FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT THEM ALL, that's what I say!!!

I had a total nightmare with BT and with Talk Talk which went on and on for a year. I had been totally clear about what I wanted to do from Day 1, which was: move house, find out the new telephone number, stay with Talk Talk. Simple? Ooooh nooo.

I ended up spending at LEAST 50 - 60 hours of my time chasing my tail. At LEAST 40£ in internet cafes because of no broadband. At LEAST £200 paying BT's connection and disconnection fees for a service I never wanted but was forced to get, even though I was told that Talk Talk should be able to just transfer my service from old to new number. Never ANY paperwork from either BT or Talk Talk.

In the end, I paid all BT's fees and couldn't be bothered to fight them, I didn't have the energy. But in order to get a service from Talk Talk, my phone calls to their call centres didn't make any impact at all, so I reccomend this strategy, and this ONLY.

Keep a diary from Day 1. Get names of people spoken to and solutions promised. Never believe anyone in a call centre.

Write to Charles Dunstone, CEO of Carphone Warehouse, which owns Talk Talk, stating your case. no more than 1 side of A4 paper. Include an INVOICE - a proper, professional-looking one, for around £2500 or whatever you think they owe you. Be clear. Eg: My time - 50 hrs @ £ 50.00 per hour, plus £40 internet cafe fees, plus etcetc.

I had a call from Charles Dunstone's top team at 9am the following morning after I sent this invoice. They grovelled phone calls to me every week until the TT service was working, and they paid me £150, which I said was not enough as I believed they owed me £2500 - but I knew I wouldn't get that. Although I seriously believe that's the amount they SHOULD have paid me in terms compensation of my wasted time etc. Anyway, invoicing for an extortionate amount is the ONLY way to get their attention.

Now that it's all working, I'm glad I'm with Talk talk, but BOY they should have rewarded me £2500 for fighting so hard to get their service!!!!