I TOO am a disgruntled ntl client and was horrified to learn of the shop closure.

Their audacity in saying they are moving "from eye to eye to ear to ear," is some joke!

I have never waited less than 20 minutes for their so called customer services line to be answered and on one occasion it took a full 40 minutes for answer only to be told that the office was closed.

The time was 3.40 in the afternoon.

I was furious to have spent 40 minutes on the end of a phone line for nothing and I then had to call them again the next day to conduct my business and to add insult to injury had the pleasure of another 30 minute wait for someone to talk to.

Ear-to-ear indeed they just about got an earful from me I can tell you.

At that point I asked if I could in future deal with their local shop, which is what I have since been doing.

Now, if the shop closes, I shall seriously think about discontinuing with their services, as I really cannot go back to dealing with them by phone.

I, like a number of the customers who have complained to the Advertiser, cannot believe their claims that research shows customers actually prefer to interact with ntl over the phone or via the internet.

Unless they have got their act together, with regard to their call centre customer services line, I feel sure a great many customers will be taking their business elsewhere.

I hope ntl will give serious reconsideration to the effect shop closure will have on their business.

Thanks to the EA for highlighting our genuine grievances.

(Mrs) PATRICIA WALLINGTON

Thurlestone Road

Parklands

Swindon

ONCE again the Evening Advertiser highlights an important community issue, this time the fact that ntl is closing its Swindon office with its spokeswoman Liz Nicholson glibly saying customers can now interact "ear to ear" rather than face to face.

What rubbish!

In June 2001 I changed from ntl analogue to digital. It took 33 days and many frustrating and long phone calls before anything was done.

It was only after the Evening Advertiser detailed many ntl complaints that I was contacted with an offer of two free months cable payment.

However the hardware problems still continue six months on and letters to all sections of ntl have either been ignored or not fully answered.

I works shifts days and nights; I don't have the hours to waste on the phone with no response or transferred to wait again or be cut off time after time.

Ntl are again riding roughshod over their customers but still take and demand our money.

The good news is that Wiltshire County Council Trading Standards have taken these complaints and passed them to Hampshire Trading Standards who will be raising them with ntl. There may be hope after all?

JOHN ALLEN

Templars Firs

Wootton Bassett

Swindon

The chance to moan about ntl is too good to miss.

I find it staggering that any company can be allowed to treat its customers with such utter contempt as they do. The term customer service is laughable as far as ntl are concerned.

In nearly a year since changing to digital TV I have yet to receive a correct bill and am still waiting for them to action my direct debit mandate.

I seldom have an hour to wait until someone answers their phone.

When I have done it has always resulted in more frustration.

They have totally ignored the countless letters I have written and are incapable of using their phones to dial out.

Their only concern is getting their money in.

For their spokeswoman (how did you reach her?) to say their customers prefer to talk to them on the phone is the final insult.

They are not occasionally busy they are always busy and show no sign of wanting to improve.

They really are "the company impossible to deal with".

I could write all day on my frustration with the company.

ROGER MAISEY

Sedgebrook

Liden, Swindon