Stuck between TalkTalk and BT
02-September-2010
*
* Your Gripe Gripe List Quick Gripe Comments Gripe Poll Resources Contact Us Advertise Home *
* prev
next *
 

Stuck between TalkTalk and BT

Your Ad Here Post a comment Post a comment 
Related Gripes Related Gripes 
Random Gripe Random Gripe 
Feedburner Gripes by email 
 
 

I have just spent 8 hours on the phone to Talk Talk, and have probably spoken to more than 15 people, each contradicting what the last said, directing me to numbers which weren't what they were supposed to be, and departments which had no connection whatsoever to the 'options' had said they were.  As a previous message said - it was mostly people passing me on to somebody who 'might' be able to help me, and without exception the first sentence was, 'oh you've come through to the wrong department'.

In the process of repeating my details and my story over and over again, ploughing through 'options' which took me round in circles', and receiving nothing but complete nonsense and conflicting information every step of the way (you get my drift).  I have been reduced to tears and driven beyond endurance to yelling hysterically at people who just repeated the mantra 'you need to go back and speak to BT', when BT had said, 'you need to go back and speak to TalkTalk'.  There was obviously no communication between departments and nobody cared what anyone else had said, even when it was a complete contradiction to what they themselves were saying.

Stuck between TalkTalk and BT, a rock and a hard place...

banging one's head against a brick wall...

In some cases they talked to me as if I was a moron, in other cases I could barely understand a word they were saying.  Some of them were so loud that I had to hold the phone 6 inches away from my ear!  All in all, it was like banging one's head against a particularly hard and impenetrable brick wall.  I have compiled a list of notes and numbers and useless 'advice' covering 5 sheets of A4 paper, have crawled on the floor describing my modem 3 times, and know the complete works of Roger McGough inside out!  Half way through this message I got 'timed out', and had to log in again.

We have had very good value with TalkTalk's phone service, which we were very happy with.  It was when we agreed to the Broadband set up that the trouble started and I have to say that BT have not been much help either.  I have had three lots of conflicting information, and at the last try, the department I was supposed to be directed to (third time of being sent somewhere completely wrong), was 'having router problems, and could I try again tomorrow'.

We will be obliged to return to BT for our line rental, (when the Talk Talk package is much better) in order to get the line back so that we can regain our previous email address. Talk Talk said this would be possible, but omitted to inform us that our service, both phone and Internet would be abruptly cut off.  No instructions as to how to reinstate them, no welcome pack or CD.  Nothing was said about the incredibly confusing amount of reconfiguration we would have to do to redirect everything through IE and although one 'technician' helped me to access the Internet, as far as setting up the email, he said 'you'll have to do it yourself'. Only 24 different panels to go through.

WHY should I have to do it myself?  Nothing had been said about this.  Apparently the CD was supposed to take care of it for us semi-computer-literates, (I'll believe it when I see it), but we didn't get ours.  No warning that once they had 'taken over' our BT line, it would cost £241 for us to reinstate the line, and have TalkTalk take it over again.  A lady at BT took great pleasure in informing me of this. So should we change our minds during the first 30 days, as it says we can in the contract - yes they will uninstall the broadband, but we will than be left in limbo until (and if) we can get our BT line back.

When we were sold the broadband package, we were told it would all be seamless and trouble free.  Since we had been happy with the phone service, we believed them.  Har Har. (Oh, oops, just got 'timed out' again, and had to sign in again - and that bloody smiley sign, and the tongue sticking out, is driving me mad already).

Trying the broadband while we are waiting to cancel the whole thing, I find that apart from being repeatedly 'timed out', I can't access a long and important list of bookmarked sites, sometimes I can access my email, sometimes it comes in alphabetical order, going back to March 2007, so I have to scroll through 700 plus emails trying to spot the ones that came in most recently. That in itself is enough to drive me nuts, never mind the letters forming the 'smiley' and the 'tongue out' when I feel far from in a joking mood. I don't want to explore further, afraid of what I might find, or rather NOT find.

As we were given no prior warning of the reconfiguration we would have to do, when our service was cut off I didn't know what was happening, (it was more than a week before our supposed 'go live' date).  So I spent a further 2 hours at 5p a minute, on the phone to AOL trying, vainly of course to reconfigure our settings, until they let slip the tiny nugget of information that said, if we didn't have a BT line, we could no longer get ANY service from AOL. But TalkTalk have bought out AOL haven't they?  Some said, no, we're separate.  Others said yes.

The 'lady' at BT said no, TalkTalk HAVEN'T been collecting the line rental on your behalf from us during your time with them (the phone service which we've had for 18 months).  It's nothing to do with us, its the responsibility of Openreach, but Openreach won't speak to customers, they'll only speak to companies. Yet their website is plastered with BT logos. I asked her "if we haven't had a BT line all this time, how come we've been able to get AOL?".  She said she didn't know and that I'd have to ask them. Obviously couldn't care less, but does anybody?

I've wasted a day I can't afford to waste, have a headache, and still have resolved nothing. And they don't give a damn.  I'm guessing tomorrow will be the same, except as it's a Sunday they'll all be going home early. Just got 'timed out' again, I'm going to give up now...

By: Lynseybluegirl


Other Related Gripes

Trying to cancel deceased father's TalkTalk contract
Getting a BT landline reconnected
BT took money when they shouldn't have
No Internet connection - help!
Frustrated by usless Internet Service Providers
TalkTalk connection and speed problems
BT broadband delay very frustrating
Talk Talk, problems getting online
Onetel email problems and customer service
An hour wasted on the phone to Sky
TalkTalk, yet another complaint
Random appointments with BT engineers
Great all round service from BT and Sky
TalkTalk problems driving me mad
BT phone number problems
Trouble getting Sky Broadband
BT Total broadband problems
Cancelling Tiscali Broadband
Why I dumped Talk Talk for BT
AOL helpline can be patronising
Call centre staff suffer abuse too
Oh no, not another Talk Talk gripe
PlusNet broadband problems
Talk Talk poor customer service
Broadband problems with Sky Plus





Visitor Comments

Please read this before you post

Enter your comments in the space below

Name or nickname


Remember my name



 
A warning to anyone considering switching to Talk Talk .
,It has taken nearly ten months to cancel our talk talk contract, during which time we have spent hours on the phone, written endless letters, been threatened with debt collectors 3 times for an account we no longer have, have been bombarded by fictitious bills. After cancelling direct debit from my bank talk talk set up another direct debit without my consent. It is totally impossible to talk talk with anyone in this country - spoke to someone in South Africa once who told me they cannot make outgoing calls!
All this is totally true, not surprisingly they have ignored my requests for compensation for all my wasted time and hastle endured. Be smart don't ever switch to them...........I wish never to talk talk with them again!
*Chess  31-Aug-2010 22:16

 
I think if people like myself and my mam dont realy know about talk talk or any athere broadband, and these people come around our houses saleing us these things, then thay should be more helpfull with the information. cause wer ending up paying more than less.
*nik  21-Jul-2010 11:17

 
I have just cancelled my order with Talktalk, waited in all afternoon for engineer and they didn't turn up spoke to customer services what a laugh he was A team 5 Northampton he was very rude he told me an engineer did call out from BT, I was not expecting a BT engineer and they didn't arrive at the time arranged, his comment was there was a problem with connecting so that why BT arrived and said what did I expect if there was a problem told him I wanted to cancell he told me I couldn't I said I would cancell direct debit he said so we will still get the money off you. This is only brief the detailed letter will go to them and to others I will not leave it like that I want a full apology but I won't hold my breath, am goin back to good old BT who have now beaten Talktalks offer.
*Tarquin  14-Jul-2010 09:34

 
I think Talk Talk should change their name to LISTEN LISTEN as they are obviously deaf or daft or maybe both. How many more customers must complain before someone somewhere takes notice and resolves the problems we are having. How many more times do I have to tell the billing dept that I do not owe them money, I changed back to BT on 17 April 2010 but still they take no notice. I am elderly, deaf and not in good health, these calls cause me a lot of stress.
*fedup and stressed out  13-Jul-2010 19:28

 
ordered talk talks broadband and telephone line, a engineer never came round to fit the telephone line and a modem was never delivered, yet I was still charged for it. I contacting talk talk through e-mail, letter and by phone and still the matter is not resolved. They have passed my debt on to a debt recovery agency so surplus charges has been added.

The phone contact was laughable, I was getting passed from pillar to post and on several occasions I even got cut off.

The e-mail contact: talk talk never even bother to return any message.

The letter: I am still waiting for a reply.

I ordered talk talk and never received what I ordered and this is what it cost me.

1)High Phone bill through trying to contact them
2)I got a bill for an overdraft charge
3)My bank closed my account which I have had for 14 years
4)Im still getting letters from debt agencies for around £300
5)My credit rating is now low
6)I was and it still is stressful when a bill comes in and you cant afford it, espesially when you have not had what you ordered.

I never thought this could happen but I have had to learn the hard way, talk talk have let me down in a massive way and now they have passed it on they dont even want to know.

To rub salt in the wound, talk talk keep sending me letters to welcome me back, when I never felt welcome in the first place.
*Anonymous  01-Jul-2010 18:46

 
I changed my broadband from talktalk to BT I understood with the package the line and calls also changed. I have been billed by Talktalk for line and calls despite paying this to BT. I have explained the situation to talktalk and they said they would amend the bill. They have put Credit Solutions on my back with constant harassment. They say I have to pay them and claim it back from BT. I uderstand it is illeagal to demand money while the bill in under dispute.
*Neil Cook  01-Jul-2010 18:45

 
I was happy with Tiscali.co.uk for years, broadband and telephone services. However when Tiscali was taken into Talktalk the following two monthly bills I received had doubled in cost. I reluctantly went back to BT and to be honest haven't encountered any problems but maybe that's because I haven't had to contact them. Anyway came tthe change over in January to BT I continued to have my Bank account debited by Talktalk for Broadband and cheap evening call accounts. I tried phoning them to recover the money that had been taken from my account and after spending an hour on the phone realised that this wasn't going to resolve the problem so I began to write with my complaint. When eventually a repy to my letter was received I was assured in the letter that they admitted being at fault and on the first occasion promised my bank account would be credited with the monies they had taken. A month lapsed and still no refund to my account. Further letter sent addressed to person signing their last letter. Reply to second letter from a different employee again admitting they were at fault and that I would receive a cheque on this occasion to cover outstanding amounts. It is now 5 months since my account with Talktalk was closed and this morning 17th June I have received yet another bill which has been debited to my bank account. I have now had to travel to my bank and hand in a letter to have them prevent any further debits from my account to Talktalk. To anyone thinking of moving service to Talktalk my advice is DON'T.
*Ken. Watson  17-Jun-2010 14:31

 
I thought this was a gripe site, not somewhere to advertise another dodgy company who guarantee to save you money but give you a mobile number to ring for help !! Why not just call me on my premium rate number at only £7.50 per second and I'll give you free advice.
*dodgyasf**k.co.uk  23-May-2010 13:42

 
Lyndsey Don't let thes companies get away with it!!
Talk to a reputable company that I use and get out!
Migrate your TalkTalk account over to them hassle free, this I hope is the answer you were looking for or phone them on:07866431515 and they will do the rest just quote F87143 when you talk,email them hope this helps you,have faith in what I say and you will be a happy bunny!
bestbillsaver.co.uk
*bestbillsaver.co.uk  22-May-2010 16:58

 
Fortunately I knew several talktalk customers when I was looking for an isp and they all told me not to go near them, I have never heard a compliment about talktalk from any customer of theirs.
However, if you have a phone line with BT it is almost suicidal to transfer it to another provider, whenever 2 companies are involved you willl always have problems and you can only return to BT as new customer ie by paying a fee of at least £125. My option was Virgin cable broadband, superb, very fast, a clear and understandable fair usage policy. Kept my BT line for the phone. So if either is down I still can go online with Virgin or slow but useful dial up with BT until things are fixed.
*artuk  09-May-2010 19:43

 
My God I wish I had never heard of TalkTalk - I have endured 6 months of hell trying to get them to deliver a service - I just want broadband and a phone.
Anyone reading this please do not even consider TalkTalk as an option and tell your friends the same. I cannot believe any company could treat customers like this - they are a disgrace!
*Mark  01-May-2010 10:02

 
Bluegirl

At least you got some advice how to reinstate your line. I was told it could not be done. So I signed up with BT and got slapped, without notice of my authority, on my credit card, for £300+ for early termination!
*Ed  28-Apr-2010 21:24


View more comments on this gripe


 
*   *
* © 2000-2009 The Weekly Gripe. All rights reserved. Please see our privacy policy and disclaimer.   Site Map *