BT customers express anger as phone lines remain down

Jamilla Paul Hair & Beauty one of the businesses suffering due to shutdown of BT phone and internet lines

The homes and businesses suffering as a result of the borough-wide phone outage have expressed anger as BT fails to provide solid repair dates.

Approximately 200 houses, shops and businesses have been without phones and broadband from as far back as 29 December, after the Boxing Day floods destroyed a main cable, affecting areas including Rochdale town centre, Castleton, and Bamford.

A number of residents and business owners have come forward to Rochdale Online News, to say they are struggling to communicate with BT, with some calls going through to a call centre in India.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/100401/bt-phone-outage-leaves-businesses-suffering

Former Mayor of Rochdale Angela Coric, who is among the people struggling without a phone line, said: “It has been especially difficult for me, as I have family in Australia and in the Ukraine, and they have been unable to get in contact with me. I’ve spent a fortune on texts to let them know. It must be terrible for those who are running a business.

“I was surprised on one occasion to find myself talking to a call centre in India, although the call before went through to a lovely and very helpful young man in Lincoln, so it’s not like they don’t have local contact centres. I think people should be getting more information as to what’s really going on”.

Jamilla Paul Hair and Beauty, Cartridge World and Bargain Booze on Oldham Road are just some of the businesses who have been unable to take card payments and answer customer calls, along with a number of local residents who have come forward to Rochdale Online News.

Claire Brophy, Manager of Jamilla Paul Hair and Beauty said: “Every single time we call they just keep fobbing us off until later. This is not good for any business.”

A spokesman for Openreach said: “Our engineers are working hard to repair this main cable which has been damaged by the floods. We are having to replace a section of this cable which is a major undertaking. We are keeping customers informed when they report a fault or through our website www.bt.com."