Norman Baker MP Member of Parliament for Lewes constituency
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Contact Norman at:
Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
Email: info
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Local MP slams "unbelievable incompetence" of BT and demands meeting with chairman - BT 'replicates Monty Python Gas Board Sketch'
Local Lib Dem MP, Norman Baker, has slammed BT for what he describes as its totally incompetent and unprofessional management of the installation of phone lines for his new constituency office in Lewes and has demanded a meeting with BT Chairman, Sir Christopher Bland or Chief Executive, Ben Verwaayen to discuss the situation.
The transfer of Mr Baker’s three telephone lines, which was put in train over a month ago on 27th February, has still not been completed. After a month, not only have BT failed to install lines to the new office but they cut off the telephone lines from the old office and, despite requests, even failed to put a divert in place which would enable constituency calls to be re-directed. This means that anyone calling Mr Baker's constituency office simply will have heard a disconnected signal. Now, finally, a fax line has today been installed but the two ISDN telephone lines are still outstanding.
BT’s plethora of excuses for not completing the job has included the claim that the telegraph pole outside the office is not tall enough. Despite this they have managed to install other lines from the same building during the same month in which they have been prevaricating about the work ordered for Mr Baker’s office.
Now Mr Baker, after numerous phone calls to sections of BT, has demanded an urgent meeting with Sir Christopher Bland or Mr Verwaayen to raise the matter.
Commenting on BT, Norman Baker said:
"I cannot believe the sheer incompetence and lack of professionalism of BT. This whole matter has been a shambles from start to finish and bears a stark resemblance to the Monty Python gas board sketch where plenty of people turn up but no-one appears remotely capable of getting anything done. BT has provided a whole succession of promises about when the telephone lines would be up and running, all which have all been broken, and this has severely impaired the ability of my constituency office to work to the standard that we usually do.
"Furthermore, while this is a considerable inconvenience and frustration to my constituency staff, I am also upset that many of my constituents will undoubtedly have been trying to get in touch with me but could not because of this unbelievable mess caused by BT. It is very important to me, as an MP, that I am easily contactable and that if people get in touch they always get as quick a response as possible. I have not been able to download emails for around a fortnight and so have no idea what urgent constituency matters may be waiting for my attention. This whole disastrous saga has meant that I have not been able to provide the standard of service that I aim to and I would like to apologise to those of my constituents who have been affected by this."