Well, the installation was done today and turned into a farce of "carry on" proportions. First the engineers made it quite clear they didn't fancy doing the job, as it was bigger than normal and would "take them all day and we get paid by the job".
They then tried to wheel out the excuses of how the cable needed to pass on someone else's property (my flat) and that they needed permission. I said it was ok, and luckilly the landlord was there and said he didn't give a toss either
cue some more grumbling.
They said they would come back another day, as they need to make space in their timetable to do the install. They came back half an hour later and said they were going to do it!! it took them 1 hour and 10 minutes (just a touch less than the whole day they mentioned
).
Then the fun really began. Couldn't get the broadband working - and the engineers only made sure the Tv worked and nothing else. Plus the salesman had signed my couisn up for tvpackage, movies, sports, phone and broadband - for a whopping £82.49!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! told my couisn to call them and sort out something approaching the prices they mention in their mail shots that arrive weekly.
We had to phone customer support as the broadband wouldn't connect. Anyway, the girl we spoke to said nothing had been registered and they didn't have my cousins bank details (not true) he gave all his details again and she gave him a new pin number. Tried the new pin and it didn't work. Spoke to tech services, told us old pin number was correct. That didn't work either.
Called back customer support. They told us the "new pin" was in fact the account number (the girl must have got mixed up). Gave us yet another pin number, and finally after 2 hours of phone calls it works. It took less time to run yards of cables and screw boxes to walls than it did to get the broadband working.
Not a great first impression sadly
- one odd thing, they won't confirm a price to my cousin for the package. Saying that it hasn't "gone through the system yet". He's been told £10 for six months of 2 meg broadband, but as of yet can't give him price for full TV package plus phoneline. Smells of bullsh**t to me. I mean why not say "it costs x amount" everyone must pay the same surely?
So, he's left with it all working but no clue as to why they charge Broadband seperate and how much is his phone and TV will be. Very odd to say the least.
But, it's all working and he is happy enough. Shame about the shambles regarding the pin number though.
All credit to red_robin for showing that NTL do employ people that care and know how the system works. Just wish she'd have been on the phone while sorting this stuff and maybe it wouldn't have taken quite so many years off my cousins life
Thanks again Robin