[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by seaneeboy

OB, I think you're being a little harsh on the poor fella - Phonelines can be absolutely vital - a lifeline for the housebound, a line to the police for burglar alarms - and in general essential in an emergency.

If the house catches fire, and burns down because you couldn't call the fire brigade - how do you recon an insurance company will see that?

Phonelines are the most essential service ANY comms company should provide - it's one thing that can't be compromised on. Isn't that why phone faults are given priority?
<snip>

Exactly, this is why the telephone cabinets have battery backup built in incase of power failiure. BB/DTV does not have such failover as it is not a requirement because it is not an essential service.

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archi...s/cons0602.htm

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archi...htm#Yourrights

Originally Posted by OFCOM

Your rights as a telephone customer
What rights do I have?
You have many rights as a telephone customer.

Some rights apply only when you are dealing with BT or Kingston Communications in Hull, others apply when you are dealing with all phone companies.

You also have all the rights that everyone has under general consumer law, such as the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982.

Do I have the right to a phone service?

Yes. Itâ₠¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢s important that every person in the UK has access to basic telephone services, so BT †“ or, if you live in Hull, Kingston Communications †“ must provide you with a fixed phone service at an affordable price. You can use this phone service to make national, international, operator and directory-enquiry calls.

Do I have any extra rights if I am older or have a disability?
Yes †“ phone companies must provide some extra services, which can include:

a priority repair service if your telephone connection, whether it is fixed or mobile, stops working;
free directory enquiries if you cannot use a phone book;
bills in an acceptable format such as large print, Braille or audiotape;
text relay services if you have hearing difficulties.

The same legislation makes disconnection of phone lines all teh more difficult. Outgoing blocks (except 100, 112 and 999) but not a disconnect.

Originally Posted by orangebird

I agree - but the post I replied to about that said that 'customer' and 'user' were seperate...

To NTL the customer is the one who pays the bill, head of household, signatory on the contract.

In addition to the customer, who when they pick up the phone is a user of the service, their partner, friends, children etc who may use the phone line connected to that house are also users of the service.