Cross(ed) Wires

I've been having no end of issues with my internet connection over the last few days. It's been particularly bad today when the line has been dropping every five minutes or so.

Exceedingly frustrating when you are trying to work from home... and also when you're trying to comment on a couple of BGG discussion threads.

I phoned my ISP and, following a few pings and assorted inscrutable line tests, they blamed BT. Given that the phone was also crackly I certainly believed this diagnosis.

So I phoned BT, they ran their own line tests and claimed that everything was running perfectly, thank you very much, and it was my nasty internet provider who was at fault. When I asked about the bad line they suggested that the broadband signal was probably messing things up. Yeah, right. (Ironically BT had to phone me back on my iPhone because my home line was so bad).

After much arguing they said they could send an engineer, to my home address, but if it transpired that it was either my fault, or the ISPs, then I would be liable for a £170 call out fee plus unspecified repair costs. Who would decide accountability seemed to be open for discussion. Or more likely a red bill.

I told them to stick their dodgy service where the sun would not shine and informed them I'd be straight on the phone to Virgin and Which? magazine (in that order).

Interestingly, when I popped into town a couple of minutes ago I noticed two BT vans 300 yards from the castle. Five engineers were in a trench. One was scratching his head.

Whilst this does not fill me with comfort I am wondering what came first (the chicken or the egg?). Are my issues related to dodgy labourers or are they there as a result of my irate call ?

I suspect the former but would prefer the latter.