[Windsufer]

I can sympathise with your problem. I am refurbishing my house and had a similar problems.

Basically, Telewest sales people don't seem to want to know about this problem. They expect you to sign up and then their installers will come round and surface mount the cables. On the other hand, no-one else is allowed to make connections. It;s OK though if your building a block of flats!

Undeterred I put it to them that if I was building a luxury house/apartment with structured cabling what would they do, since surface-mounted cables would be unacceptable. I was advised that a "consultant" would phone me within 10 days. About 2 days later an obviouslty intelligent and agreeable woman phoned me and we discussed the problem. She arranged for the installation manager to call and advise. A young engineer (manager?) called, we discussed the installation in detail and he left me sufficient cable (no charge) to self-install - phone+internet at node 0, the distribution cluster for the structured cabling and another length for the TV in lounge.

Allowing 2 weeks lead time, when I'm ready to install the stuff, I'll order the services, then Telewest will make the connections, terminations.

This makes it an easier install for them if you lay the cables yourself (a negotiating point).

You could also suggest that putting in Sky including multiroom is much more straightforward - lots of installers who'll put the cable wherever you want or do it yourself.

Good luck