Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: David Nicholson on November 21, 2014, 01:30:33 PM

Title: Venting of spleen!
Post by: David Nicholson on November 21, 2014, 01:30:33 PM
You may have read, in the Seed Ex thread, Maggi's comments re. current malfunctioning of BT's email service. Well it's still there, I haven't been able to either send or receive BT emails all day today so far and intermittently yesterday and judging by what I have gleaned from  searches neither have a large number of other BT customers. I have not been able to get any kind of response from BT (45 minute delay, at least, to getting an answer by phone ) and it's utterly pointless in registering a complaint to one of the BT related Forums that might in any case be not read by BT in any official capacity. For this I'm paying??????
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: Maggi Young on November 21, 2014, 01:44:44 PM
I understand your anger, David - I am feeling the same myself. For someone who is the destination for all the  email for the SRGC site and  the seed exchange - this current failure is a flippin' nightmare.

 I am inclined, privately , to use more robust  language and terms to describe my fury. 
 [attachimg=1]

 So much for "British Telecom"  -  I would probably have a wider access to the world using a one legged , one winged stuffed carrier  pigeon.
[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: Mark Griffiths on November 21, 2014, 02:00:34 PM
I work for BT.

I'll get me coat....
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: David Nicholson on November 21, 2014, 02:22:53 PM
I work for BT.

I'll get me coat....

Purely institutional hatred Mark, nothing personal, I've been at the red meat again! Luckily all my SRGC advertising stuff I do on my g.mail address. Its the utter absence of any useful information from BT to consumers about the problem (having said that it would be a waste of time them trying to email us ::)  ) that galls me.
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: Maggi Young on November 21, 2014, 02:31:13 PM
I work for BT.

I'll get me coat....

 Aww, bless, you have my sympathy, Mark.  I hope they're better at paying their staff than they are at this stuff!!  ;D

Just so frustrating when so many members are trying to get in touch.
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: David Nicholson on November 21, 2014, 02:49:42 PM
Just had through a test email I sent myself at 12.05 but not able to send now. Message on screen "Sending of password did not succeed. Mail Server mail.btinternet.com responded: internal server error IS6532 "

Some months ago I got an email from BT advising me that they were working towards moving me from the Yahoo based BT email service to an alternative provider and listing things I needed to do in preparation. All of these I did but as far as I know my service still comes from Yahoo. My current broadband contract with BT doesn't end until April but as soon as I can I shall be looking for an alternative ISP. Talk Talk tells me that they operate their own email service.
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: Peter Maguire on November 21, 2014, 03:14:06 PM
David,
I have to say that I'm also with BT and have had no problems for some time. The emails are working ok both this morning and just now - I hope that doesn't sound too smug!  ::)

I had a problem last year with my emails for a couple of weeks, see this thread:
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=10952.105 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=10952.105)
The problem eventually went away of its own accord, and I suspect that they periodically carry out upgrades on their servers (I'm guessing here incidentally....) in preparation for their move away from the BT Yahoo interface that they keep flagging up on their website. Don't hold your breath over this, I was wondering earlier this week whether it was ever going to happen, and I see that in my post from last year it was probably imminent then, so at a guess it's been going to happen 'later this year' for at least eighteen months!  :o
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: Palustris on November 21, 2014, 03:26:18 PM
Perhaps connected, but Yahoo mail has been down since lunch time today too!
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: Alan_b on November 21, 2014, 03:53:50 PM
BT are undergoing a 'messy divorce' with Yahoo.  But their new email provider has not proved to offer a very reliable service so far.  And Yahoo were having problems yesterday.

If you access your BT email by going to a Yahoo web site, don't.  Instead, go to http://home.bt.com (http://home.bt.com) and click on the email link at the top right of the page. 
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: Maggi Young on November 21, 2014, 03:55:34 PM
I tweeted in frustration to  "@BTCare   - mercy! There's been a reply - tho' if it is truly from BT I don't know!

BT ‏@BTCare
Sorry if you're still having problems sending & receiving with BT Yahoo email. The problem is intermittent but we're working to fix asap

The Scottish Rock ‏@ScottishRockGC
@BTCare It is only "intermittent" in that when it does work it works briefly- mostly it is OFF. Diabolical service at very busy time for all

- I was about to post this, half an hour ago, when my broadband failed altogether.  Sigh!

BT ‏@BTCare
@ScottishRockGC What issues are you having? I can help.


The Scottish Rock ‏@ScottishRockGC @BTCare  That would be good! Email is neither coming nor going - I'm in Aberdeen but same problems in Devon etc etc - so lot of problems



------watch this space, eh?  Quite how anyone could imagine they could diagnose or advise on a nationwide technical issue from a 140character tweet is beyond me!
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: Maggi Young on November 21, 2014, 03:56:47 PM
  Instead, go to http://home.bt.com (http://home.bt.com) and click on the email link at the top right of the page. 
That's what I've been doing..... still doesn't work half the time. 
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: Alan_b on November 21, 2014, 04:00:56 PM
No Maggi, I wasn't suggesting that it would.  But it should be more reliable in the long term as BT move people over to their new provider.
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: David Nicholson on November 21, 2014, 04:11:39 PM
Sent and received a test email five minutes ago.

The alternative of using the email Link from BT.com hasn't been working anyway even if you could put up with all the junk and advertising on that Site. That's exactly why I always use Thunderbird.
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: Mark Griffiths on November 21, 2014, 04:31:21 PM
David, really no offence. I've worked for them for over 30 yrs and I've seen alot in that time. I can understand people's frustration. I went through some horrendous and very upsetting stuff as a BT customer after my second wife died suddenly.

My father on the other hand sent an e-mail to the CEO on a Sunday and got a reply in about 30 mins signed by the CEO. My father responded jokingly calling into question it was the CEO but apparently it was.

I'm using his now patented technique and we have the CEO from Thames water coming over to work out why the drains smell a bit funny and the Marketing Director of Southern electric is popping in to change a light bulb on the landing.
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: Maggi Young on November 21, 2014, 04:42:14 PM

I'm using his now patented technique and we have the CEO from Thames water coming over to work out why the drains smell a bit funny and the Marketing Director of Southern electric is popping in to change a light bulb on the landing.
  SO funny! Having a good giggle at that -  it is often said that  approaching a the CEO direct is the best way to get a problem solved- congratulations on being able to discover the direct contact details for your soon to be visiting executives! Most of the blighters are better hidden than the average Spy!
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: Maggi Young on November 21, 2014, 05:13:03 PM
Another tweet to us from BTCare :

BT ‏@BTCare 23m23 minutes ago

@ScottishRockGC Apologies to all BT Yahoo email customers having difficulty logging & sending/ receiving mail. Yahoo are working to resolve

Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: David Nicholson on November 21, 2014, 06:09:51 PM

I'm using his now patented technique and we have the CEO from Thames water coming over to work out why the drains smell a bit funny and the Marketing Director of Southern electric is popping in to change a light bulb on the landing.

 ;D ;D ;D

Suppose, if either of them hurt their thumb you could call my namesake from the NHS to pop round with a plaster?
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: Graeme on November 21, 2014, 06:21:47 PM
BT are having ongoing issues with their e-mail following the changes from yahoo - to be honest on a basic infrastructure basis its making them look like a bunch of amateurs (which they are) I have sent a 10 page e-mail to their technical department outlining all the current difficulties I am having with their web servers.  Too be honest I am going to vote with my feet after Christmas and move to another ISP, its just such a pain. 

The biggest difficulty for me is that they have deleted all the filtering that I set up which moved e-mails into certain folders - the spam filter they have now is also next to useless.

I am also still in dispute with their legal department over the day they thought it would be a good idea to nail a new cable across the front of my property - without informing me first - their legal department didn't seem to understand the concepts of trespass and criminal damage - but they *loody well understand the legal concepts now....................

And for Maggi when dealing with them - just think about the piece of Amiga software which opening screen was pink - and contained this statement - "what are the similarities between BT and a flamingo - they can both stick their bills up their (and I will let your imagination fill in the rest)"
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: johnstephen29 on November 21, 2014, 06:57:39 PM
I felt that way too Graeme so I kicked them into touch and went with sky, couldn't be happier.
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: johnralphcarpenter on November 21, 2014, 07:04:48 PM
John Lewis broadband and phone are pretty good.
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: David Nicholson on November 21, 2014, 07:21:39 PM
I felt that way too Graeme so I kicked them into touch and went with sky, ...............

............... who get their email service from Yahoo who are the root cause of the problem we are all having today!
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: David Nicholson on November 21, 2014, 07:26:46 PM
John Lewis broadband and phone are pretty good.

not very competitive though?
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: David Nicholson on November 21, 2014, 07:28:22 PM
............................I am also still in dispute with their legal department over the day they thought it would be a good idea to nail a new cable across the front of my property - without informing me first - their legal department didn't seem to understand the concepts of trespass and criminal damage - but they *loody well understand the legal concepts now....................

And for Maggi when dealing with them - just think about the piece of Amiga software which opening screen was pink - and contained this statement - "what are the similarities between BT and a flamingo - they can both stick their bills up their (and I will let your imagination fill in the rest)"

That's my boy ;D
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: johnralphcarpenter on November 21, 2014, 08:29:07 PM
not very competitive though?
Don't know. They claim to be never knowingly undersold, but you would have to do a comparison. The service is provided by PlusNet, who are based in Yorkshire so that should appeal!
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: David Nicholson on November 22, 2014, 08:44:46 AM
All good things................................... ;D
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: Neil on November 22, 2014, 08:47:19 AM
Plus Net are part of BT.
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: David Nicholson on November 22, 2014, 09:31:39 AM
Not so good things............................... >:(
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: Tony Willis on November 22, 2014, 10:05:35 AM
not very competitive though?

Paying for something that does not work seems more expensive to me.

I have Virgin and it isexcellent.
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: johnralphcarpenter on November 22, 2014, 10:34:33 AM
Plus Net are part of BT.
Acquired by BT in 2007 but operated as a separate company. John Lewis are very jealous of their reputation so would not partner with a service that does not work. We haven't had many problems - the occasional drop-out which is quickly restored; and there are 7km of copper wire between us and the street cabinet.
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: art600 on November 22, 2014, 11:06:11 AM
I understand your anger, David - I am feeling the same myself. For someone who is the destination for all the  email for the SRGC site and  the seed exchange - this current failure is a flippin' nightmare.

 I am inclined, privately , to use more robust  language and terms to describe my fury. 
  (Attachment Link)

 So much for "British Telecom"  -  I would probably have a wider access to the world using a one legged , one winged stuffed carrier  pigeon.
(Attachment Link)

Maggi

Where can I get the irate Tony Blair caricature   :) ;D :)


Once transferred from Yahoo my BT service has been almost 100%  Like free BT Sport with my package and would not return to SKY who are very expensive.
Cannot get Virgin, but might consider them when available.
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: David Nicholson on November 22, 2014, 02:31:54 PM
Plus Net are part of BT.

and Plus Net provides John Lewis's broadband service I understand. Almost incestuous ain't it.
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: johnstephen29 on November 22, 2014, 05:31:13 PM
Hi David that is true, but sky and yahoo aren't splitting up like them and bt are so everything is ok. Sorry mate.
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: Pennine Wanderer on November 23, 2014, 11:32:17 AM
I have been a customer of Plusnet for many years now and have been happy with them.  Their customer service is excellent and are always happy to help if you have a problem. I have only lost my internet access twice and one of the times was not their fault.  I have never had problems with email. They are amenable to a bit of haggling when your contract is due for renewal.
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: David Nicholson on November 24, 2014, 03:29:51 PM
Intermittent BT email problems again today >:(
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: Maggi Young on November 24, 2014, 03:41:40 PM
Yes, here too, David. Makes replying to members' queries very hard.

Mind you, we have not have much trouble over the years in comparison with the tales of problems I have heard from friends about  any number of other suppliers so I think things could be worse. :-\

It really doesn't help that this is happening during he Seed Exchange though.  *sigh* ::)
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: brianw on November 24, 2014, 07:32:51 PM
Lost my email this evening, BT. Could be old browser IE so loaded Firefox.

Worked immediately :-) But where are my old Favorites with FF? Imported everything I thought. I have the old favorites bar but not the equivalent of the very long dropdown from the LHS of IE. Must be here somewhere, I hope.
Noticed the Forum emails since last visit was empty.;-(
Title: Re: Venting of spleen!
Post by: Graeme on November 24, 2014, 09:07:58 PM
Lost my email this evening, BT. Could be old browser IE so loaded Firefox.

Worked immediately :-) But where are my old Favorites with FF? Imported everything I thought. I have the old favorites bar but not the equivalent of the very long dropdown from the LHS of IE. Must be here somewhere, I hope.
Noticed the Forum emails since last visit was empty.;-(
Firefox all the way - if you change machines regularly have a look at mozbackup - moves everything including your saved passwords - etc.    - loads of addons 
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