Surely there is a problem with the way you describe , Chris? Depending on when the "waiting list" is flagged.

If present when there is no (current) Openreach intention to upgrade the cabinet, then it really is waiting for users to leave. Whereupon the one at the top of the list gets the slot.

Assuming the combination of ISPs and their (current or potential) customer requests keeps the list not empty, yours never get a chance.

I can only conclude that the Plusnet admin systems couldn't cope with the occasional need to renew the entry on the list, so they stopped using it.

If of course the cabinet is scheduled for additional capacity the problem doesn't arise. Though is "waiting list" flagged then, or simply an availability date?

Put simply all you can do is check yourself every once in a while. If somebody else cancels their service (ie moves home or switches to virginmedia) then it will become available. Alternatively the capacity at your cabinet may be increased as well in time.

There is no waiting list as such... When a slot becomes available the first customer to see it and order gets it.

In reply to a post by chrisparr:

We don't use the waiting list in the way Bob describes anymore as the timescales can vary hugely from a few days to months.


At point of sale we check if fibre is available, if it's showing as 'waiters list' we wouldn't take an order for fibre at that point but would advise the customer they can sign up to ADSL and then upgrade to FTTC when it does become available.

If we take an order for FTTC and the cab changes to waiters list between signup and when we place the order, we'll let the customer know of their options which are to switch to ADSL until FTTC is available or cancel the order.

Chris,
Thanks for the confirmation - that was what I had guessed might be happening, although it is still frustrating!