Missing Paperwork Delays UK Broadband

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Missing Paperwork Delays UK Broadband

Posted by samzenpus on Thursday August 2, 2012 @09:27PM from the check's-in-the-mail dept.

nk497 writes "UK broadband funding is being delayed... by missing paperwork. The government is doling out £530m to boost UK broadband, but needs European Commission approval first. The department responsible for broadband says it's sent the necessary documents, but the EC says it hasn't received them. It's the latest delay to the funding, following competition concerns over BT's dominance in the market."

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"EC says it hasn't received them" by TaoPhoenix · 2012-08-02 21:31 · Score: 4, Informative

What part of something like Registered Return Receipt Mail with Insurance don't these people understand?
If you have Important Document A to get somewhere, you pay the $20 it takes to send it top level Registered, and it gets there.
Quoting from someone I heard from a US Post office, "If you send something Registered, and it doesn't arrive, someone loses a job."
Thread over.

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1. Re:"EC says it hasn't received them" by FBeans · 2012-08-02 21:35 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  $20 doesn't go very far in the UK. Also firing someone in the US post office probably won't help much easier. We have a standard of quality here in the UK, one that we like to consistently under achieve!
2. Re:"EC says it hasn't received them" by RogueyWon · 2012-08-02 21:42 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  Sadly true - and it's not just recent. I remember that around 15 years ago, I sent an application pack for a PhD course at a major UK university via Royam Mail recorded delivery. This was a big pack of papers - not just an application form, but substantial portfolio of previous work. Of course, it vanished into a black hole - and I missed the applications deadline as a result. The Royal Mail was very apologetic and there was some derisory compensation offer, but I'd eat my hat if anybody lost their job.
  It was all for the best anyway - I stepped back from it, realised I'd rather go into the world of work rather than further academic study and, I suspect, my life is considerably better now than it would have been if I'd spent a further 3 years studying rather than earning.
3. Re:"EC says it hasn't received them" by Ash+Vince · 2012-08-02 23:58 · Score: 2
  
  If if was that important, you should have sent it 'special delivery'. 'Recorded delivery' isn't worth much; you're just as well off getting 'Proof of posting' which is basically a receipt.
  Yes, well recorded delivery does only cost £3 so that is not really surprising. Special delivery is more akin to the $20 Recorded that the USPO offers according to someone else in this thread although that is still loads cheaper at under £10 (that insures something up to £300 in value I believe). Recorded Delivery is really only designed for letters that have no value but you need a proof of reciept
  
  I worked there for a few weeks, dreaming of that nice summer job where you're home by lunch time. My dreams were shattered. The place is run by idiots in a panic. They couldn't even provide me with hundred-year-old technology - a pushbike.
  The post office do provide bikes, and they are cool. You probably didn't get one because they cost a fortune. They are made by Pashley who are probably one of the best bike manufacturers in the world if you want something that is heavy but could survive a head on collision with a truck and come of unscathed (Not so sure about the rider)
  http://www.pashley.co.uk/
  I used to have one of their unicycles years ago that someone lent me to learn on and it was amazing. It might be a bit heavier but in terms of abuse it would put up with it was great. If the post office gave a full bike to every part time member staff you could probably sell it for more than you got paid in wages
  
  --
  I dont read /. to RTFA, I read /. to offend people in ignorance.
Irony? by FBeans · 2012-08-02 21:32 · Score: 2

Is it just me or is it Ironic that the UK broadband is being delayed! Perhaps the government have reached their mail-data-limit for the month and are being heavily throttled? On the other hand, it could be as simple as a lost packet!
1. Re:Irony? by AmiMoJo · 2012-08-03 01:24 · Score: 2
  
  Even 25 years ago they could have faxed the damn documents. Unfortunately these are the Luddites in charge of delivering the government's promise to have the best broadband network in Europe by 2015. I would have added "ha!" but it really isn't that funny.
  
  --
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  SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
Are they using email? by aglider · 2012-08-02 21:58 · Score: 3, Interesting

It's been something like 20+ years ago I've lost my last email.
Because of a failing relay.
Unless this paperwork is really worked on paper. In which case I can guess:
- the envelope has been handed to the post office, but never left it;
- they missed the proper stamp value on the envelope;
- they missed the proper destination address on the envelope;
- the envelope reached the destination but got handed to the wrong office which trashed it;
- the paperwork has been written in English and sent to a German/French/Italian only speaking office;
- the paperwork has been sent to Cowboy Neal;
- all of the above at the same time.

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Re:that's assuming it didn't arrive by TaoPhoenix · 2012-08-02 22:03 · Score: 2

That's the entire point of that service. It creates a trail to prevent this story's nonsense, and even your good guess.
Sender points to his slip that says his Docuement entered the Black Hole (Mail Service).
Black Hole says that they delivered the Document.
Receiver has to *sign for it*.
So then it just takes a couple questions under perjury to close the gap.
"Did you bother to check the mailbox in question?"
"Did you see the Document package?"
"Why didn't you sign for it to pick it up?"
So yes, in 2012 I don't want to read news stories about people not receiving documents. Make up ANY other excuse than that.

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My first Journal Entry ever, in 8 years! http://slashdot.org/journal/365947/aphelion-scifi-fantasy-horror-poetry-webzine
Re:Olympics by second_coming · 2012-08-02 23:05 · Score: 2

On a side note, my company's sister company has been told they will have to wait until after the Olympics have finished before BT will enable their FTTC connection.

Even though the exchange is enabled and ready to go (and they are in the building next door to the exchange).

Apparently BT have all their engineers on call in London.
Re:UK Broadband market is screwed up. by _Shad0w_ · 2012-08-02 23:48 · Score: 2

They have to use OpenReach unless they have LLU at your exchange, in which case they use their own equipment. ISPs with LLU can generally be spotted because they're cheaper and/or faster (because they're not paying BT's wholesale metered rates).

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Re:that's assuming it didn't arrive by dontclapthrowmoney · 2012-08-03 00:30 · Score: 2

I sent some non-perishable food from mid-west USA to Great Britain...that was about 2 years ago...
Has it arrived yet?