Broadworks

MysticalSoul

I am with broadworks, as I have no other option (damn apartment living). Anyway, their rate recently went up, which I received NO notification about. The first I saw was when the fee went out of my bank account. First thing I check is their website, which is still on the old rate. Anyway, I rang them, and was informed it had gone up, and that I should have received notification, which I had not. Surely there is a law that the rate on their website is the one to be honoured?

We are fighting with the Management Company to try and get Sky in as an option, they are not objecting to it, but can't do anything till the peruse the contract the builders signed, to see if there are any clauses for breaking the contract.

pa990

This should be of interest to you

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055447533

ladiee24

irishamethyst wrote: »

I am with broadworks, as I have no other option (damn apartment living). Anyway, their rate recently went up, which I received NO notification about. The first I saw was when the fee went out of my bank account. First thing I check is their website, which is still on the old rate. Anyway, I rang them, and was informed it had gone up, and that I should have received notification, which I had not. Surely there is a law that the rate on their website is the one to be honoured?

We are fighting with the Management Company to try and get Sky in as an option, they are not objecting to it, but can't do anything till the peruse the contract the builders signed, to see if there are any clauses for breaking the contract.

hey i feel your pain yep same thing happened to me with stupidworks as i now call them i got a letter but the day before it's beyond a joke there customer services leave an awful lot to be desired! the problem in our complex is that some of the apartments are still owned by the builders who signed the stupid agreement to the broadcast rights of the development!

watty

Any contract signed by builders is void and non-binding once they sell the properties.

LEIN

I got a letter from them a week after they took the new rate out of my account. There is at least 2 stations that have picture and no sound atm so i don't know how the hike can be justified! I have given up on ringing them because i always get the same answers from them and noting is done about it. I have less than a months contract with them and then its bye bye Broadworks!

I wonder if they have ever read any of the threads about them on boards.
I would would love to know if they have a large customer base or is this company ready to go down the tubes.

MysticalSoul

ladiee24 wrote: »

hey i feel your pain yep same thing happened to me with stupidworks as i now call them i got a letter but the day before it's beyond a joke there customer services leave an awful lot to be desired! the problem in our complex is that some of the apartments are still owned by the builders who signed the stupid agreement to the broadcast rights of the development!

Same here. I see you're in North Dublin, the complex isn't SM by any chance? I finally got a letter from the Management COmpany, and due to the builders not letting them peruse the contract with Boradworks, we have been given the go ahead that we can get the shared Sky dish . Now I just need to ring Broadworks, to see how much notice I need to give

MysticalSoul

I can't change until June . When I joined with them last year, I specifically asked if there was a minimum length of Contract, assuming it was 12 months, and was told no, that if I wanted to cancel just to let them know, which I thought was strange, but just put it down to them realising how crap they were :rolleyes: - anyway, at least I only have a few more months left, as my contract is up on 4 June anyway. They said to write in to them to tell them why - I don't think they need know the reason why, as that is my business :cool:.

ladiee24

hi there irish,

I was in SM but moved a week ago down to The Links & will be getting my NTL installed tomorrow so long Broadworks . They wanted a cancellation fee from me for like you leaving my contract early I contested it due to bad service provided & that I was only changing the contract over to my landlord & didn't have to pay! do you're best to get away from them before June!

MysticalSoul

Hey ladiee,

I agree their service is crap - it has really gone downhill the past month too. I am paid up till end Feb, so might pay the penalty for getting out a month early in May instead, lol.

minotour

I just bought in a new development with this problem too. I knew about going into the sale but it wasnt enough to put me off. Now that its time to move and Im on the verge of losing my TV and Internet I have to admit its quite daunting.

Rang around a few companies and potential alternatives today, not looking good. Interestingly the Broadworks chickie I spoke to pretty much advised me against it, I asked for a trial period and was told no, so am stuck in a rut.

I have "gathered" enough tv shows, movies and full series to suffice for a month or so while we work it out, at least i can get bog 1 & 2 in the meantime.

I spoke to sky about shared dish but they say their hands are tied by this exclusivity contract with BW. I have some people looking into BW's potential for survival in these trying times so hopefully they go under and the problem goes away, i have heard rumblings this is a possibility......so all of you who are in this situation, withhold payment on grounds of poor service and that might speed this track up

Realisticly though, it looks like the best option is one of those discreet dishes on the balcony for sky and the some kind of phone line broadband. WHat a world!!!

watty

It's time residents or Consumer Association went to court. These exclusivity agreements ought to be illegal. I'm not sure that they are legal.

The delveloper and any contracts he makes have no legal standing once he has sold the units.

LEIN

watty wrote: »

The delveloper and any contracts he makes have no legal standing once he has sold the units.

I would have thought that would be the case also. Its your home and you can subscribe to what you want.

Thankfully my painful year with BW is over.

Their service was noting short of a disgrace and i will be avoiding any future properties that are tied up to that rubbish.

For the same price you have to pay for their sh1t you could have nearly double with NTL and it will be a proper service.

minotour

Coming from 10 odd satisfying years with NTL, from basic cable back in 2000 (when the support and accounting were abysmal) to Digital + Broadband of recent years I can honestly say being faced with the prospect of this broadworks crowd is thoroughly heart breaking. Whats worse is the fact I cant even throw money at the problem, Im prepared to pay whatever it takes to future proof the cornerstone of my entertainment system and im sure Im not alone, recession or not, with weather like this what else have we.


.........on the plus side at least Ill get more PS3 time while we have no TV service:)

LEIN

What will happen to them when everything gets switched to digital?

When i was an unhappy customer of theirs i inquired about a digital service and i was told that there are no plans for them to introduce one. That was 3 months ago.

TBH you would prob receive more for free with a free sat dish and box if you could find some way of hiding the dish.

minotour

I think Im actually in a good position for a dish on the balcony, 3rd floor, south facing, not overlooked at all and never will be. PLus, Im one of very few owners in a new development, things have changed regarding hassling owners for petty bull****. I fully intend to dominate the residents committee, that was actually my plan originally to get a shared sky dish in but they told me today they cant come on the property while the exclusivity contract is in place. PLus theres feck all others in the develipment yet.

Im looking now for a company which can guide me through this process, Satellite services are a black art to me, any suggestions welcome.

Del2005

Damo9090 wrote: »

What will happen to them when everything gets switched to digital?

When i was an unhappy customer of theirs i inquired about a digital service and i was told that there are no plans for them to introduce one. That was 3 months ago.

TBH you would prob receive more for free with a free sat dish and box if you could find some way of hiding the dish.

In my development all they are doing is rebroadcasting Sky on an analog system, there is often channels showing the Sky blue screen etc, so they won't be affected.

pixelburp

Del2005 wrote: »

In my development all they are doing is rebroadcasting Sky on an analog system, there is often channels showing the Sky blue screen etc, so they won't be affected.

I am in the same scenario here, based in an apartment in Clonsilla/Ongar; surely this is completely illegal? Channel 4 in particular often drops to the Sky Blue Screen while some chap - presumably in Broadworks HQ - fiddles with the Sky settings. Our audio is all mono & the video's aspect ratio is mucked up, while being cropped off at the sides.

The box in the corner has the Broadworks label on it; my brother's too lazy / apathetic to do anything about it, but throws a strop & a fit if I suggest switching

watty

If the management Company decide it, it is not illegal. It's illegal for the Management Company to be not 100% owned and controlled by the owners. At a Shareholders Meeting new Directors can be voted in and/or directors recommended to cancel or re-negotiate contracts. The actual operation and contract is 100% up to the the Management company, not the Shareholders (owners).

The developer/builder has no say at all.

bk

watty wrote: »

It's illegal for the Management Company to be not 100% owned and controlled by the owners.

Unfortunately it isn't that simple, if the developer still has unsold apartments, he can keep control of the management company.

But don't give up, keep trying, keep complaining to the management company, get your neighbours to sign a petition. We had a similar situation, but with Smart as the incumbent, eventually the management company and Sky installed their Sky In You Apartment shared dish system and UPC will be installing soon.