Pensioner gets apology after phone and internet delay
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A PENSIONER has received an apology after claiming BT treated him in "a disgraceful way" and caused him "massive hardship" by failing to provide a telephone and internet service.
John Burggy, who says he is nearly 70, moved to Caithness in September and lives at Nordwall Park, Reiss. He arranged to have the service provided by the communications company.
He was given a start date of October 8 but said nothing happened despite an engineer from Openreach, part of the BT group, testing the the line just days before.
Mr Burggy got in touch with BT with a borrowed mobile phone and was given an apology. He was told a problem had been found and a representative had been trying to contact him.
"BT agreed that my age and needs were high priority so arrangements were made for Openreach to come round for which I had to pay £195. I cannot really afford that but was was prepared to pay to get the help required but Openreach failed to come as arranged.
"Because I do not own a car I am in considerable difficulties just doing everyday food shopping, let alone anything else, or even being able to top up my borrowed mobile phone.
"I do not know anyone here. I am very low on food, also for my very elderly cat. I cannot carry much but this has made by situation even more desperate.
"I think it's disgusting that I am being made to pay £195 for something which is not my fault. The whole matter is causing me massive hardship."
An Openreach spokeswoman said: "We’re sorry there was a delay in providing Mr Burggy’s new services, which went live on Tuesday. Extra work was required to enable the services and this was addressed as quickly as possible."
A BT spokesman said the pensioner's phone line worked from the date agreed: "We’re sorry for the delay in connecting Mr Burggy’s broadband which was the result of extra engineering work by Openreach engineers.
"We’re pleased that superfast broadband is connected and we’ve compensated Mr Burggy for the delay."
The BT spokesman could not find any evidence of a £195 fee being requested.
