Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

:confused:

I dont get it. I can't order Digital TV (not even the base pack) - just because im a student. I already had 1mbit for approximately 9 months and downgraded to 600k so I could afford the base pack.

I phoned up and they said that I cant have it because im a student. WTF is that all about?

I can get analogue which is £4 cheaper. But i'd rather digital!

Why cant students get Digital???

:td: :mad:

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

I smell BS.....

That makes no sense whatsoever. They were happy to take £35.00 per month for 1 meg BB, but now they are not willing to take £25.00 for 600k + whatever the cost of the DTV Base pack?, but you can get analogue for £4.00 less? :shrug:

They never cease to amaze me. :rolleyes:

Welcome to the site btw. :)

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

ntl are truely stupid!

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

Are you living in a private address or in halls?

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

There is a special student deal whereby you get a 9 month minimum contract rather than 12 (as the usual length of a lease on a student house is 9 months). This is for analogue TV only, however.

If you're going to be able to fulfil all 12 months of a standard contract, I can;t think of any reason that NTL wouldn't want you to have it...

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

Exactly,

let me paste my thread from ocuk.

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

Reaps, I suggest you answer orangebird's question, and has it really helped posting your rants on other forums?

Maybe these NTL employees have been mis-informed, have you tried phoning them again and ask to speak to a supervisor?

I am in no way defending NTLs actions, but try to keep a level head in these situations.

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

I think its because of the cost of a digital STB install. A 9 month contract does not allow ntl to recover the install cost.
I would ring CS back and make it clear that you want a 12 month contract and not a 9 month student deal. If your parents are acting as guarantors for you then hopefully the CS rep will be able to sort it out.

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

That doesn't make sense though-it works out to £4.00 per month difference, surely you're not suggesting that there is a £12.00 break even point for TV installs? :confused:

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

I'm in a flat on a main street in swansea. There are actually only students in this flat, but i've spoken to the landlord and he said he does allow non-students to live here aswell, So I dont know the problem.

I said to them, im willing to take out a 2 year contract, because i'm going to be living here awhile, seeing as i've got a contract out with my landlord.

They sent me to another department and I asked to change my account and they told me I couldnt, because I live in a highly student-populated area, so I cant take out a non-student contract. The person who said I was going to have Digital installed just told me to take it out in my mums name, but CS told me that I could only get it installed wherever my mum lives if thats the case. Which I don't want to do.

The other forum is where I post mainly and from there I got a link to come here, so yes.. It has helped.

Can someone on this forum just change my order to Digital, or something alone those lines.. without having to go on the phone and get jumped about from department to department?

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

We will continue to help you, but ultimately ntl don't help themselves.

Left hand/right hand scenario I'm afraid.

Will your landlord allow you to have Sky?

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

£4 per month? I don't see where this comes from.

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

They have offered Reaps an analogue service @ £4.00 less per month, but seem not able to offer a digital service. :shrug:

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

Yup, he doesnt mind what I do by the looks of things :)

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

Its 4 quid a month cheaper, for analogue but the digital contract is an extra 3 months, so thats £54 (for the £18 pack) ontop of the extra £4 per month extra.

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

And there's also the fact that the cost of analogue boxes will have been written off years ago, whereas NTL still have to pay for the shiny new digital ones (well, Samsungs anyway).

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

I'd much rather digital tbh :(

The only place I can phone them is from my mum's, I dont fancy another half hour drive today just to phone. It's quite annoying!

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

Can you not book it online??

Just order the digital TV Pack and see what happens! Once the engineer turns up theres no come backs!!

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

Exactly what I was about to say! Reaps, I live just around the corner from you (just off the Kingsway), and I'm on an associate contract, but last year I lived in the Institute's halls in Townhill and had a 9-month contract with the same problem. Place the order online by clicking here, and enter your postcode, etc. It should allow you to take out a new 12-month contract with the base pack.

I assume from your posts earlier that you already have a 9-month student contract for the broadband, in which case, you may find you have trouble setting up a second account at the same address - but it's worth a try. One of the reasons this is done is because the cost of an analogue box is far lower than that of a digital box, so if you run off without returning the box (not suggesting that you will!), the cost to ntl is far lower.

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

Go with analogue, at £4 cheaper, you get pretty much the same channels (except all the shopping ones). Count youself lucky, if you were not a student analogue would not even be an option!

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

There's your answer then-give your money to someone else.

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

I give up.

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

Does seem a bit perverse, I thought they were trying to get people off analogue and switch it off.

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

How do they know you are a student? Do they ask you specifically? When I setup my NTL account and services, I dont rememeber being asked if I was. Is it possible you can side-step it a bit? (i.e. if they ask you what your employment status is, can you say unemployed instead of student?). You'd have to be careful you don't tell them an out and out lie though, that would be illegal.

Personally, i'd go with Sky if I was you. NTL DTV is dire, but unfortunately I can't get Sky so I am screwed.

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

No need m8-the customer wants a DTV service that ntl won't give him, so what else can he do if he wants DTV? (& don't say Freeview :D )

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

I think it actually referred to your attitude, but that's by the by.

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

Funny because being an ex Sky Subscriber of 10 uyears I would say exactly the same thing about Sky!!

The latest software download is a joke and takes about 50 steps backwards as opposed to any forwards.

Go for Freeeview and Top UP TV Over Sky......they are abysmal in more ways than one.

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

i fear you might be right there , i suppose this just another example of ntl's inconsistency , i for have genuinely had little trouble with them , yet others are sinking fast in their b/s :(

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

Umm, I doubt anyonoe could ever accuse propping' of falling for ntl's b/s.

If propping' does leave, like his title says "Gone" then it will be a BIG loss to this community, especially the DTV side of things.

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

yes i reckon you are right there :(

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

I couldn't agree more. :(

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

Let's hope he realises that the majority of us here actually enjoy his posts and respect him immensely.

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

Agreed, it would be very sad to see proppin' off. His insight, help and general presence, have made this board a valuable resource.

:nworthy:

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

I think he's definitely gone....hasn't posted since the 'I give up' post.... :erm:

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

Agreed, it is a shame that prop took offense to Neil's post and he has decided not to post again but if we all decided to stop posting because we did not like what someone had said, everyones post count would cease to rise. :erm:

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

FWIW-I have PM'd him on this subject, but have had no reply.

Also-I disagree with what a lot of people on here say, but I don't just 'give up'

Anyway-:notopic:

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

I don't think it was that post in itself, but more that if that is the general attitude of the moderators, what is the point of him being here trying to help?

That's the way I read it, anyway. I can't speak for him.

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

That applies all the way down the line Tristran-how about 'if ntl weren't so poor, we wouldn't need to offer this site for customers to find help'?

We don't just give up because of ntl's attitude, and we are also the ones that put our time & effort into putting the site(s) together to start with.

[/rant over]

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

Those who require help will still be able to get it from Proppin in the digital spy cable forums so it shouldnt be much of an issue.

Personally I think this site should be more about offering help to those suffering problems than critiseing ntl at every opportunity which seems the case in my eyes, every company despite the mystifiying illusions of some has problems. In the big picture ntl has nearly 3 million customers, most of whom are enitrely happy.......this site has 3000 members (not all unhappy it might add)

Of course other companies can be equally poor:

http://www.btsuck.org/

http://www.btopenwoe.org.uk/dsl/talesofwoe.asp

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

I think things are being took to extremes when I keep seeing someone mentioning this site should be more about offering help to those suffering problems than critiseing ntl at every opportunity Plenty of help is given on this site, yes there is criticism as well, there is no set rule that says the balance needs setting right. But now with the name change, Cable Forum, it should not just attract the negative elements that an 'hell' site can bring.

Prop knows that he does a good job and he knows (hopefully) that we know that he does, the comment was not aimed at him yet, sadly, he has took the huff, we get comments thrown at us some of the time and they are bad, but we do not walk away or 'give up' even though at times I have wanted to.

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

Ok, here we go.
Theres no huff, there's no disagreement with any particular post. I've been posting on here and .com for more than a couple of years, and theres been plenty of ntl bashing over those years. I've got thicker skin than that, and can stick up for what I believe in. I will freely admit that ntl are far from the perfect company, and most of the criticism about them is justified.

However, when people come to a 'help' site with questions, and one of the mods advice for problem resolution is to get Sky and who actively promotes an ADSL BB provider, then theres no need for me to be here.

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

Look again 'Prop'.....

I have defended ntl where I feel necessary, when I don't I will offer suggestions to help the customer.

In this particular thread, it seems you took offence at my suggestion to the thread starter to 'give his money to Sky'. Who can blame someone for suggesting that after he/she had been given the runaround by ntl when he was trying to give them money??

They didn't eben try to be flexible, & that's why I made my suggestion (which I still stand by btw)

There is still every need for you to be here, as ntl will (IMO) continue to let their customers down, & as long as that happens (& you have admitted it does), then there is a need for this site, & for people like you to be on it.

As Mick says-we take just as much flack/criticism from people who post on here, which when I think of the time/money etc that we invest in the site(s) it quite frankly makes my blood boil as I/we put our money where our mouths are to give people this site.

Still-that's life eh?

I hope you will stay & continue to help people (I really do), but if you choose not to, then that's life too. :)

Please don't leave, Proppinupthebar :(
 

Hey Proppin',

I'm just gonna say straight out what I think and what many others are surely also thinking.

On this board, we respect you and the knowledge you bring to it. Ok, so perhaps Neil isn't setting the best example as a mod on a predominantly ntl orientated site (partly Telewest now I believe aswell). But I still accept the amount of time and effort he has put into this site. And he does help customers aswell.

There is still a need for you here. Everyone, well almost, is grateful for your input into this site and I'm sure they all wish for it to continue. I do. The info from Sam B and yourself, I'd say, is one of the main reasons people come here, aside from general advice perhaps.

Please don't leave this site, we want you here.

Well that's my word on this,

Cheers,
Browneggsandham :)

PS. I know I put something similar to this in a PM but I thought I'd say here what I'm sure most people are thinking :)

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

Would just like to echo Browneggsandhams post. If you do leave, then thank you for your contribution over the years.

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

I took offence Neil because you advised a new poster to take Sky, because they and you had'nt been able to sort something out at that point with ntl.

You might as well replace the cable TV help forum with a Sky advert. The forum isn't needed with that sort of advice.

Hence being the only forum I have any real interest in, I don't really feel the need to be here.

Given that I can see no way of agreeing with your particular method of dealing with ntl related TV problems, which you still stand by, I choose to leave. Please delete my account, and username.

Please let me know if any PM confirmation is needed.

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

I think we'll all be sad to see you go. Guess it's too late now to ask you to reconsider, but for what it's worth, I think you should stay.

And I'll see you on Digitalspy :)

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

Sorry to see you go.

I agree, Neil was very quick to jump in with the sky ADSL route. There are often reasons that people cannot get sky (planning or just plain asthetic). As a mod on a cable forum (not just an NTL Hell forum now), you should be supportive of the cable industry as the technically better of the two platforms (Sky/ADSL vs Cable), and whilst in the end if a problem can't be resolved a move should be a suggested solution, a customer wishing to buy cable should not be put off from the start. I'm certainly generally happy and glad I got them to site survey and install cable not sky in my house.

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

And how 'happy' would you have been if Sky had messed you about in the way that they did the thread starter? And would you have still been 'happy' to give a company who behaved that way towards a customer your hard earned cash?

Doesn't bode well for the future does it when starting a relationship with a company does it?

I am supportive of ntl when I feel the need arises. ntl messing around a customer like this is unacceptable, & in this day & age of consumer power & choice, ntl (or any company for that matter who behaved in this way-making a customer resort to posting on a website to get help) do not deserve the customer's money-or am I missing something here?

Please don't preach to me about what example I should or shouldn't be setting, we didn't set these sites just to up to portray the image that ntl do everything right.

Where someone comes on & makes an unreasonable request of ntl (such as here: http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...ad.php?t=10052, I will support them 100%.

But when ntl are totally lame & pathetic in their dealings with a customer, then I don't see why they should behave like that & still get that customer's money-simple.

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

Well, I tried :(
Of course it's your choice entirely and I respect that.
So thanks for all the help and contributions, I'll see you over on DS :)

Browneggsandham

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

Cheers mate. For some reason I'm still here. Lets see how many posts I can make before I'm deleted.

No-one so far has seen fit to disagree with me. Cept one. :dozey:

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

If they do you've got a fair bit of support ;)

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

With regards to dealings with students, ntl generally find that they are at student properties for a 9 month period then return to their home address hence the reason for a 9 month contract. I beleive the reason why digital is not offered is because of the problem with uplifting the stb when the student moves out at the end the term (digital boxes are far more expensive than analogue and are more in demand). Students can get digital but they must move onto a 12 month contract, I know this because I have set up numerous students with digital but always under the 12 month contract. It could be that the CS person you spoke to noticed the student customer type on your account and assumed that digital could not be given but if you go through to the Upsell dept you should find them more helpful. Any problems and you can PM me your details if you wish. ;)

Re: Can't get Digital just cos im a student - WTF ?
 

Proppin, sorry to see you go. Your posts have always been informative, and entertaining too.

On a seperate(ish) note, I will re-iterate what I said on the Thank you thread. We need more NTL (& Telewest now) employees on here.

I was under the impression this was a help site (hence the nthellworld name being effectively put on a back burner). Surely if people are having problems with their STBs and Cable Modems, the employees are best placed to answer questions? They aren't going to keep coming here if they have the impression that they are either going to get $lagged off, or that certain people just seem to answer every question with "NTL (or Telewest) is crap. Get Sky/ADSL".