BT Openworld a word of warning -*Resolved*-

[Wilse]

@bhoggett:

It's no so much BT Openworld as BT in general. Their staff are told to automatically assume that the customer is mistaken and that no mistake was made at the BT end.

Really? I must've been off that day.  ;-)
Do you have a copy of this "BT in general" staff directive? I'd love to see it.

Having said that, I know what a nightmare it can be for customers trying to deal with BT, and appreciate the frustration you and Matt have experienced.

First, make use of their complaints procedure and take the name of the operators you speak to. Second, do not pay the rest of your contract, since it is up to them to prove that you have breached your contract. Counteract by telling them that their evidence is wrong and you will be claiming compensation for any restriction of service, and demand that they provide you with documentary evidence of their claim.

The above is all decent advice. *ALWAYS* take the persons name. that way they'll think twice about telling you porkies.

[Wilse]

@Bill:

Well, I don't know that there is an official directive to that effect,

Perhaps because it would be commercial suicide if there was one?

but since every single operator I spoke to was trying to persuade me that I was wrong and BT were right, despite the fact that provided all the evidence to back me up and apparently conviced each operator in turn (after 15-20 minutes of debate each time), what else can I assume?

Various things? Incompetence on the part of the operators springs to mind. Saying staff, in general, are told to behave this way is a rather sweeping accusation that, if made against a firm in the amiga marketplace - with the same lack of proof, would be condemned as FUD and rightly so. You didn't mention that it was only your opinion, based on personal experience or not.

Incompetence is one thing. A company policy of deliberately pissing off your customers is quite another.