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Original poster

Can you help with my husband who is deploying for 6 months?

59 replies

ShowOfHands · 02/12/2016 20:10

I am most shamelessly posting in aibu for traffic. This is also a desperate plea for help.

I have just moved house. It was all very delayed due to last minute legal brouhahas and conveyancing woes. We've been in for 2 days. DH is deploying for 6 months this weekend. He can't take a phone. We have anticipated regular skype, email, messenger stuff for the dc (9 and 5) to make the transition easier.

This is our problem. Our broadband and landline are provided by vodafone but we can't be connected until at least the 19th because openreach are too busy. Vodafone say they can't do anything. I can't find a telephone number for BT openreach but apparently, they won't talk to me anyway because our contract is with Vodafone. Ironically, BT Openreach's chosen charity to support is SSAFA. Is there anything I can do? Vodafone have offered free mobile data until it's fixed but I've moved to a tiny village. The mobile data doesn't work. I've driven for 25 minutes to find enough reception to get on MN and it's taken 20 minutes to get this far.

I can't get on any websites, can't find numbers. Can any kind souls who have Google or similar and the ability to look, suggest any phone numbers for Openreach? Or an email address? Or any bright ideas?

I know no internet for 3 weeks isn't a big deal but we're going to be quite isolated, unable to contact DH and sorting out all sorts of things is proving impossible without internet.

I'll try and check back tonight but it may be tomorrow when I can get to somewhere with Wi-Fi for an hour. Any suggestions or numbers gratefully received. Or just tell me to get the feck on with my life without internet. I suspect nobody can help but I want to try and ask a real human if I can.

OP posts:
Witchend · 02/12/2016 21:39

If I can find it I think I've got a card from Wings and Wheels where there's a lovely couple I think from Ssafa have a stand. I'll see if there's an email address on it.

Witchend · 02/12/2016 21:44

Sorry misread the op. Thought you needed ssafa to sort it out...

PRBunny · 02/12/2016 21:44

Vodafone has signed the Armed forces Covenant. As has BT. Both trumpet the fact they've signed up. The Covenant is meant to provide fairness for the Armed FORCES Community. There is an Armed Forces Covenant website/microsite with the information. I think you should remind both companies of the fact they've signed the Covenant and see whether that gets you anywhere.

thewookieswife · 02/12/2016 21:53

In the mean time - keep writing emails and save then in draft - detailing all the happy and silly things you and the family are doing ! Keep them lighthearted ! You don't want to worry him when he eventually gets them - he'll be missing you all too !!
Have you been given an info pack ? If you haven't a trip to the hive might be a good idea ? They might be able to send ebluey's for you ?!

Most importantly enjoy this weekend ! Happy early Christmas to you if you are celebrating this weekend !! Xmas Grin

ZigZagIntoTheBlue · 02/12/2016 22:01

Could you share an email address, type and save emails to the draft folder to one another? They'll upload when you're in Internet range and out and about?

Slightlyperturbedowlagain · 02/12/2016 23:27

OK the secondment thing changes it a little as there is much less obvious support. However if you push via the operational unit base you should have some access to welfare (possibly via the padre system, they have a lot of pull, so try and push for that) Also get your DH to write some cards or letters or do some video clips beforehand for your DCs for you to give out when they need them. Flowers

Temporaryname137 · 02/12/2016 23:34

My dad had huge problems getting his new house connected - openreach are not customer facing unfortunately. Oh and they also told BT a lot of lies about my dad's issues!!

I can only suggest screaming at BT until they scream at openreach, as that eventually worked for him. Really sorry OP. Hope you get it sorted quickly. Would a dongle help?

ParadiseCity · 02/12/2016 23:38

Oh Show of Hands this sounds shit for you. I am sure DC will cope fine but it means more of the burden is on you.

I have a vague feeling we have met on previous threads, either it was the Harry Potter Studio trip in March or something to do with work life balancing act when one or more parent does a particular non civilian but not military job... or I am getting muddled.

Anyway I have nothing useful to suggest just a lot of empathy for you. Where is nearest Mcdonald- they'd probably have WiFi and be open at 7am?

LightsLoveLaughter · 02/12/2016 23:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gleam · 02/12/2016 23:53

Can't you leave video messages now on Skype if the other person isn't answering? If it works, it'd be better than nothing, I guess.

gleam · 02/12/2016 23:57

I meant, obvs, if you get to a wifi point but at the wrong timeslot for dh.

Any local pub with wifi? Office services business locally?

baconandeggies · 03/12/2016 00:18

Why are people still posting about tethering and dongles? They are useless if OP's mobile internet signal is non-existant.

Goldnick · 03/12/2016 00:38

Good evening! What a nightmare for you, but you will get through. As you say you've not done this before... I would caution you to avoid promising contact at any particular time because if 'things happen' they stop calls home etc until others are informed, and comms and power can go down (depends where he's going). When my dh was/is away we tend to have calls maybe once or twice a weak, and rarely Skype with cameras unless he's somewhere with a hotel rather than huts/tents. Too much contact tends to be unsettling rather than re-assuring in our experience, for all of us. Don't rely on him coming home exactly when you expect. Work to a few days later then it's nice if he gets back early.

Honestly, if it were me, I'd be planning on less contact under the circumstances and preparing your kids for that. Blueys are good too if he's at a BFPO address. Just ask for blank ones at he post office.

Good luck, and hope it's sorted out soon.

Molecule · 03/12/2016 07:46

The dongle things might work. We have a caravan in an isolated spot with pretty much no mobile coverage (at best one bar occasionally) but a friend brought a 3 dongle when visiting and it worked really well , so well that I bought one and finally had Internet access. It can work out expensive so no good for constant use, but fine for emails and occasional skyping. I have no idea how it worked when mobiles don't but it did.

Scooby20 · 03/12/2016 07:52

We live in an area of poor signal. We had a dongle for a bit I am sure you can get them where you just buy a months worth.

We complained to EE about poor signal and they sent us a free signal booster. It plugs into the WiFi box and we don't have signal problems anymore.

smallchair · 03/12/2016 09:59

I know you have no data signal on your own phone but have you checked to see if any other mobile phone networks (ie not the one you usually use) has coverage maps.ofcom.org.uk/check-coverage, if any other network does, you could potentially get a pay as go sim with a bit of data to tide you over. Stick it in a spare phone and create a hotspot (would need to be unlocked) or if you don't have a suitable phone you can buy a mifi device for about £30. I live rurally and have no signal with o2, Vodafone or ee but oddly three is 3g speed and was actually faster than broadband until we got fibre enabled

HattiesBackpack · 03/12/2016 10:24

Hello OP,
I would recommend you download 'A Guide for the families of deployed regular army personnel' from the mod website, it will really help give you an idea of what to expect during deployment, also worth checking out the arrse website.

I also want to second what a pp said about contact - depending on where your DH is he may not be able to get in touch as regularly as you are anticipating, also get an ebluey account sorted, you can send as many as you like and letters really do help when you are having a bad day.

I know this is a massive cliche but the countdown to them actually going is always the worst bit- and once he has gone you can start counting down him coming back Smile

madgingermunchkin · 03/12/2016 13:17

Don't check out the arrse site, it will probably terrify you. Go to rear party. It's the sister site for families of personnel.

ShowMePotatoSalad · 03/12/2016 13:20

Go to EE and buy a wifi dongle.

ShowMePotatoSalad · 03/12/2016 13:21

Sorry just read back about the dongles...

ParadiseCity · 12/12/2016 10:04

Hello showofhands, when I read this thread I put a reminder in my phone for today which has just gone off. I hope you have some wifi and just wanted to say I hope your special occasion is going well, whether or not you have had contact with your DH, I hope you have a very happy birthday or anniversary or school play or international cross stitch championships or whatever FlowersCakeWineCakeFlowers

Theoretician · 12/12/2016 10:12

As someone already said, BT Openzone may be the best option. If any neighbours have BT as their provider, and are close enough that OP can see their wifi from her home, she should be able to connect via their hub. (They won't know about it, you just sign up online. Can't remember if this is how it works, but I assume if you connect to their router it will send you to a sign-up web page.)

Where I live every third or fouth house has BT as their provider, so (if you have access to BT wifi) you can literally work along the street and have a wifi connection a lot of the time.

HaveNoSocks · 12/12/2016 10:13

Surely a neighbour would share their wifi for a few weeks under the circumstances!

Flowers Sounds so stressful!

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