Stay away from BT

And for that matter any ISP using BT's network.. yeah I know, cable need to start rolling out in more area's like mine for instance. Anyway, spreading the word on all DSL forums, I'm tired of people being bullied by BT.

My "normal" phone line is losing dial-tone and broadband connects when it feels like it. This has been an ongoing issue with both BT and BT Broadband, both tending to pass the buck to each other. At first I thought it was the 6.2.2.6 firmware update, but I'm now beginning to think that BT's line network is falling apart.

I've tried everything, 3 routers, different phones, connecting direct to the test socket with and without filters.. and still, randomly (but oddly mainly on a Sunday?!) the dial tone goes.

It gets worse, sometimes you need to have the phone off the hook to even get the hub to establish a broadband connection, even before you ever get around to then establishing an Internet connection. Then, when it finally does connect I'm presenting with speeds as fast as 66 kbps, yes, that fast!

Considering all this, and the fact for 4 years I was on a stable 2.2Mb connection with matching throughput speeds, and when Up-to 8Mb arrived I was happy with my 5Mb throughput, I now have to endure this. What? my money not good enough?

So, on the touchy subject of money, they have the audacity to still be changing me for a random phone line and random Internet connection that has failed to connect, and when it does fails to break past 1.8Mb throughput (that was the record and lasted a pathetic 3 hours, at the end of which is disconnected). Then I'm back to sub 200kbps throughput.

Anyway, needed to rant, because BT are seriously taking me to the cleaners.

You clearly have a problem with your phone line, just report it to them to get it mended and hopefully when Snarty has been appeased the entire nation can resume using BT goods.

Ahh yes. Report it to them.

Ok, I should add, this has been an ongoing issue for over 6 weeks now, with me reporting it many times. This will be engineer number 5 coming out to tell me everything is ok internally. I've spent a small fortune trying to tell people in India it's not my equipment or wiring inside my house, and have spent many hours speaking with BT faults team.

I wouldn't be so annoyed if this wasn't 6 weeks later.

It may be worth using BTs voice fault reporting from a mobile WHEN you have lost dial tone. The fault report automatically tests the line. Hopefully their system will notice something useful about the fault. Then you have a better stick to beat them with.

From other past posts on here - and since your end has been checked a lot - the most likely problems are I think:
a) BT cable fault - wind or rain depending on where the problem is. If its not always sundays then check the weather for a consitent pattern.
b) Card at exchange - some people have had dodgy endpoints at the exchange.
c) Noise from another line near you - either at your end of exchange. This might explain the timing if you neighbour uses their line mainly on sundays.

We had a great voice fault before xmas where our line had come into contact with someone elses. When I dailed a number we made two calls at once! What was funny was actually having to calls to two of BTs fault reporting agents at the same time! The second one picked up the call during the first call, and wanted to know what was going on. Sure convinced the first agent though!