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Friday 7th May
Reaction to BT's Answers - ISDN/HomeHighway
lines are excluded from the trial
Today we received answers from BT to
some questions we posed in our meeting a week ago.
The following response from BT has put the cat amongst the pigeons:
Q:
Will the trial support migration from BT Midband? (And back if my line
fails?)
A: Currently ISDN/HomeHighway lines are excluded
from this trial. Please continue to visit this website for updates. |
The following 38 members are not too happy, and promptly tell me they're
unimpressed!
My Inbox
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Do BT not realise that the people who have gone to the extent of putting
in a Home Highway service are the very people who wanted ADSL in the first
place. It seems that BT are not content with offering us a solution that
means they can get away with not upgrading their ageing network, and as
usual are worried about the cost of converting a few ISDN lines.
Shame on YOU BT.
Perhaps John Small will allow us to cancel our ISDN Midband services Free of
Charge and without penalty so we can go back to a PSTN Line?
Not Happy,
Colin, Middleton |
I am outraged! I cannot believe people like myself who have
paid over the odds for Home Highway for some time (three years + in my case)
are being discriminated against again so that BT retain their ISDN line
profits. This happened with the 6K trial also.
What do BT suggest? What if I ask for a new line to be installed would they
allow that onto the trial?
This is totally unacceptable; please pass on my comments.
Robin, Furzton |
I have just spoken to the Home Highway help desk
eventually!
Breakdown of costs for cancelling your Midband (6 months into a 12 month
contract). Which I will do just to get on the trial
6 x £25 (£25 per month Home Highway line rental)
1 x £50 (One off ISDN removal / PSTN installation fee)
Total £200
The last company I will be going to for my ADSL service will be BT Openworld
if I am made to pay £200 just to be eligible for the trial.
We need answers now.
Just to say that the long suffering ISDN customer is not eligible because
it causes a bit if an administration nightmare is not good enough. I have
been told by BT that if I was in an area where I can receive ADSL BT would
migrate me to the ADSL service Free of Charge. What is going on?
Have we not suffered enough?
Please sort this one out Bradley!
Colin, Middleton |
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I use Business Highway, although I also have an alternative home line if
necessary. However, wouldn't want to pay for both ADSL and Business Highway.
Stuart, Wavendon Gate |
I have an ISDN line, but I don't have a bundled contract
for it. I pay for the line rental and then pay BT/Yahoo for monthly dial-up
access.
Mike, Wavendon Gate |
Absolutely astounding !!!!!!!!!!!!
Because I supported BT, went through the 'painful' process of testing my
current line, installing a new line and one or two other tiresome and time
consuming routes - and due to those not being successful - I selected BT's
offer of ISDN/Midband which was the only option available to me.I now
find myself excluded from the trial. I'm laughing so much that my face is
aching with disgust for BT and it's policy making department.
They clearly are quite happy with the massive amount of income generated
from people like me who have to have fast internet access and are paying way
above the current broadband offering.
Mark, Shenley Church End |
I'm on BT Midband, and I did intend to join the trial.
I will have had Midband for 12 months in the middle of June, so I might just
cancel Midband then, and hope I can join the trial. If I fail to get
Broadband on the trial, I'll probably just stick with the analogue line.
David, Racecourses |
I am on ISDN home highway and was planning to join the BT
Trial as soon as ISPs were released, obviously very disappointed if I won't
be able to do so.
Do you know if there is any way round this?
Thanks
Richard, Bradwell |
Yes, I'm on Home Highway and I was intending to join this trial. It's a real
disappointment that ISDN lines will be excluded.
I got a Home Highway line put in solely for internet use and only because I
couldn't get ADSL when I returned to the UK from the US in 2001 - while in
the US I had been "spoiled" with a cable modem that delivered about 1.5Mb
throughput!
I've actually also got two analogue lines in the house, but neither helps me
in the trial:
- one has a burglar alarm on it, and my monitoring company says that they
don't allow ADSL on the same line (which is a bit daft as the alarm simply
uses an 9.6k analogue modem which would still work fine with a filter).
- one is a line that I use for work. I could get my office to order ADSL,
but they use the "wrong" ISP (i.e. not the one I use personally).
I realise that conversion of Home Highway to analogue for ADSL adds an extra
step to the process, with no guarantee of success. But as there's already a
managed conversion process that will convert the line back if it fails to
work on ADSL, I don't see that there's much of a risk or much extra work for
BT to do.
Tim, Newton Longville |
| I actually have 2 lines here - the "business line" is ISDN
and so I would elect to have the trial on the standard line. Fingers
crossed though.
Ian, Shenley Lodge |
| For years I've run two lines, so will still join up with my
normal line, and I'll just ditch the ISDN one eventually! Marc, Loughton |
I am a BT HomeHighway customer and had intended to apply
for another analogue line for the trial, just in case it did not work and I
would not have to incur too much cost to revert to ISDN.
Regards
Jane, Great Linford |
This is really disappointing. I have made do with ISDN
after trying everything to get broadband. I even had a new line installed
that takes the shorter route from Newton Longville to the Bletchley
exchange. I only found out there where two routes because my house had two
lines to the same exchange, one much too long the other borderline.
I guess BT don't want the bother of undoing ISDN. However, many frustrated
Broadband seekers like me, will have ISDN! This is the very community who
most want DSL.
I would have thought they would try switching a representative ISDN customer
in each area.
I hope to get BT to let me try it on my currently unused second line.
Andrew, Newton Longville |
I took the Midband Option as BB seemed to be way off.
The trial gave me new hope of getting BB and it seems this has now been
dashed also.
By taking Midband I effectively put myself at a disadvantage.
Clive, Middleton |
I'm not happy. I would very much like to join the trial,
I've waited long enough for broadband already.
I think BT should be including all lines in the test. I'll be interested to
know how many other people there are like me who wanted a faster, more
reliable alternative to analogue dial up and are now paying more (higher
line rental plus the ISP charges) than the cost of a 512k broadband
connection. It's bad enough that I'll have to pay a hefty charge to convert
back to analogue when I do finally get DSL, but being excluded from any
possibility of participating in the trial now just adds insult.
Damon, Wavendon Gate |
| I cannot get over how short sighted this decision is - but
it is typical of BT - after all I was forced to home highway because of the
line length situation.
After saying that I am hope that because I have a 2nd line I will be able
to connect this to the BB trial - who knows.
I'll keep you informed
Phil, Old Farm Park |
I am unable to get BB due to the distance from the
exchange. Because of this I have taken out BT Midband so that I can get a
connection better than dial up. I'm fairly unimpressed that because of this
I won't be considered for the trial!
I can only just be out of line distance (the web site phone number checker
gives me a maybe - not a definite no, and a friend in the next street has
BB), so the trial would most likely be a success for me.
The fact is, as a Midband customer who has paid a fairly reasonable amount
for the Midband service (and had to put up with being disconnected every 2
hours), I should be one of the first in line to trial this service along
with all the other ISDN users. It seems obvious that BT have put this hold
on ISDN customers in place to save them losing money (the ISDN works out
more expensive than ADSL).
I wonder how many people in the MK are in the same situation as me?
Richard, West Bletchley |
You guys are fantastic – great to hear of your campaign,
I’ve been so frustrated over the last 2 years (since moving into the area)
and finding out that I can’t get broadband. Really appreciate all of the
effort you have obviously put in.
I need fast access for work use and so of course put in ISDN on arrival. Why
is it that my willingness to pay more to BT (with HomeHighway) now excludes
me from the possibility to upgrade the service I buy from them? If they want
to keep their customers happy they should have a preference for people
willing to support them, not a bias against them. On a needs basis, it is
clear that people who have paid for HomeHighway have a greater need/desire
for faster access speeds than those who have decided not to pay for the
service, so on an ethical basis it would also seem that they should be
preferentially included (or at least not excluded).
In other words – I don’t want to be excluded!
BTW, I’m Australian and recently ex-Germany & ex-USA. Why are ‘broadband’
speeds here in the UK so low compared to other countries? Is it just a
mechanism of BT/ISPs to be able to charge more for ‘normal’ broadband
speeds?
Jim, Great Linford |
This is appalling news.
My wife and I just cannot believe that our decision to pay over the odds for
Home Highway (when compared to Broadband) is now excluding us from this
Trial. Having spent recent years in the US before moving to Britain's
"Newest City" we just cannot understand how BT can offer such a pathetic
service here. Sadly, this is typically monopolistic behaviour despite BT's
claims that "we have a choice".
Incidentally my wife and I are still disgusted with BT following our latest
attempt to have Broadband installed in March. This was our third attempt and
initial indications were that we were now in range. Having sat in all day
waiting for the engineer to call my wife phoned BT to be told that the
engineer had done a line test the day before but our line was not up to the
job. Pity they didn't have the basic courtesy to tell us. We have suggested
to BT that if there line is at fault then they need to fix it but this does
not seem to be an option!Disgusted,
Steve, Pennyland |
I am on Home Highway (ISDN) and have recently moved to
Midband.
Our reasons for doing this is to get the best possible from BT but if they
exclude us from the trial we are short changed because of our need.
It seems the more desperate you are the less chance you have.
I am off to China on Monday (have been there on and off since July 2003). I
can get broadband in all the hotels I have stayed at in China. Just shows it
only takes a will.Keep up the good work.
Andy, Wavendon Gate |
I reluctantly took up home highway because I was too far
away (only just). Aren't we exactly the people that BT are trying to reach
with this trial?
I recently failed with the extended limits and was pinning my hopes on this!
James, Middleton |
Having tried twice in the last 12 months to get BB - had
men out, lines tested etc etc and both times (having already got the 'free'
ADSL modems!) they still say no.
In the meantime I went for ISDN for £75 and a ridiculous amount per month
and now they won't include ISDN lines on the trial! - can someone please
tell me what else I can do (apart from moving that is...)
Very frustrated,Paul, Great Holm |
| I am on BT Midband. This does affect me. Paul, Newton
Longville |
We intended joining the trial, but have Home Highway, so
obviously can't.
Sue & Rick, Middleton |
I too have an ISDN connection and was looking forward to
participating in the trial, and am not all surprised at being excluded from
the trial.
I live in Milton Keynes and am penalised for it by being too far from the
exchange in this "modern" town to get broadband, so I got ISDN installed at
a greater cost than Broadband. I'm now penalised for having the ISDN
installed, which I hasten to add will cost me £50 to get uninstalled.
Please put my name along with the others who are as dissatisfied as I am.
Thank you for all the work you have done to get us this far.
Ian, Great Linford |
This is most unfair of BT.
I ordered broadband from BT in April (checking my telephone number always
returns OK on broadband), only to get technical checks and a subsequent
cancellation by BT wholesale. I then ordered Home Highway/ Midband from BT.
Now, once they have sold me an inferior product, BT seem to refuse trials to
improve it. What is it? I am not even sure that such a policy is legitimate,
let alone unfair.
Hope BT will listen to this.
Dmitri, Willen |
I'm another with Home Highway. Not impressed, but neither
am I surprised.
I'm bitterly disappointed in BT's organizational skills.
Is it too late for the NTL trial?[No, it's not too late. Sign up on the
Council's
website.]
Simon, Middleton |
Thank you first for the initiative you are taking for the
broadband issue
I run my business from home and I have business highway. I was really
looking forward to moving over to ADSL. In fact when we moved to Middleton
last August it was indicated by BT that we would be getting broadband.
BT hence installed two lines one for voice and one for fax. After two months
of frustration and line tests I was told that I would not get Broadband. I
had to go back to ISDN.
I am also on BT Business Plan and I have been told that BT would be
upgrading shortly and I would be getting Broadband
I was really looking forward to the trial.
Will not BT reconsider its decision about ISDN?
Shyamal, Middleton |
I am on Home Highway, so I guess I wont be able to go on
the trial after all!
I guess I do understand where BT are coming from on this one as when we were
supposed to be having broadband installed they had to send an engineer round
to convert the line from a highway line to a standard line as broadband
won't work on a highway line. I suppose the way they see it is that it is a
waste of time sending an engineer out to do all that work just for a trial.
[BT may have to clarify the word "Trial." If you can get Broadband under
this trial - that's it! Well done. Nobody is going to remove your new
broadband connection.]
Still a bit annoying though.
Stephie, Racecourses |
I am on ISDN (I signed up on 15 April!!) and was told that
if Broadband became available then 'they' would buy me out of the one year
home highway contract.
I shall be pretty pissed off if they don't.
Francis, Great Linford |
I am on ISDN / Midband. I thought it might be a good way of
getting Broadband.
As this will probably not be the case, I will keep a watching brief.
David, Willen |
Unfortunately I am on home highway as it is the fastest
thing going other than broadband.
What is the rationale behind this decision, assuming that most people
craving broadband will have already boarded the ISDN bus?
Robert, Furzton |
I am also on BT Highway - I work mostly from home.
I have been trying to get Broadband since BT first announced it, initially
it was a case of BT not knowing how to convert ISDN lines, then it was a
case of the service not being available at this end of Conniburrow, then
after being called by BT and told that my line was Broadband capable (plus
the 'Congratulations' message on more than one occasion) only to then be
told that I am either too far away from the exchange, or that their are
problems on the line!Chris, Conniburrow |
The ISDN position comes as no surprise, since the contracts
involved generate appreciable income
For the record my neighbour had Broadband two years ago, but it seems I
could only be upgraded since January 2004,one month after I had ISDN
installed. (This was after having been informed that this system would not
be available until August at the earliest.) The ISDN box continues to
malfunction and is to be changed.
Words fail me!
David, Walton Park |
| I am on ISDN. I will have to buy another analogue line. I
am willing to do this IF it results in me getting broadband.
I have also tried to join the NTL wireless pilot, but heard nothing back
yet.
I remain seriously under whelmed by BT.
Malcolm, Middleton |
I would be very interested in joining the trial but I do
indeed have ISDN on my main internet phone line. I have another line I could
use though.
This is another case of BT being a pain in the posterior.Mark, Newton
Longville |
We are on ISDN2e. (We use it for internet and fax and
emergency calls when all else is busy)
We also have a normal phone line too. If we can't use the ISDN, we'll have
to use the normal line for broadband.
Guy, Wavendon Gate |
I'm on home highway and I would have liked to join the
trial.
Terry, Great Linford |
I am very pleased to have found your group. I live in
Milton Keynes and *very much* want broadband.
When I rented my 'barn' in Loughton in May 2003, I signed up for broadband.
BT permitted me to sign up, delivered the modem, etc., but it didn't work.
An engineer came out and looked around, finally saying that "I was too far"
and disconnected me.
Subsequently I signed up for Home Highway (which I still have). The engineer
showed up to install the ISDN box, and then tested the line. It didn't work!
He sniffed around a bit and found that the connection point where the
outside wires connected to the premises wiring was corroded. He cut and
reinstalled the messy connection, and ISDN worked perfectly.
Given the corrected wiring problem, I tried to convince BT to retry the ADSL
connection. They were completely uninterested. The situation has persisted
to this date.
I want to participate in the trial. Unfortunately, I understand that because
I have home highway (the product BT recommends for those who can't get
broadband), I am not allowed to take part. The restriction is ridiculous,
given that the people who would want to be part of the trial are the same
ones who have been pushed to Home Highway.
In any event, I hope to convince someone that I can be part of the trial.
If not, then I continue waiting.
I hope that adding my voice to your group will help me and all the other
broadband-desirees in some way.
Charles, Loughton |
At the meeting with BT, did you not discuss this ISDN issue
with them? Why didn't you warn us sooner?
George, Middleton[Indeed. We did discuss this issue. The meeting was held on the 30th,
giving BT only 3½ working days to compose their
reply.
At the meeting we understood that Midband (ISDN) customers would be
able to partake.
BT did say there was one problem: they would have to ensure that
telephone numbers allocated to the (possibly temporarily disconnected)
Midband installation are not reallocated to someone else during the time the
line is tested for broadband.
Unfortunately BT reconsidered and decided against allowing ISDN
trialists.] |
Colin's suggestion:
Hi Fellow ISDN users,
Here at BB4MK we are quite familiar with compromises. We know BT Openworld
will migrate any customer from BT Midband to ADSL should it become available
in their area. This is done without any of the penalties that would have
been enforced if the customer had cancelled within their 12 month contract.
Now I believe the reason that BT have excluded us from this trial is they
don't want any associated problems with reconnecting us should the ADSL
service not be viable.
I suggest that we meet BT halfway on this one: BT migrate the Home
Highway/Midband users who agree to a PSTN line for ADSL trial with BT
Openworld. In return we do not expect to be reconnected to ISDN should it
fail. This would then make it no different from migrating a customer in a
guaranteed service area.
Thanks
Colin |
|
Protest!
|
The local petrol suppliers have an "arrangement" going keeping petrol prices
significantly above the prices in the surrounding areas. They just
happen, by total accident, to have precisely the same price as every
other garage around, and to change within 24 hours!
There's a Demonstration outside BP's Offices on Monday 10th May.
The details are :-
MONDAY, 10th MAY :
MEET outside Acorn House in Midsummer Boulevard at 12.45 p.m.
PROCEED to BP's Offices for the DEMONSTRATION against high petrol prices
in Milton Keynes at 1.00 p.m.
Cllr Alan Pugh is leading the Demonstration
http://cmis.milton-keynes.gov.uk/CMISWebPublic/ElectedMemberDetails.aspx?PersonID=329 |
BP - almost the same as BT! Petrochemicals - Telecommunications...
What's the difference?
Seems like a good teeth-cutting exercise for when
we start on BT!
Links
Milton Keynes Broadband Home
Activities
If you live in Milton Keynes, and want Broadband, let
us
know!
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