Poor, poor service and STILL waiting for a callbac...

Question

The following information is a partial capture of the service standards that we have received from BT that has led to our complaint being made. Following this extended period of time we have had to take a considerable amount of our time to try to resolve this issue. We have spent a considerable amount of time waiting for calls that haven’t been forthcoming and waiting for engineers. When we did push for an engineer (otherwise we would be waiting for another week of intermittent service) he showed up and had no notes or any idea why we had requested his call out!
You will notice that the last entry that we have made is for August 31st 2012. We have decided that our time is too important to waste on an organisation that cares so little about their customers that they cannot be bothered to follow up and resolve outstanding issues. The complaint has been sent on September 10th 2012.
Between August 31st and September we have heard nothing about resolving this complaint from BT, despite assurances that that somebody would resolve the issues raised.
The overall standard of service of BT has fallen what I would expect as a basis standard and in many cases has been deliberately evasive and obstructive. Frankly, this is the kind of shabby service that is difficult to reconcile with the image of a cutting edge communications provider in 2012.
We can only emphasise just how let down and disappointed that we are with BT.
9th August
We experienced intermittent problems with the broadband connections causing issues with BT broadband, Vision and BT Anywhere mobile.
We contacted BT to report the problem. It was confirmed that someone from the Technical Team would look into it.
We spoke with technical team and confirmed that they would complete checks and call back within a specific time.
10th August
We had continued issues with broadband, vision and mobile. Losing connection every 3-4minutes throughout the day between the hours of 9 and 6
13th August
We contacted BT again to confirm issues still ongoing and broadband intermittent throughout the day. We were assured that line checks would be carried out and were contacted at 9-45pm to explain that the situation would be resolved.
Various diagnostic attempts were made over this period involving changing filters, unscrewing the phone plate at BT’s request etc…. We were told that it was probably a faulty filter- even though it had been changed…..
I received a call a couple of days later when I was at work and a co-worker dealt with it. He said the call referred to the BT fault but no message was left.
In the meantime we received a call from a marketing team offering to sell us BT infinity ‘at no extra cost’…. This would resolve our issues and we understood this call to be part of the ongoing service issue.
23rd August. After 6pm
We called through to report a fault again and was on hold for 28 minutes. 13 minutes in I spoke with someone and as I had gone through about the telephone was told it was the wrong department and they would put me through to the broadband team. Total hold time 28 minutes
Asked to speak with a manager
Ashalt came on the phone and said that he would speak with a manager in the ‘level two team’ and find out what was happening. I said that I wanted compensation for the issues and the amount of time that this has taken with both myself and my partner. I said that it was not acceptable for this to have taken over 3 weeks to get this sorted.
He said that he would call me back to discuss compensation as I would definitely receive compensation for this.
I was put on hold and then his operator came back on the phone to say that she was putting me through. I explained that this was not what was agreed and that the manager was going to come back to me. She said that they have my telephone number and would call me after the call.
Was advised would put me through to the Level 2 technical helpdesk as this is where it had been escalated and they would find out when an engineer would be sent around.
Upon being transferred through to Level 2 the lady did not know why I was being put through. I had to explain everything again.
She then completed the following script again:
Apologies for inconvenience
Checking the line
Taking time with the check
Problem at the exchange
Sent a previous request to the wholesale team and they didn't find a problem
Send a further request
I explained that we were telephoned to say that due to our complaint they would install BT Infinity as this would help the situation. The lady confirmed that the issue needed sorting out as would still get the same problems.
I asked if i had been miss-sold BT Infinity to which she said yes.
Line test results completed and nothing is showing as an error. Explained that someone would need to come and physically check the line. Then told that if there is a fault in the flat we would be charged £99. I confirmed that we did everything that was asked of us and couldn't understand why it would be in the flat. It was again repeated that if there is a fault in the flat then we would get charged.
The ‘customer service’ operative confirmed that the earliest date for an engineer call out would be Tuesday between 8-1. We suggested that this was not acceptable and that we would be without proper broadband for the whole bank holiday weekend. The lady said that's the earliest available time. She said that she was not sure why an engineer had not been called already
Confirmed that manager a would call back to discuss compensation. We never received call.
Saturday 24th August
The BT engineer came today and fixed the problem within 20 minutes. The fault appeared to be with the connection from the terminal box outside and how our home line was attached to that. The engineer said that he had no notes relating to why we had called him out and was in the dark initially as to what the problem was. Once again we explained the problem.
We called the cancellation team to find out whether or not there would be any charges related to cancelling all of our BT services. Spoke with John.
John confirmed that there would be a cost of 159.91. I asked John for clarification of this. He said that we entered into a new 18 month contract on the 27th February. I did not know what this was for and asked for the call to be listened to. John said that they would have needed to confirm that there would be a new 18 month contract otherwise it would be invalid. John said it would take 7days for the call to be listened to. I asked for a full transcript of the call and John said that this would be provided. I asked if these were the only charges as we also have a mobile. John said that was the only figure being given to him. John offered to give me the telephone number 0800 169085.
We called this number and were put through to the Welsh Language team - Michelle. She then tried to put s through to the correct department. We then went through to the offshore team who then tried to put us through to the correct Team who then put him through to "I'm sorry the number you dialed has not been recognised".
Called through again to BT 150 number and went through to Rebecca. She managed to find the correct number and put me through to Maureen. Maureen checked the cancellation charges and advised the same figure. Maureen confirmed that she would put a note on the account as well to confirm that this would be the only cancellation charge.
Correct number 0800 0322111
12.58
We received a call from a gentleman pertaining to be a manager. When question he had no idea why he was calling me and thought it was just to check that the broadband was working. I explained that this was a complaint and that a manager was to call me back. He admitted he was not a manager. He was called Jude.
Jude transferred me through to Molly who was a manager and the phone was cut off.
Molly then called back. I summarised the situation to her (again) and she confirmed that again it was unacceptable. I asked why I was not receiving a call back from the manager that had promised me the call. She could not comment. I asked why I was receiving the call at the very end of my call back slot as this would mean that I would not have to waste even more of my time. Again she could not comment on this.
She confirmed that she would definitely help with compensation and that we have been reporting the fault since 9th August I confirmed that 160.00 would be a good starting point. I also asked several times that I wanted a full transcript of all of the calls made. This to date has not been forthcoming. I confirmed that I had been lied to on several occasions, had been given incorrect information, had not received callbacks when I had been promised them even by senior managers.
I mentioned that the service appeared to be working. Molly said that they would need to wait 48 hours before been able to close off the overall complaints process.
I asked when we would be discussing the compensation. She put me on hold and said that she would need to speak with the billing team. She then came back on the line to explain that any adjustment would take 48 hours. I said that so basically they haven't said anything and you still need to wait for 48 hours.
She said that she would call me back on Monday. I confirmed that this was a bank holiday and asked if she was actually working on that day. She confirmed that she would. I mentioned again that it was a bank holiday but she said that she was working. She asked me what time I would like a call back. I asked her what time she started work and she said at 8am. I asked for a call back at 8am. She agreed and confirmed to this.
We then received a call on my mobile from apparently Molly's manager confirming that we would get a phone call from Monday between 8-9 o’clock am and that they would call within that timescale.
Monday Bank Holiday
No call received. Called through to check at 13.47 and advised offices are closed as it was a Bank Holiday
Tuesday 28th
Call received and missed at 14.38
Call returned by me at 16.54
I requested to speak with the customer complaints manager on hold for 12 minutes.
The operator advised that he wanted to put me through to level 2 technical support. I said that I did not want to go through to them as they were incompetent and incapable of dealing with this situation and it is very disappointing that I am having to call again and chase.
Requested to speak with a manager
Sunny came on the phone and I confirmed that I wanted to make a complaint and that I was not happy. Sunny attempted to put me through to the level two technical team again and I insisted this was not the nature of the call. I wanted to complain. Sunny said that I had not mentioned this and that he could try and deal with the complaint.
I asked to speak with the center manager and advised that his manager was Rhuel. He then said that he was not allowed to give me the name of the center manager as he was not authorised.
I explained also that we were mis-sold BT Infinity as we had received a call confirming that they were calling on the back of our issue and that if we had BT infinity it would rectify this matter. We were later advised that even BT Infinity would not have worked until the issue was rectified.
Complaint finally logged under the following reference:
VOL012-xxxxxxxxxxx
Fault logged under reference:
VOL051-xxxxxxxxxxx
Sunny then advised that I should call the billing team myself as he only had a limit of £10 compensation. I explained that I cannot understand why I needed to do this and that they could not do this as part of the complaints procedure. He said it would be quicker if I did this. We agreed I would call and then he would call me back on Wednesday between 5-6 pm.
Sunny did not call back.
Tuesday 28th August 18.22
I went through to billing team and I was offered £16.42. I asked about waiving the £160 charge and was told that I would have known about being entered into a contract again. I confirmed that this was not discussed in the call of the 27 February. I was advised that I would have been sent out information and I should have read it. This ‘information’ has never been received. I confirmed that I was not happy with this and asked about about the compensation for my time and emotional distress. It was explained to me that BT don't give out money for that. I asked to speak with a manger
I was told that Jason Puchowski (who I was told was the manager) was not available and that he would call me back in 48 hours. I explained that this was not acceptable. The operator confirmed that Mr Puchowski would call me back the following day at a time between 2 and 3 pm.
No phone call from Jason was received
Wednesday 29th August 5.27
I received a call asking me if my broadband has been resolved. Understandably I was very annoyed with this as it was not Sunny or Jason calling me back but one of his team who had no idea of what the problem was. He had not even got another manager to call me back. I asked to speak a manager
I was put through to Sagarika who apparently is Sunny's manager. She said that it was due to personal circumstances that Sunny could not make the call.
I again explained the situation and that a call had not received a call from Jason. She confirmed what I was saying in that the service was unacceptable, upsetting and distressful and that the current offer for compensation was unacceptable.
I repeatedly asked to speak with the Centre Manager which by the terms of your complaints policy I was allowed to ask for this. I was advised that she was not allowed to give out those details.
I asked for the email contact for the center manager as I was putting together the complaint for Offcom and wanted to copy him in. She asked me not to do that and that she would try and resolve this.
Sagarika said that she would look into this to see what she could do and call me back that evening between 7-8 pm.
No call back received
Friday 31st August
No call back received from either manager. I had received a text from BT confirming that my direct debits were cancelled. I went online to try and reset them but couldn't do this and went through to the billing team.
Spoke with a very helpful individual who reset my direct debits. I asked if he was aware of a manager called Jason Puchowski. He said that he was. I explained a little to him about the situation and circumstances and he said that he would instant message Jason. A reply came back to say that Jason was away from his desk. Then an email was sent to Jason and the operator, who originally took my call, confirmed that I was calling and that I was very upset. He forwarded to Jason that not only did I not receive a phone call within the agreed time slot but did not receive one within 48 hours.
This was the last communication that we have received from BT on this issue.
The only communications that we have received from BT is to tell us to return their ‘BT Infinity’ box within 2 weeks or we will be liable to pay a fee.
it is now Tuesday 25th September and today I have checked the bill and no compensation or reimbursement has been received.  No telephone call forth coming.

Answer 1

Hi
I am sorry to see you are having problems with your BT Service
I suggest you contact the forum mods they should be able to get this problem sorted for you this is a link to them http://bt.custhelp.com/app/contact_email/c/4951
They normally reply by email or phone directly to you within 3 working days they will take personal ownership of your problem until resolved and will keep you informed of progress
They are a UK based BT specialist team who have a good record at getting problems solved
This is a customer to customer self help forum the only BT presence here are the forum moderators
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