelled (I asked for it to be put on hold and explained why) and that I would need to order again. So I get transferred through to the new sales team and go through all the usual process get to the part where they Credit Check you and they predictably hit a snag, apparently I was not registered with Experion at that address - I said I only recently moved into that address and offered my old one for them to check instead, although apparently that can't be done and it needs to be for the address that the line would be installed to (Is this right? If I'm the one paying the bill shouldn't the check be on me, not the address?) Anyway, they said they would register me at the address with Experion and call me back on Tuesday (Not knowing if this was right or not I just agreed and waited until Tuesday) Tuesday was a phonecall-free affair as I imagined it would be. I gave them until 4:30pm before I called back myself to chase up only to be told that not only had they not been able to do what they had said but that the address dosen't appear to be registered on the Royal Mail database (Which is true is so far as if you use those automatic address lookups on the internet my address doesn't come up off the postcode, but the houses both side of me do) they apparently have to process orders based on that and because it isn't there they can't proceed with the order!! I ask about my previous order and they tell me the credit check was done on another address in the road and that is why it went through! I asked how this can be resolved and was told I need to register the address with the Royal Mail - I have looked on the net and can see no mention anywhere about being able to do this! I am at my wits end trying to sort this bloody thing out, being a Uni student, an internet connection is pretty much essential for research and most of the course information is given out via the Uni Intranet so having to go to Uni to use the internet is going to be incredibly inconvenient. One of my friends has a mobile broadband contact they don't use with 3 and was happy to lend it to me for a couple of months providing I paid the bill (All halfway decent mobile broadband contacts are 24 months long!) but when I tried it the signal was abysmal so that's a no go. There are no other wireless access points I can pick up or I would find out who's they are and ask if they want to share and split the bill, there's not even an unsecured one I can hijack! I just can't think what else I can do to sort this, especially as I'm only there for just under 3 more months! Does anyone know anything about registering the address with Royal Mail also? Annnnnd Breathe Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

07-10-2009, 10:08 PM	#2
horaAppagob Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 575 Senior Member	Man, thats one helluva f**ked up situtation you are in there. And all over getting a phone line? Good luck, hope it gets sorted out for you and you get broadband up and running. If I were you suggest writing a letter to BBC Watchdog, the love these kinds of stories and you nbever know may be able to help you out. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

07-10-2009, 10:29 PM	#3
blogwado Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 526 Senior Member	How is Wimbledon "central" London? Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

07-10-2009, 11:52 PM	#4
feeshyLew Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 445 Senior Member	Have you considered getting a wireless broadband card? Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

07-11-2009, 12:03 AM	#5
amimabremiBit Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 447 Senior Member	How is Wimbledon "central" London? I thought that afterwards.... but you know what I mean, It's hardly a rural area. FoodStampz - Not quite sure what you mean? The only type of wireless connection I know of is the mobile dongle things, but pay-as-you-go ones are far to expensive for the limits you get and the only other choice is to get a 24 month contract, which is also no good for me. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

07-11-2009, 12:05 AM	#6
blodwarttufla Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 430 Senior Member	FoodStampz - Not quite sure what you mean? The only type of wireless connection I know of is the mobile dongle things, but pay-as-you-go ones are far to expensive for the limits you get and the only other choice is to get a 24 month contract, which is also no good for me. You are just a little trouble maker aren't ya? Get with the program and live in a house for at least 12 months Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

07-11-2009, 12:07 AM	#7
feeshyLew Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 445 Senior Member	I thought that afterwards.... but you know what I mean, It's hardly a rural area. FoodStampz - Not quite sure what you mean? The only type of wireless connection I know of is the mobile dongle things, but pay-as-you-go ones are far to expensive for the limits you get and the only other choice is to get a 24 month contract, which is also no good for me. These are the only two companies I know of over the pond. Virgin mobile doesn't seem to offer it over there (they do here tho...weird) http://shop.orange.co.uk/shop/mobile-broadband http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/mobile-broadband/ Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

07-11-2009, 12:20 AM	#8
engideNedmupe Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 471 Senior Member	Well, from what I've read so far I've only got 2 suggestions... Have you thought about Cable/Virgin broadband? They don't need a BT phone line and you might even be covered in their fibre optic network. You said BT managed to install the line in all the other flats. Do you know anyone in those flats well enough to use their socket for broadband with you paying the costs? This way you can even let them share your connection for free. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

07-11-2009, 12:43 AM	#9
amimabremiBit Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 447 Senior Member	You are just a little trouble maker aren't ya? Get with the program and live in a house for at least 12 months Well I would do, but I'm go to Australia for 6 months in January as part of the Uni study abroad program Well, from what I've read so far I've only got 2 suggestions... Have you thought about Cable/Virgin broadband? They don't need a BT phone line and you might even be covered in their fibre optic network. You said BT managed to install the line in all the other flats. Do you know anyone in those flats well enough to use their socket for broadband with you paying the costs? This way you can even let them share your connection for free. Looked into Virgin right at the start, would have been no problem to install, but they also have a 12 month minimum contract, If I wasn't leaving the country for 6 months in January then I would have taken it and just moved the contract around with me. I'll be up at the flat tomorrow and am going to ask all the neighbours about the possibility of doing that, or even if they have any reference numbers at all but to be honest I've only spoken to any of them a few times so not sure what sort of luck I'll have. Fingers crossed anyway. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

07-11-2009, 01:01 AM	#10
plaiskegizils Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 549 Senior Member	How is Wimbledon "central" London? When you're nitpicking and generally being a self righteous tosspot, do you actually make a face like that? Can you do the independant eyeball spinny thing? I'd love to learn how. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

07-11-2009, 01:06 AM	#11
blogwado Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 526 Senior Member	When you're nitpicking and generally being a self righteous tosspot, do you actually make a face like that? Can you do the independant eyeball spinny thing? I'd love to learn how. [yawn] Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

07-11-2009, 01:16 AM	#12
glamourcitys Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 570 Senior Member	When you're nitpicking and generally being a self righteous tosspot, do you actually make a face like that? Can you do the independant eyeball spinny thing? I'd love to learn how. LOL. Everyone on heres got so insulting in recent times. Anyway, if you're leaving the country in 6 months, dare I say you should really even worry about getting an internet connection? Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
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