As
we enter day 5 of the Manchester phone crisis, people are asking:
what next? And with millions of pounds being lost each day, what compensation
can we expect?
Businesses
affected by the phones crash are losing £4.5 million a day.
That figure will rise, the longer telephone lines are down.
But how much of that can companies expect to recoup?
We've contacted the Manchester Chamber of Commerce and the
British Insurance and Investment Bankers' Association.
This is what they say:
Most
small to medium sized businesses have a standard business
contract with BT. This only entitles them to £50 for
each day without communications. Check your contract.
If
you're thinking of claiming on your insurance for loss of
utilitiy, check with your insurer as soon as possible. Some
insurance companies consider telecommunications to be a
utility, others don't.
Even
when phone lines are repaired businesses could still be
feeling the cost. Analysts fear that the sheer weight of
belated emails eventualy making their way to companies could
force some computer systems to crash.
The
latest forecast is that it could be the end of the week
before services are fully up and running again.
BT
say they'll consider all claims when the lines are eventually
repaired. If you have a complaint, contact BT at
If
you're still unhappy, then you can contact the telecommunication
regulator, .
Useful
BT numbers: Residential Repair Departments:
BT Fault Management Service 151 Business Repair Departments:
BT Fault Management Service 0800 800154
What's
your view on Manchester's phone crisis? How are coping? Have
Your Say
Telephone
chaos - what next
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