My sister recently moved house. SHe applied to BT three months ago for 2 landlines in her new house with the old numbers to be transferred (she runs a business from home). She lives 100 yards from the nearest BT "Operations Centre". They failed to turn up on three occasions and then told her they would have to dig her garden up to install the lines.
SHe asked why they couldn't just use the telegraph pole outside her house. No coherent response.
After a 2 month delay they have just offered her £24 compensation for "loss of business". SHe told them to "bollocks".