I had to call BT to get my phone line repaired in December, they told me that if the problem was with BT equipment then I would not be charged but if the problem lay with my own equipment then there would be a fee.
The BT phone line enters my property upstairs through the frame of the stair window and when BT fitted my line they joined the outside cable to an indoor cable with some sort of "junction box" and ran the cable downstairs to a cupboard where they fitted the main BT box. (The first available box that I can plug a phone into)
The BT engineer arrived and after about half an hour said he had found two faults, one was at the "junction box" where the line enters my property he said that the problem was dampness that had over 20 years or so has coroded the wiring inside the box. The second fault was at the main BT box inside my premises (downstairs) he didn't mention to me what the problem was with this box, and he left.
This morning I got my BT phone bill in and they have charged me £184 for repairs that IMO are BT's responsibility and not mine.
I phoned them up and they said that as there was a problem with dampness at the "junction box" then it is my responsibility.
I argued that there is no more a problem with dampness at the "junction box" than there would be at any other house in the country, my house isn't damp but condensation is normal near a window, I also suggested that the "junction box" should not have been situated on a window-sill if it was not completely water tight, therefore it was not fit for purpose.
I then asked them what the problem was with the main BT box? and they said that they had no record that the BT engineer had changed this box (which he definately did) and they said they would investigate and get back to me within 10-12 days.
I just feel that I am being charged for something that should be BT's responsibility. They installed the line around 20 years ago and everything has a shelflife and needs to be replaced or serviced now and again.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Bookmarks