Monmouthshire villagers’ anger over ‘dreadful’ service from BT (From Free Press Series)

Monmouthshire villagers’ anger over ‘dreadful’ service from BT

8:30pm Wednesday 13th February 2013 in News

Stephen and Jillian Reads’ phone lines and internet stopped working on Christmas Eve

RESIDENTS in the small Monmouthshire village of Bully Hole Bottom say the service they have received from BT following nearly two months without working phones is ‘dreadful’.

Some residents in the village, near Shirenewton, have been without landlines and internet access for nearly seven weeks. Others had intermittent use of their phones and landlines for more than a month, but have now been restored.

In an area with no mobile phone coverage, residents say the lack of working phones is dangerous and worrying.

Stephen Read, who lives in the village, said: “Our phone lines and internet stopped working on Christmas Eve. It’s just so frustrating. If I want to make a call or send an email, I have to drive into Chepstow. I spent half an hour in a phone box the other day trying to get hold of someone from BT, but it’s all automated.”

“When I have spoken to an actual person, they always say ‘it’ll be fixed in 48 hours’, but it never is.”

His wife, Jillian, added: “There are a lot of older people in the valley and a lot of them live alone. What would happen if they had a fall if they couldn’t ring the emergency servies? It’s dreadful.”

James Edwards owns Bluebell Country Kennels in the village. He said: “Our phone is working now, although our broadband is really slow. Every day we had to go into Chepstow, a 12-mile round trip, to get internet.”

A BT spokesman apologised for the delay, saying engineers had to replace 14 metres of underground ducting and cable along with a junction box, damaged by a third party.

He added: “Engineers have now been able to provide a temporary service to the community and will complete a more permanent repair in the near future.

Anyone still experiencing problems should contact their service provider.”