BT/LocalTel blunder gives away free phone calls

Net users are getting free Web access and free phone calls around the clock thanks to administrative blunders by BT and LocalTel. Around 76,000 people have been promised that their accounts will be switched from BT to LocalTel by today so that they can take advantage of toll-free access to the Net during off-peak hours. But one reader - who is one of the few to have been processed before today's deadline - has contacted The Register to say he's being charged nothing at the moment because neither BT nor LocalTel accept he is their customer. The reader, who, for obvious reasons has asked to remain anonymous said: "Apparently, we should've received a bill after eight days of being switched. "We didn't get any such bill. "Neither BT nor LocalTel acknowledged the account, so for now... hooray for British bureaucratic cock-ups." But it's not all good news. Another Register reader said his service was switched to LocalTel even though he never sent back the application forms. "Remember, these forms needed my signature in order to proceed with the switch from BT -- not to mention my banking details," he said. "I was going to switch, but not until after I moved home in August, but this experience has changed my mind. "There's been no notification, no warning, nothing -- so please do make readers of The Register aware of the fact that if they join Screaming.net, their service could be switched from BT whether they want to change or not." Done. A spokesman for LocalTel expressed his concern and added that this was not an isolated incident. Some people have been told they've been transferred when they have not -- and some have even had their phone lines cut off, he said. "Sadly, the reason [for these mishaps] lies with BT," said Doug Walker of LocalTel. "What was a fairly straightforward process fell over because of their inability to make it (the transfer process) work. BT was asked to comment but failed to return the call before press time. ®