SkyBroadbanned.com

Update - 02-04-2007: Connected...

Over the weekend I got back online. To be (no pun intended) more specific got online with Be, the 24mb broadband company:

So, after 140 days in the dry lustless valley of darkness I can now see the light.

There was however, a small problem which can be detailed here and here on my blog. A very upsetting setback, but I should be over it soon.

Update - 21-03-2007: The end is nigh!

Its 17:10 and I just called BT to confirm that the tags on my line are gone. I was happily informed that yes, indeed, after 131 days the tags are now gone!

I also confirmed that the line is free by using UKFSNs broadband line checker, it gave me this wonderful message:

Good News! I can now order a brand new ADSL service.

I will keep the counter on this site running until I physically can get online using my line, hopefully this will be soon...

Update - 20-03-2007: B-Day?

Today is the day my tags should be removed so I gave BT a few hours to wake up and called them at 10:30 (08001690934).

A young lady named Natalie informed me that yes, indeed, I had tag removal scheduled for today BUT it would take at least 48 hours before my line was freed.

Hopefully this is a small bump on the road to recovery.

Update - 19-03-2007: I received this email from a couple in a similar situation to me:

Kathryn & Andy have also been without broadband for almost 6 weeks, again, this is because of Sky:

Hi Michael

Just read your website - you have our full sympathy. 

We're just coming up for 6 weeks without broadband after switching from BT.  Again, a perfectly good service but we stupidly thought that we might as well save money & switch to Sky. What a mistake!

We're trying to switch back to BT, we're past caring about the cost, just want our broadband back!

We've spent hours & hours on the phone to Sky, being transferred between different departments, being given conflicting advice with our patience being tried to new limits each time.

Yesterday one of the 6 different people we spoke to at Sky told us that new regulations had come in on 14th March which meant that a MAC code was now all that was needed, even where LLU lines equipment was in place. 

We went back to BT Engineering again & mentioned this to them.  They said 'So you know about LLU then?'  They said that they will ring us on Monday or Tuesday so I asked 'Does this mean that you (BT) will be able to remove the marker then?' and he said 'Yes'. 

Could we have made a breakthrough?  Who knows?

Interesting that you have been advised to take out a completely new phone line as this is one option we have already considered and may well resort to if we don't have any luck.

We'll keep our fingers crossed for you for the 20th March!

Regards
Kathryn & Andy Harriss

The interesting part of the email was the revelation of the new 14th March regulation. If true this should make tag/marker problems and LLU (Local Loop Unbundling) provider issues much easier to process.

I wish Kathryn & Andy luck.

Tomorrow is D-Day for me. I will keep everyone posted.

Update - 14-03-2007: Today I received this email...

A couple of days ago I emailed Sky and BT detailing the existence of this website and its content. Today, I got a reply:

Dear Michael

Please see the response we have received from the HLC team egarding your line:

I can confirm that the CP has placed a cease for this circuit with a CRD of 20/03/2007 once this completes the customer will be able to order with the CP of their choice.

This order therefore means there above order is to remove any previous marker/tag that is blocking your line, once this order has closed you should be able to place a new order with your chosen ISP for service.

Thanks for your email.

Regards,

BT Wholesale
--------------------------------------------------
btwholesale.direct@bt.com
www.btwholesale.com

British Telecommunications plc.
Registered office: 81 Newgate Street,
London, EC1A 7AJ

If what they say is true my line should be free in 6 days time.

That would mean it took 130 days to remove the tags.

I will remain pessimistic until then.