my head has just exploded

[erastes]

this is the entry on british telecom's "checking if there's a fault on your line"

(my phone – when i pick it up sounds like there,s a computer connection or something on the end and it won't connect)

so here's their online advice:

We can only check the line if it's not currently being used. This includes:

- Internet access
- Phone calls using a standard or VoIP phone
- Fax
- Broadband services e.g. BT Vision

You'll need to run this check using a PC connected to a different line and ensure that the line you wish to check is unused.

…

There are no words.

Comments

[angrboda]

Erm... what does that even mean??? Are they assuming that the average household has at least two different phonelines just in case one breaks?

[crawling-angel.livejournal.com]

I know. We did this last week. Online...disconnect from this line. How many connections do these bozos think we have?

When I went on to live chat they wanted us to use a different phone. So there was me saying 'like in a different room you mean? That kind of different phone?' (As there are 3-4 phones all connected). No madam, can you borrow a neighbour's phone and plug that in. I swiftly told him no as I had broken my leg and couldn't go running off to my neighbour to pinch their bloody phone!

Turns out it was their fault anyway. Something to do with the line.

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Reminds me of the occasion many years ago when I arranged for BT to install a phone line at my house.

I took the day off work and waited patiently at home, only for them not to show. Back at work the next day my colleague told me that they'd rung me at work to say they wouldn't be coming after all, and had asked her if there was any way she could contact me. To which she understandably replied "Not until you put her bloody phone in..."

Doesn't sound as though they've changed very much...

[baritonejeff.livejournal.com]

Ummmmm. Huh?

[jenniferkoliver.livejournal.com]

Doh! This seems typical for some of the internet / phone providers. Earlier this year I had "if your internet connection isn't working, check our website troubleshooting page for solutions". Um, yeah. Cause I've got multiple internet connections kicking about the house. *headdesk*

Good luch with your BT issues. :)

[beckyblack]

Ah, BT. I haven't been a customer of theirs for at least 15 years and my life is immeasurable better for it.

[tiggothy.livejournal.com]

Well at least that puts into perspective the frustration I get when workmen / insurance people / anybody from a company who wants to contact me insists on me giving them my mobile number rather than the landline. At least they're only thinking that I live in a more urbanised area...

We did used to have 2 phone lines at one point: it was before we got broadband, so we could go online and still use the phone...

[ali-wilde.livejournal.com]

The phone company I'm with - Telstra in Aust - said they'd be happy to check my phone line, but that if it was any of the equipment I have attached to the phone line that was faulty, they'd charge me for wasting ther tech's time (sic). I wanted to know that if, after checking my modem and phone and line inside the house, I found that it was an outside the house problem, I could charge them for my time. They didn't find it funny.