Disruption of service...

[Octopus Messiah]

For the last week I have been without broadband. I am still composing my poisoned pen letter to BT's (lack of) customer service. And, because I my phone plan does not allow unlimited downloads, I have basically been offline for a week. During such time I learned 3 things.

1. Wow can you get a lot of writing done without the Destractinator Internet Machine version 2015.0.
2. Social Media doesn't really interact with you when you're not around.
3. My focus has noticeably improved and I've suffered fewer headaches.

I am of two minds on this:

1. We are not psychologically prepared for the so much fractional information relentlessly streaming into our optic nerves, and it's doing us harm both mentally and physiologically. (check Susan Greenfield's show)
2. Unless we're all on the same page as a species, we're going to crash the planet. Therefore this is a necessary, though uncomfortable, phase in our evolution.

Thoughts?

 

[Jason Byrne]

Sitting and writing for a solid eight to twelve hours every day without so much as a glimpse of TV, phone, or internet is a beautiful experience — very cleansing. I churned out a book in about a month and a half, going that way.

I don't know if you're more or less happy, and you don't realize how much research you do when need pops up until you see how many [research gaps] are left behind when you can't just look up that October seventh, 1933 was a

Oh cool! Air France was formed that day, by the merger of Air Orient, Air Union, Compagnie Générale Aéropostale, Compagnie Internationale de Navigation Aérienne (CIDNA) and Société Générale des Transports Aériens (SGTA). And the New York Giants won the world series that day, over the Washington Senators.

Huh. I've never heard of the Washington Senators before — oh. They're the Minnesota Twins, now.

As it happens, the Société Générale des Transports Aériens used exclusively Farman airplanes. Oh, because it was created by the Farman brothers. I wonder what that kind of plane looks like. Ah.


It was a Saturday, by the way.

 

[Alistair Roberts]

And they even had some Farman biplane bombers going into WW 2!! So, yes....

 

[Stephen Drake]

Huh. I've never heard of the Washington Senators before — oh. They're the Minnesota Twins, now.

I have, but then I'm old.

 

[Octopus Messiah]

stop lernin' me things! I aints gots time fer no lernin!

 

[Jason Byrne]

stop lernin' me things! I aints gots time fer no lernin!

Ah — I didn't know you were a fellow Yank, Ian!

 

[Octopus Messiah]

Ah — I didn't know you were a fellow Yank, Ian!

Yah, I've been here, lessee, 15 years all told. Came to write and publish the first book, stayed for two then this mad, half-tattooed English girl needed to replace a signed copy for a mutual friend and next thing you know... 10th wedding anniversary tomorrow. Let's see, 1 is paper, then it goes feather, ice-pick, laundry-- shit, I better google. Thank th'lord for broadband eh?
(10 is tin-- TIN? Good thing she likes baked beans...)

 

[Katie-Ellen]

I liked that Susan Greenfield. I thought she had that right. Our children need to learn how to sit still and concentrate, and to tolerate boredom and maybe even find ways to turn it into something. So do we.

 

[Jason Byrne]

Yah, I've been here, lessee, 15 years all told. Came to write and publish the first book, stayed for two then this mad, half-tattooed English girl needed to replace a signed copy for a mutual friend and next thing you know... 10th wedding anniversary tomorrow. Let's see, 1 is paper, then it goes feather, ice-pick, laundry-- shit, I better google. Thank th'lord for broadband eh?
(10 is tin-- TIN? Good thing she likes baked beans...)

That, or this sculpture of a violinist:

 

[Octopus Messiah]

That's quite good. If she didn't hate the violin I'd ask how much.

 

[Jason Byrne]

That's quite good. If she didn't hate the violin I'd ask how much.

You know, I didn't look for a price — now I'm curious. Huh. In the $220 (£144) range.

Then I should say it is the perfect gift. But then, I always try to find the most unfathomably esoteric and bizarre a gift I can possibly find. The real gift is that shocked and slightly uneasy feeling of "where the hell did he dredge this thing up?"

 

[Stephen Drake]

You know, I didn't look for a price — now I'm curious. Huh. In the $220 (£144) range.

Then I should say it is the perfect gift. But then, I always try to find the most unfathomably esoteric and bizarre a gift I can possibly find. The real gift is that shocked and slightly uneasy feeling of "where the hell did he dredge this thing up?"

Thank you, @Jason Byrne for the good laugh this morning! I really appreciate it!

 

[Jason Byrne]

Thank you, @Jason Byrne for the good laugh this morning! I really appreciate it!

Haha, yay!

My wife does it too. She once knocked on the door and ran off, and I opened it to find a sheet metal sculpture of a chicken standing outside, staring back at me.

 

[Carol Rose]

No Internet for a week???? Not even on the iPhone???? Kill me now.

 

[Marc Joan]

For the last week I have been without broadband. I am still composing my poisoned pen letter to BT's (lack of) customer service. And, because I my phone plan does not allow unlimited downloads, I have basically been offline for a week. During such time I learned 3 things.

1. Wow can you get a lot of writing done without the Destractinator Internet Machine version 2015.0.
2. Social Media doesn't really interact with you when you're not around.
3. My focus has noticeably improved and I've suffered fewer headaches.

I am of two minds on this:

1. We are not psychologically prepared for the so much fractional information relentlessly streaming into our optic nerves, and it's doing us harm both mentally and physiologically. (check Susan Greenfield's show)
2. Unless we're all on the same page as a species, we're going to crash the planet. Therefore this is a necessary, though uncomfortable, phase in our evolution.

Thoughts?
View attachment 528

BT is the pits, worst company in the world. Don't start me. Am on Plusnet now who are fantastic. And yes, they are owned by BT. It makes no sense. But Plusnet works, and BT doesn't.

 

[Carol Rose]

Here you go.

http://www.the-wedding-anniversary-site.com/wedding-anniversary-gift-list.html

 

[Octopus Messiah]

Here you go.

http://www.the-wedding-anniversary-site.com/wedding-anniversary-gift-list.html

An aluminum foil penguin and some out-of-season daffs it is! Thanks for that.
My wife is one lucky woman.

 

[Octopus Messiah]

No Internet for a week???? Not even on the iPhone???? Kill me now.

One of the things BT said when I berated them for 1) no service 2) them telling me it would clear in a couple of days 3) them telling me the problem was sorted when 4) still no service then saying 5) they couldn't get anyone out until the following week was that I could get free wifi on my phone just go to BT_FREE_FON267 and enter my contact number password etc. Only the signal was so weak I couldn't pick it up. To which they said: for help for finding a signal go to blahblahblah.com. So less kill me now, more murder-suicide.

 

[Stephen Drake]

No Internet for a week???? Not even on the iPhone???? Kill me now.

I agree! No internet means I don't get to talk to all my friends...

 

[Nicole Wilson]

I can say that just in the three weeks of my new job where there's no cell internet service and no wifi, I have gotten a lot of work done. Ridiculous. And the nights when my hubby is home, I turn my phone on silent and flip it over so I can't see the notification light and I get a LOT of writing done. It is wonderful. My word count has jumped to about 1000 words a night on weekdays and 1500/day on weekends.

 

[Alistair Roberts]

BT didn't impress me when I was there, no guarantee of their own equipment. They have no concept of the word 'service', apart from the level "poor"! But I confess avoiding the net and TV, does help word production

 

[James Marinero]

@Octopus Messiah - 'Distractinator' says it all - well nearly. Just Another Excuse Not To Write. I have to cut myself off to write, so www and social media limited to 3 times a day - breakfast, lunch and supper. Except for www research - then I find something really interesting and get distractinated.

 

[Octopus Messiah]

[QUOTE=" Just Another Excuse Not To Write.[/QUOTE]
I need to cultivate your discipline, definitely better for writing as well as sleep. Just finished a big project (for which it was actually great to have the Distractinator malfunctioning-- not that I'd tell that to BT) so now it's all about LAD promo-mode, jack my eyeballs into the mainframe. Twatter, faceberk, instagrab, the Kaliyuga "when even the prophets cannot be heard above the fray"
Unless, you know, I get distracted by the pleasures of 3-D reality...

 

[James Marinero]

[QUOTE=" Just Another Excuse Not To Write.

Unless, you know, I get distracted by the pleasures of 3-D reality...[/QUOTE]

You sound like a William Gibson fan!

 

[Octopus Messiah]

And for those of you who wish to join me in bashing my head against the wall:, please enjoy the following livechat with BT (total elapsed time 71 min):

Aneesh Mattahil: I am sorry to hear that you were without services for so many days

Aneesh Mattahil: Please give me a moment to check this for you

Aneesh Mattahil: I checked the account and I can see that the fault is still open on the account.

Aneesh Mattahil: As we are from the billing enquiry team, I will transfer this chat to the fault team. They will be able to assist you further regarding the fault and how to close it. Once the fault is closed, we can apply rental rebate. Can I go ahead and transfer the chat ?

Aneesh Mattahil has disconnected.

Sagnik Bag: Hello. I'm Sagnik Bag.Thanks for that information, I'll check it and get back to you in a moment.

Ian Winn: thank you, I am reading

Sagnik Bag: hi Iam

Ian Winn: I would like BT to address my complaint. I was without service, BT refused to send an engineer, threatened me with £129 service charge if the fault was on my property-- which it wasn't and I'm wondering what type of recompense I can expect. I am very unhappy not with you Sagnik, I'm sure you're a wonderful person, but with your company.

Ian Winn: Why have I not been contacted and offered compensation? I also have services I pay for which require broadband. And there is no e-mail address available for me to send my full complaint, only an address to send a hard copy. BT is clearly trying to distance itself from its customers. Please tell me where I can send my full complaint.

Sagnik Bag: i really apologise that you have to complaint , you can report your complaint with me , i can take your complaint and help it get sorted

Ian Winn: please send me the e-mail address to customer service in the UK

Ian Winn: I need to contact someone in management personally with my letter

Sagnik Bag: ok

Ian Winn: thank you!

Ian Winn: still waiting. all I need is an e-mail address here please

Ian Winn: It says on your website: At BT our focus is on excellent customer service

Ian Winn: show me please

Sagnik Bag: i am so sorry for the delay

Sagnik Bag: Ian

Sagnik Bag: i have spoken about your request and have arranged a call back for you from my manager between 2PM and 4 PM today

Sagnik Bag: is that okay ?

Ian Winn: again, please send me an e-mail address where I can send my complaint. The only thing on the BT website is an address in Durham. Please give me your managers e-mail address. Why is this so hard?

Sagnik Bag: ok

Ian Winn: e-mail please!

Sagnik Bag: i am so sorry for the experience let me get you connected to my manager for further support

Sanjoy Kumar : Hello. I'm Sanjoy Kumar .Thanks for that information, I'll check it and get back to you in a moment.

Sagnik Bag has left the chat.

Ian Winn: OMG all I'm asking for is an e-mail address to a customer service manager in the UK. You have this information. I am a customer requesting it. I am asking nicely. Again, why is this so hard. Please give me an e-mail address where I can send my full complaint. This conversation is a waste of time for both of us.

Sanjoy Kumar : Hi there I am sorry but there is no e-mail address.

Ian Winn: Respectfully Sanjoy: yes there is. You have a manager and he or she has an e-mail address. You are just not giving it to me. These are facts.

Sanjoy Kumar : Let me call you please.

Ian Winn: e-mail address please

Sanjoy Kumar : There is none sorry but I can address your complaint.

Sanjoy Kumar : Please give me a chance.

Ian Winn: You expect me to believe that the customer service manager of a BROADBAND SUPPLIER does not have an e-mail address? There is none? Come on, Sanjay, I AM giving you a chance.

We’ve lost the connection between you and BT Chat. Please give us a moment to try to connect you again.

We’ll keep trying to reconnect you in the next 480 seconds.

Connection resumed.

Sanjoy Kumar : I am sorry again I do not have any e-mail address to share with you.

Ian Winn: Great. What can you offer me by way of compensation. I have been without broadband and all associated services for 6 days, been threatened with fees, received text saying my problem had been sorted when it hadn't, was denied an engineer because a fault had occurred "in my area" when none of my neighbors were affected, then was told my cable had been knocked out by another engineer. No compensation has been offered, I have not been contacted or apologized to and now I have written a formal letter of complaint and have no-where to send it except an address in Durham. And now I have been in live chat with you fine people for 45 min. What can BT do for me Sanjoy? Hard numbers.

Sanjoy Kumar : I can give you line rental back for broadband for the period the broadband was not working.

Ian Winn: That's it? And the phone being down. And me not being able to call my mother and wish her a safe trip? And my time? And the other services that were disrupted? And the fact my mobile phone bill will be higher as a result of not having wifi in the home? And this depressing conversation (though again, I'm sure you're a lovely person). 6 days line rental? Sanjoy, I was repleatedly lied to-- surely you can do better!

Sanjoy Kumar : yes for both you will get the line rental back. Can I please call you and explain ?

Ian Winn: Ah but Sanjoy, I don't want an explanation. Respectfully, I am asking for appropriate compensation that not only acknowledges the disruption of service but all the hassle that goes along with it: the being told my service was fixed when it was not. The threat of fees if the fault was on my property which it wasn't. The endless transfers between departments. And now this lengthy, time-consuming conversation which began with a simple request for an e-mail address. I'm afraid the only other way to go is a formal letter to company headquarters and to social media. Why, Sanjoy, why?

Sanjoy Kumar : Please tell what do you want me to do if is rental rebate then I will process it now.

Ian Winn: Rental rebate for 6 days is literally the least you can do. And BT (through you) is only prepared to do that if I initiate the conversation, as I have done here, is that correct? What I *want* is the e-mail address of a customer service rep in the UK. All you, Sanjoy, can offer me is a rental rebate for 6 days-- is that correct?

Ian Winn: Is that the best you can do? Yes or no please.

Sanjoy Kumar : As per the call we have agreed you will get £ 29.65 taken everything into consideration.

Sanjoy Kumar : Thanks

Ian Winn: Thank you for doing the best you can. You sounded really tired on the phone. I hope the rest of your day goes better. Cheers!

Sanjoy Kumar: Bye

 

[Marc Joan]

This is absolutely nothing compared to the BT-related trials and tribulations that I have suffered. I can only repeat: change to Plusnet. Do it today. You will never, ever get any joy from BT. But Plusnet are great. They proactively sent me some money as compensation for an issue I wasn't even aware of. Yes, without me asking. And I have never, ever had any service interruptions with them. So just change.

 

[Carol Rose]

Good grief. And I thought Comcast customer service here in the USA was bad. You win.

 

[Stephen Drake]

Good grief. And I thought Comcast customer service here in the USA was bad. You win.

I agree, @Carol Rose !

 

[Alistair Roberts]

Gees Ian, sounds just like Telstra in Australia, all run through Indian call centres, although I think BT might actually be worse. Have you any hair left??

 

[Octopus Messiah]

Gees Ian, sounds just like Telstra in Australia, all run through Indian call centres, although I think BT might actually be worse. Have you any hair left??

Thanks all. No. I have no hair left. Luckily, I had none to begin with.
What amazes/astonishes/bewilders me is that there's no e-mail address to send my letter? REALLY? A broadband provider? Surely I must be missing something here... no, no, I actually have to PRINT out my letter and mail it to Durham. Which I *&^%ing did btw. Will see what happens.
Oh and Marc Joan: The cost of early termination is *only* £176!