Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/1999/06/24/tempo_isp_customers_get_free/

Tempo ISP customers get free Web calls at last

BT promises to get its ducks in a row by tomorrow

By Tim Richardson

Posted in On-Prem, 24th June 1999 11:40 GMT

Screaming.Net has said that all 75,000 Net users who have subscribed to its service will be able to enjoy toll-free access to the Net tomorrow. In an email sent to users last night, the ISP set up by fridges-to-PCs retailler Tempo, acknowledged that there had been some difficulties transferring accounts from BT to LocalTel. "BT has now confirmed to us that all customer requests for transfer of telephone services from BT to LocalTel will be complete by Friday 25 June, with an absolute guarantee that this will take place by Wednesday 30 June," said the email from Screaming.Net. "We apologise for any delays that you may have experienced to date and assure you that we are doing all we can to rectify the situation." Users of the Screaming.Net service must switch telcos if they want to take advantage of off-peak toll-free calls to the Net. The ISP has been plagued by administrative problems ever since it was launched in April. Last month, LocalTel accused BT of working at a snail's pace, holding up thousands of Net users who wanted to switch telcos -- a view shared by the telecomms watchdog Oftel. BT said it could only process 250 applications a day -- even though Surrey-based Screaming.Net was receiving 2,000 applications a day to take advantage of the service. ®