Newry Armagh Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Rural broadband users in South Armagh charged twice for service - Flynn

Published: 24 April, 2009

Slieve Gullion Sinn Féin Councilor Anthony Flynn has highlighted the need for residents and businesses to be vigilant when paying bills and managing direct debit payments.

This is in the light of customers of satellite broadband providers receiving and in many cases paying bills from two separate companies for the same service and rental period.

Residents and businesses that are located too far from their local telephone exchange to receive standard telephone line broadband have been able to avail of a fixed rate satellite broadband service. Up until the 31st of March this service was provided by BT under contract from the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Investment. From the 1st of April a new three year contract was awarded to Avanti Communication Group to provide the service while BT's service was terminated. In order to continue to receive a broadband service customers had to switch to the new provider.

In the first two weeks of April BT continued to post bills to former customers for a new rental period from 1st April to 30th June.

Commenting on the situation Councillor Flynn said,

"I had been made aware by members of the McCreesh-McCabe SF Cumann in Mullaghbawn that members of the public had received these bills from BT and in some cases paid them believing that they were charges in arrears and not in advance,"

"Others had direct debits set up and were surprised to see the payments withdrawn from their accounts, believing that BT would have cancelled them."

"I immediately contacted the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Investment and also spoke to a representative from BT who explained that the bills went out because not everyone had switched providers at the same time."

"I have received assurances from BT that every customer who over paid would receive a refund by the 1st of May whether or not they have contacted BT".