the richest man in atherstone

I found out yesterday the the Post Office can provide your home telephone service and after the experience I had yesterday, I'm glad I don't use them.

I popped round to see my mum on my way home from work and she informed me her telephone wasn't working. I had a look and sure enough, there was no dial tone. Obviously my mum couldn't call the Post Office to log a fault, so she asked if I could do it. "No problem," I said and when I got back home I gave them a ring.

After being on hold for 15 minutes, I got through to an advisor and I explained the situation to him. Something along the lines of the following conversation ensued:

PO Rep: "Unfortunately you can't raise a fault on your mum's behalf."

Me: "Why not?"

PO Rep: "It's against the Data Protection Act."

Me: "I work in IT and so I'm pretty familiar with the Data Protection Act. Which part of it stops me logging a fault on my mum's line?"

PO Rep: "It's to do with personal details, so we're not allowed to do it."

Me: "I'm not asking for personal details, I just want to inform you of the fault and raise a call to sort it out."

PO Rep: "Well..er..it's in the terms and conditions."

Me: "What's in the terms and conditions?"

PO Rep: "That only the subscriber can log a fault call."

Me: "But she can't log a fault call - her phone line doesn't work."

PO Rep: "Can she use a mobile?"

Me: "She hasn't got a mobile?"

PO Rep: "Is there a phone box nearby that she can use?"

Me: "Your telling me I've got to tell my mother to go out late in the evening and find a phone box to call you?"

PO Rep: "I'm afraid that's our policy. Your mum will have to call us."

Me: "But she can't, can she? Have you any idea how ridiculous this is?"

PO Rep: "I understand but my hands are tied."

etc. etc.

I've got to hand it to the guy I was speaking to. He was calm and polite throughout the call and sympathised with the situation I was in.

In the end, my mum had to get a friend to pretend to be her to get a fault raised. She's now looking for another telephone provider after encountering the stupidity of the Post Office head-on. My mum's always been a big supporter of the Post Office in the past (much to my disapproval as their offers are almost always uncompetitive), but I think that she's finally seen the light and the Post Office have lost a very good customer.