Assorted Ramblings...

It was another bright day (mostly) today, but it's still a bit chilly out. I'd already designated today "work day", so I spent most of the afternoon inputting marks onto the school's data system which I can access from here. Mind you, it's not just a case of putting in a number. Nope, I had to write a comment for each pupil as well, along the lines of what we used to do for end of year reports. Fortunately, we don't have to do that every half term, but as the system has only been up and running since last term and last time, I did just put numbers in, I thought I should show willing this time and do a bit more.

( But the best laid plans... )
In other news - DW spoilers abound, but I'm not reading all of them. (I haven't even got round to reading the RT yet!) It's reached the point actually where there's not a lot of new info filtering through, and let's face it, we all know damn well that SM is keeping his cards close to his chest and that the DW team are generally pretty tight lipped about the really big stuff. So while I'm intrigued, I'm (at the moment) quite happy to wait to find out what the hell is going on. Whether I'll still be saying that at 7pm on the 23rd remains to be seen. Btw - is part 2 going out on the Sunday? I assumed it was, for some reason, but haven't seen a confirmation. As crossoverman indicates in comments, it's entirely possible (not to mention likely) that I've dreamed that one up.

( spoilery pic under here )

And in a spectactular scheduling balls-up, Auntie is presenting us with two helpings of DT on the same day at the same time. Grrrrr... Thank gawd for the iPlayer.

At last - Tuesday 15th. The day I get my broadband back!

Well, you remember how I said I wasn't going to hold my breath? It's just as well I didn't.

No broadband because yesterday BT told Sky not to activate it for some reason that they (BT) have chosen to keep to themselves.

I really do feel as though I'm banging my head against a brick wall. I've lost count of all the phonecalls I've made, although I do have a load of complaining emails that I've sent. Thing is, every call, every email comes from a different person and tells a different story. I've asked to speak to supervisors and/or managers, I've asked for people's names so that I can contact them again - but all to no avail.

The saga is continuing however, because BT has given a new activation date of 23rd, but I don't believe that either. Mr Caz spoke to BT at lunchtime and then they started talking about the 28th - I have no idea where the hell that came from!! When I spoke to Sky, they still tell me 23rd. I have basically BEGGED Sky to get in touch with BT so that I can get back online.
I've been promised a call back from Sky tomorrow, but I'm not going to hold my breath for that either.

But, mighty and knowledgeable f-list, I have a question for you.

I've had a look around BT's website and there isn't even a postal address for complaints any more - all there is is an email facility via the site.

I've not been able to get a name of someone that I can write to, either.

Can anyone out there suggest where I might be able to find out who and where I can write to? Short of just addressing an envelope to "The Chief Executive, British Telecom plc", I'm coming up a blank. And if anyone has any other ideas of who the hell I can complain to, I'd be delighted to hear them!

After the discovery that BT had changed my phone number, Mr Caz called them on Wednesday and was assured that we could have our old number back and that it would be active yesterday (Friday).

Guess what?

(Altogether now...) OH NO, IT WASN'T!!!

Fortunately for my sanity, I was out for the day with the fantabulous teresadivicenzo and megwriting,but when I got home, I got the full story.

Mr Caz's FOURTH phone call to BT of yesterday went like this:

BT person - Hello and thank you for calling BT. My name is xxx, how may I help you?

Mr Caz - Yes, hello; I hope you *can* help me - I think I'm losing the will to live.

BT person - I'm very sorry to hear that sir, but I'm afraid all our systems are down at the moment, so perhaps you could call back later.

Mr Caz - That's all well and good, but seriously, I'm losing the will to live. Or no, actually, I'm thinking of getting a dog.

BT person - I'm sorry, sir, but as I say, our systems are down...

He has his moments...

BUT - this morning, hallelujah! I think I finally found and spoke to the ONE BT adviser who has more than one braincell and not only that, KNOWS HOW TO USE IT. I spent forty minutes on the phone to someone who not only took the time to listen to what I said, but actually grasped the nature of the problem, and who was able to piece together what had happened. To cut a very long and boring story short, it doesn't look like I'll be able to get my old phone number back, so I'm going to have to bite the bullet and tell everyone that it's changed. I'm sure there'll be someone I've missed, but I'll worry about that later.

( the serious bit )

I'm even more pissed off today than I was yesterday if that's humanly possible. My phone isn't back on today and when I phoned BT earlier, I was told that "it's down on our system for 1st July."

I'm livid.

They've fucked me about for weeks on this one, and the real bugger is that I have no alternative - because going to another supplier would mean waiting another week to ten days. So much for customer choice, huh?

It also means that because my phone connection is being delayed, I won't be reconnected to my broadband service until at least the second week of July.

I am SO pissed off about this. I've already registered a complaint and asked what they're going to offer me by way of compensation. I'm not holding my breath on that one though.