SLAMMED!! Now billed for £149 for "leaving early"!!! HORROR STORY!

[#1]

@bmc  - correct. A quick Google throws up a couple more, but I've never  heard of them, so...

[#2]

In rural Scotland see what plans there are on the R100 programme.  That is subsidised FTTP for all, just come in on my <100 line exchange

[#3]

Highland Broadband claim to be coming to us but who knows when, I entered the postcode into that checker and not eligible for any financial help.
From what I gather a lot of "commercial" companies will be filling the gaps that BT leave in the more rural and isolated places, done a check and Highland Broadband are part of Lothian Broadband and reviews seem favourable. 

[#4]

@BarryC 

This is grim and given all that you have reported, it has befallen you in spite of PlusNet's efforts to manage the (accidental ?) slamming of your service by another provider.  I have had the exact same journey, but not up to the point of ETCs.

There are some urgent considerations for you; if you have email on the account, you MUST request an immediate resurrection of the account as EMAIL ONLY before it is no longer possible to restore the email component.  Such remains a special case situation for retaining email after "leaving" but needs to be requested.

If only ADSL is available to you, then Plusnet will need to raise an exception case to BTOR / BTw to have WLR restored.  If SOGEA for FTTP is available, restoration of the landline might not be permitted.  Ifn that case, if you want to retain the landline number, you might need to look for a VoIP provider.  Be aware that you need to do this within 30 days, therefore you need clarity about the likely success of an exception case immediately.

In your discussions with the HLC team, do not focus solely on the £149 - focus on restitution of service as near as possible to what it was.  That means technology, price and residual duration of the contract (unless you are content to recontract for a full 'duration').

This needs urgent attention, thus I'm flagging some staff who might be able to get fast traction for you, though NOT their direct responsibility. @Gandalf / @MatthewWheeler  / @plusnettony / @Marsh  / @LexLex2020 

[#5]

 I've checked the account, and a ticket is with the right team who will do all they can to explain / help and get things back on track for you. 

[#6]

@plusnettony @Townman 

Thanks for your help in all this, I've received direct communication in response to the complaint I raised from a lass called "Chelsea" telling me that she has contacted the "debt management team" to write this off and for me to ignore any demands that still may come through. This is the desired outcome it's been nearly a month since the slam and I have no wish to be re-instated with a copper/ADSL system now. I'll put up with the 4G system I installed (boy that was a fast track learning curve, worst thing is it's utterly messed up my meticulously installed ethernet layout as the router is now in a different place to be near where the signal is best)and wait patiently to see if fibre magically appears. Quite like the idea that at least I'm dealing with just a months sim card at a time, any nonsense and I can easily switch provider !!
Learnt quite a lot along the way, thanks to everyone who commented and offered advice, much appreciated. 

[#7]

@BarryC

"worst thing is it's utterly messed up my meticulously installed ethernet layout as the router is now in a different place to be near where the signal is bet"

Do you have an existing, (or can you install new), an ethernet cable from the 4G router gets the best signal to your old routers location?

If so, you could use the 4G router to connect to this ethernet cable and install a multiport ethernet switch with 5, 8 or even more ethernet ports, in your old router's location to make use of your existing ethernet cabling.

.

[#8]

You might even be able to plug your Plusnet router into the 4G router, akin to using the Plusnet router on FTTP.

[#9]

@Mr_Paul 
Great advice- I just figured out that where the 4G router is now is on a window sill, is next to my Wahoo smart trainer that has a "direct connect" ethernet cable I ran into it. I can reverse that effectively and send the signal from that cable to where the plusnet router was by plugging it into the 4G router (and take a 1m ethernet cable from the 4G router direct to the Wahoo!). So from this I should be able to configure the old router in the position it was to act as an extender as @Townman  suggests, so I could disable the wifi on the 4G router and use the plusnet router as it's more central in the house and I can reconnect all the other ethernet from there..... Sorted.... !

[#10 · Accepted solution]

Hi @BarryC 

I am really sorry to hear of the stress and aggravation caused by you been slammed, please be asssured, the last thing we want to do is cause any needless worry to our customers.

Upon reviewing your account, I can see my colleague Chelsea is actively monitoring and dealing with your case. She is a member of our higher level escalations team therefore the work she is carrying out supercedes anything discussed in this forum. With this in mind, I will be closing this case. 

Should you have any queries then please do not hesitate to reach out.

Thanks

Lee