BT switched me over to a 数字表示式の landline... and the experience makes me 恐れる for the 年輩の

When there was a fault on my line several months before my 現在の BT debacle, I was told that it would be in my 利益/興味s to 溝へはまらせる/不時着する the old system and switch to 数字表示式の telephoning.

There would be a one-off 告発(する),告訴(する)/料金 (I forget how much) to receive two new handsets, but the lines would be clearer and there’d be いっそう少なく chance of faults ‘going 今後’, said a man whom I assumed was in the faults department but 明確に was in sales.

‘I’d rather keep it simple and just have the fault dealt with,’ I told him.

Bad call: Writer Mark Palmer was switched over to a new digital landline after his old line developed a fault

Bad call: Writer 示す Palmer was switched over to a new 数字表示式の landline after his old line developed a fault

Then, to my surprise, some handsets arrived 解放する/自由な of 告発(する),告訴(する)/料金 and a time-wasting merry-go-一連の会議、交渉/完成する began ― which was anything but merry.

I had been roped in to BT’s 数字表示式の rollout, which is 目的(とする)ing to switch ten million 世帯s from 伝統的な landlines to a 数字表示式の 網状組織 which relies on the internet.

If you hadn’t heard, the 計画(する) is to switch the entire country ― house by house ― off the old 巡査 landline 網状組織 in the coming years and 引き裂く out all the old cables.

いわゆる 数字表示式の 発言する/表明する is all about ‘未来-proofing’ the landline in the 数字表示式の age, or so BT (人命などを)奪う,主張するs.?

But as Money Mail 報告(する)/憶測d last week, the rollout has been beset with problems ― and has left many homeowners baffled and 削減(する) off. I’m の中で them.

すぐに after receiving the handsets, I was sent the first of a 一連の breezy emails from BT. ‘Your service is good to go,’ it chirped.

But, of course, it wasn’t good to go ― my landline wasn’t working at all.

And the 残り/休憩(する) of the message made little sense, banging on about my 改善するd broadband 関係 when all I 手配中の,お尋ね者 to do was make and receive telephone calls from the landline for which I am 告発(する),告訴(する)/料金d on a 月毎の basis.?

This is 特に important because the 動きやすい phone signal where I live is hopeless and my wife needs to speak daily to her 年輩の mother in a Norfolk care home.

I never asked to 移行 (their word not 地雷 ― but depressingly 負担d all the same) from having a normal telephone line to a 数字表示式の one.?

There was no choice, but this didn’t stop BT telling me how ‘exciting’ it was going to be. Over the next few weeks I received a 一連の emails, but 非,不,無 were helpful.?

At one point, I was advised that the problem might 井戸/弁護士席 be my ‘中心’, which in old money means my router.

A new one would be sent out. Just plug it in and (here we are again) you’ll be ‘good to go’.

I wasn’t. My landline worked 断続的に and would suddenly 削減(する) off. When I complained, I was told that an engineer from Openreach would be in touch to arrange a visit.

And, knock me 負かす/撃墜する with the proverbial feather, he did indeed make 接触する and turned up on the 任命するd day.

I made him a celebratory cuppa and we 株d a plate of digestive 薄焼きパン/素焼陶器s. He was an engaging young man who knew his stuff.

But could he get the 数字表示式の line up and running? No. So I’m still left without a landline.

As I 嫌疑者,容疑者/疑うd, there was 絶対 nothing wrong with my 存在するing 中心 ― so I 押すd the new one in a cupboard and threw away the box it (機の)カム in.

Bad move. I am now the 受取人 of emails telling me that if I do not send 支援する the new 中心 by a 確かな date there’ll be trouble.

‘Under our service 協定, a 告発(する),告訴(する)/料金 will be 適用するd if the 道具 isn’t returned,’ I have been 警告するd. The 告発(する),告訴(する)/料金? £50.

I have no 疑問 that I shall be 罰金d for not returning quickly enough a piece of 器具/備品 I never asked for in the first place.

On hold:?BT and Virgin Media O2 have both confirmed that they will ‘pause’ the rollout of digital phones

On 持つ/拘留する:?BT and Virgin マスコミ O2 have both 確認するd that they will ‘pause’ the rollout of 数字表示式の phones

Fortunately, I am not 扶養家族 on a landline ― but many 年輩の and 攻撃を受けやすい people are.

And so it’s 権利 that the 科学(工学)技術 長官 Michelle Donelan has this week told telecom companies to 支援する off.

BT and Virgin マスコミ O2 have both 確認するd that they will ‘pause’ the rollout of 数字表示式の phones, not least because nearly two million people rely on ‘telecare’ services, whereby they can 活動させる/戦時編成する personal alarms in the event of an 緊急.

Or, sadly, find that t hey cannot 活動させる/戦時編成する these services because of 機能不全ing 数字表示式の systems, often 原因(となる)d by the internet dropping out.

Worryingly, 大臣s said on Monday they have been 警報d to ‘serious 出来事/事件s’ of telecare 装置s failing ‘にもかかわらず the 保証/確信s that we were given by communications 操作者s’.

But the whole experience has left me 狼狽d at how laborious this all is. And I dread to think how older, more 壊れやすい, people are 対処するing with the switch.

I have wasted hours trying to get through to BT on the phone. My most 最近の call lasted a mere 20 minutes ― but at least some 進歩 was made.

We 設立するd that I need a booster 装置 because the 中心 is too far from the phone ― and one has duly arrived. ‘Just follow the 指示/教授/教育s and you’ll be good to go,’ said the faults man, or words to that 影響.

But the 指示/教授/教育s look 複雑にするd and I’m yet to 格闘する with them. Certainly, for some people, they would be 脅迫してさせるing.

科学(工学)技術 should be our servant, not our master. But BT doesn’t get this. Its 高度に paid (n)役員/(a)執行力のあるs think they know what’s best for the 残り/休憩(する) of us.

That’s a tyranny, of sorts. And one that millions of us will have to 耐える as the country’s old landlines are switched off and 取って代わるd by the internet.

Telecoms 巨大(な)s are all the same in my experience. They 約束 to make one’s life easier ― but once they’ve got you and your standing order is active, it’s a different story.

Some of us will remember the 1994 BT スローガン: It’s good to talk. How ironic that sounds now, when the last thing BT wants is to 選ぶ up the phone to talk to 顧客s.

moneymail@dailymail.co.uk

The comments below have not been 穏健なd.

The 見解(をとる)s 表明するd in the contents above are those of our 使用者s and do not やむを得ず 反映する the 見解(をとる)s of MailOnline.

We are no longer 受託するing comments on this article.