Solved Wireless versus Ethernet Broadband

[maxie]

What ever you are happy with Ken ... That is the main thing

 

[KenBaynham]

I feel good about this solution Max. I think it's worth a few bob to get a good broadband width. The cabinet is about 50 yards away and so cabinet to socket should be good. I am meeting up with engineer tomorrow to tie up loose ends.

Moving house is exhausting I have removed two night storage heaters, disconnected and drained an immersion heater ripped up numerous carpets and it just goes on. I didn't think this sort of thing happened to retired old codgers like me. Not much time to worry about broad band but I will update when I finally get moved.

Thanks again for all your help.

 

[maxie]

Most welcome Ken ... Keep in touch and let us know how the move goes ..

 

[KenBaynham]

Hi again all

Things take another turn for the worse.

Finally got a provisional date for my house move 10th December. Thought that's great EE require 20 days I can just about make it.

Tried to advice of move online but could only find a telephone number which after queuing for 45 minutes with lousy music and constant messages informing me I would probably be better off doing it online I got to speak to John who I could just about understand.

He tested both lines and informed it was good news I could retain my telephone number and my optimum speed would be unchanged (was hoping for better). Then the bad news he informed me that there is some sort of restriction on the line of the house until the 12th December (John couldn't tell me what form the restriction took but I think this means the previous tenant must have paid until then in advance) which meant the 20 days (which turns out to be 15 working days meaning that with weekends, Christmas and new year holidays add 9 days to that = 24 days). So I must put up with inferior fibre (12 Mbps on last test) until my move and then pay for line rental, inclusive phone calls, fibre broadband and numerous paid subscriptions for this period and get nothing.

I asked John how much longer I was tied to contract and he told me it was until December. When I asked how much to cancel early he informed me it £256.

Can't be a good deal can it?

If anyone knows a way to improve on this I would be really grateful. I am quite willing to change ISP as it would just be a matter of starting a new account with that provider now and paying EE for the 1 month that remains on my contract.

I live in hope

Best regards Ken.

 

[maxie]

Hi Ken .... I do not see how you can be charged so much as you only have a month to go before your Contract ends ... I would look up Online and see it you can find Information about that ... Nigel might know about that as he is with your ISP ...

 

[KenBaynham]

Thanks Max but don't see how I can proceed without getting whatever this restriction removed for line. Any idea about what it is and why?

 

[maxie]

No i do not Ken ... But will see what i can find out about it ...

 

[KenBaynham]

Thanks max I am really grateful for your help.

My first instinct is to go to BT but I feel all I will get is more sales hype, same time scale and higher bills.

I have been here before when I moved house last it took more than 3 months to get reconnected to the net (that was in the days of dial up) and I was with BT at the time. The problem then was described as a token on the line. That is why I moved to Orange (now EE).

 

[maxie]

Hi Ken ... Page 19 in the Link below should be a Help ...


http://ee.co.uk/content/dam/ee-help/e-gain.s3.amazonaws.com/external/content/Ts%20and%20Cs/20141106.EE_Home_Price_Guide_Final.pdf

 

[KenBaynham]

Hi Max and thanks for info.

I went off a bit half cocked I have only been on fibre for 6 months apparently (it seems much longer) and the fibre anytime contract is for 18 months not 12. The guy I was talking to just said December. He meant December 2015. The information you discovered confirms the figure is correct.

I would of thought the notice period could start now and then the connection made on the 12th when the restriction is removed but apparently BT won't accept the order until the restriction is removed. I have talked to Orange again and they have improved the notice period from 15 working days to 10 which gives me a best possible connection date of the 30th December. The emphasis definitely on the word possible.

Anyway thanks yet again for help.

Best regards Ken.

 

[maxie]

Hi Ken ... What about Vrgin are they in that area ... It is easy to Check ..

 

[Barman58]

My install with EE was a nightmare, though I have to say that I Could not fault EE at all in the process, they always kept me in the loop as incident after incident happened to delay the install, all due to BT Openreach, who have a monopoly on installation of basic hardware.

I booked the install and was OK with the install date given, Openreach turned up on time and started testing my line, they found that " someone had disconnected my line at the local pole without authorisation or notification", (we have to remember that only Openreach have access),

No problem just have to re-connect - except that the pole was condemmed and would need a "cherry picker " to get to the top of the pole to do the work, Open reach could not obtain a suitable cherry picker until the next day, I rearranged my appointments to be available for the engineer to arrive at 8: am the next day, and the engineer left, ( a quick on-line check found that I could have a cherry picker on site in less than an hour from several local equipment hire companies). I let EE know of the situation.

the engineer failed to appear the next day, and on checking with EE, who checked with Openreach, found that " the customer was not prepared to be available for the return visit, and they would have to re- arrange the install", this was an obvious lie but due to the monopoly I was forced to wait for a new date.

After several "confirmed" dates which slipped from the original 4 weeks to 5 then 6 the install was finally completed 2 months after the first confirmed date, recent TV consumer show information shows that Openreach, are known for this type of thing and indeed I was one of the lucky ones with some customers in new properties waiting up to a year for completion.

EE were very good and compensated me for the issues although they were technically not responsible

 

[KenBaynham]

Have to agree with you Nigel. Currently EE have done nothing wrong and they do give me an en excellent deal cost wise. It is BT that are refusing to take the order. I have contacted the previous occupiers and asked them to instruct their supplier to remove the restriction. I live in hope the time scales you mention are scary.

Given the early cancellation cost Max changing supplier is not an option but I did try Virgin availability and apparently they don't offer fibre in my area.

Thank you both for all your help.

Everything crossed

Ken

 

[maxie]

Hi Ken ... I do understand there is no point in you being out any more money than you have to be ... I am sure given time you will get your issue Resolved

 

[Barman58]

Ken,

Do you know the supplier to the current owner of your new property If it's BT or one of the 2nd tier suppliers that use BT lines, (basically all bar virgin and a few special cases), then the changes to get you connected should be a simple case of "flicking a switch" or two and reprogramming the number, so you should not have too many issues, The line is after all in and working so there is no mechanical work except maybe a new faceplate for the main socket, (for conversion from broadband to fibre).

If possible get the current owners to request a MAC (i think that's the correct term), number. which EE can use to speed up the actual transfer. It's an essential if you wanted to change providers on your existing line, and I think it's also needed for person to person transfers as yours would be

It's probably best to go at it from both ends if possible, if only to take away as many potential excuses BT Openreach can use

 

[KenBaynham]

I am the owner of the property Nigel. I have rented it out for the past eight years but I am now moving back into it. The previous occupier was a tenant but because I left the management to a agent I have had no personal dealings with my tenant and since my tenant has now moved out my agent no longer has a financial incentive. I have asked the agent to contact her and ask for the restriction to be removed but she is described as a very quiet person and I don't feel I can ask to much of her. Anyway as you say once the restriction is removed the process should be simple and hopefully achievable by the 30th December. Being without the internet even for that period is going to hard but I guess I'm going to have to take it on the chin.

 

[KenBaynham]

Things are not getting any better.

In spite of my ex-tenant requesting the removal of the restriction EE inform me it is still in place.

I decided that the BT master socket would be better re-sited from the entrance hall to the to the lounge and so rang EE again and asked if this could be achieved. They said it could at a cost £109 for the first hour and then I think £60 per hour thereafter (never asked if this included VAT) but the order couldn't be placed with BT until the 16th December. When I queried the date I was informed that there was an open restriction placed on my line at my current address and no order could be placed with BT on behalf until this was removed. I asked what an open restriction meant in plain English and was told by the EE representative that they could not tell me but I could refuse the restriction and if I did the date when orders could be placed with BT would revert to the 12th. December. Not understanding what an open restriction was I told them to refuse it and asked if the predicted reconnection date of the 30th December was still realistic I was told no the earliest reconnection could be promised was 15 working from the 12th. December which made it 6th January 2015. I had previously been told 10 working days and when you consider EE's proud boast when I signed up for fibre quote "If you give us enough notice (at least 20 days) we can make sure your broadband and Home Phone is up and running at your new address on your home move date".

When I point out To the EE representatives that the only two people in the whole world that require the services supplied by these two lines are my buyer and myself and that the whole process if overly complicated I just get stony silence and I can imagine the representative with there finger on the switch thinking make my day swear and I will switch you off. OK so I guess I am probably being paranoid. I am certainly frustrated.

I don't expect there is much help or advice you guys can give me but I do feel better for getting it off my chest. Since I am shortly going to be broadbandless until after Christmas I will wish you all a very merry Christmas and thank you all for your help. Hope to talk again in the new year.

 

[maxie]

Seasons greetings to you also Ken ... Hope to speak soon

 

[KenBaynham]

Hi all

Managed to get back on line but now complete disaster.

Whilst connecting up my system I connected a USB hub to the wrong power supply and blew all my USB ports. Does this mean a new mother board?

Devastated - Please help.

 

[maxie]

Hi Ken ... Gosh your having a real bad time mate ... It may be possible to use a PCI USB Card ... Though my main concern would be what other damage has been done to the Motherboard ... That is really impossible to tell with out the proper equipment ...