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Computer buff in internet fury
From the Bolton Evening News, first published Monday 29th May 2000.
A BOLTON computer enthusiast is blaming BT for hampering his efforts to enter the internet age.
Despite complaining more than 20 times to the phone company about the quality of the line to his home in Windover Close, Over Hulton, Stuart Rickaby says nothing has been done.
His problems began shortly after he bought himself a lap top computer in December.
Mr Rickaby, a printer, noticed that at peak times when he went onto the internet, the line would disconnect after about 20 minutes and then repeatedly cut him off at increasingly frequent intervals.
At first Mr Rickaby, aged 48, thought the problem lay with his computer, but then he discovered the disconnections did not happen when he used the machine in different locations.
"If I use it any where else there is no problem," he said.
He puts the difficulty down to the age of his phone line, which also develops a crackle when he talks on it for any length of time.
"I contacted BT and they say they only guarantee the line for voice contact and not the modem," said a frustrated Mr Rickaby. Visits by engineers to his home have been unable to identify the source of the line interference.
The only solution, he says, has been offered by the phone company is the offer of installing a second, dedicated phone line for which he would have to pay extra rental.
"I don't want a second line," he said. "I just want to be able to have the same as everybody else."
A BT spokesman said: "Although Mr Rickaby has received visits from engineers a complaint about a line fault was only reported to us on Tuesday and an investigation is being carried out."
She said that if a fault is discovered BT will rectify it at no extra cost but if the problem lies with the existing line -- which may not be able to cope with both telephone and internet use -- Mr Rickaby would have the option of upgrading to a special package called Home Highway which includes a special line for the internet.
If the problem is found to be caused by the age of the line BT will again carry out repairs.
The spokesman added: "When people have a problem using the internet we like to ensure that it is solved. Some lines, however, are not powerful enough to run voice phones and the internet. We are not just out to sell Home Highway."
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