Mix-up over phone reconnections

Some phone lines in Kintbury and Hamstead Marshall have been reconnected, but to the wrong homes

SOME residents in Kintbury and Hamstead Marshall have finally got telephone lines again – but not necessarily their own.

About 475 individuals and businesses have experienced problems with their phone lines and internet connections in the past week, owing to the work of thieves who attempted to cut underground cables on three separate occasions since last Wednesday (May 25) to steal the metal.

BT engineers have been working around the clock to try and restore services to those people affected and as of yesterday (Wednesday), more than 300 faults were still outstanding, meaning some people had been reconnected.

However, some phone lines have been reconnected to the wrong homes, according to Hamstead Marshall resident Moira Romer.

She said: “I know of several crossed lines – I have a phone connected to my house but the number belongs to a family in Kintbury.

“It is such a muddle and the only help BT gives is from far away in India where the help line goes to.”

“If I have been given this wrong number and am taking calls for a lady in Kintbury, I wonder who is taking my calls and has my number connected to their home. I am worried that there could be a security problem with all of this.”

BT spokesman, Paul Hayward, apologised on behalf of the company and said that this was unfortunate but sometimes does happen, adding that engineers were working under difficult circumstances.

He said anyone affected by incorrect reconnections should contact their provider to try and rectify the situation.

Update:

As of 12.45pm today (Thursday), BT is reporting that it still has about 70 reported faults left to clear.