DUMFRIESSHIRE MP David Mundell has called for phone giant O2 to urgently resolve mobile network coverage problems for customers served by their Lockerbie mast.
This comes after complaints by a number of constituents in the Lockerbie and Lochmaben areas about poor O2 service for the last five months.
They told the MP that they were “constantly” suffering poor signal coverage along with occasional complete loss of service. And when they did eventually manage to contact O2 their service agents denied any problems.
The local MP said: “In today’s world mobile phones are an essential tool for many busy people and for there to have been an unresolved problem with O2 for this length of time is simply unacceptable. This company is charging for a service they appear not to be providing.
“Some of these people have been O2 customers for several years and are naturally disappointed at how the level of service has now deteriorated so drastically,” he added.
The MP has already raised the issue with O2 on a number of occasions without any satisfactory response.
Constituents who have complained to O2 also say they are “not impressed” with the response they received.
In one case O2 said there was “no known problems,” but after persisting she was put through to the company’s technical team who admitted to problems with the mast in Lockerbie. Despite this they also told her they had not received many complaints about the service in this area.
They also admitted O2 will only act to upgrade equipment if a significant number of people complain and make a fuss.
Some of the O2 customers are farmers who are particularly inconvenienced by the poor O2 service and they are now involving the National Farmers Union Scotland in a bid to improve service.
“I fully support my constituents in trying to get better service from this company and would now like O2 customers with problems to contact the company and log their complaints. They can be contacted by dialling 100 from an O2 mobile, or a freephone number, 0800 2300202 from a landline. This gets your through to broadband faults who will put you through to mobile faults,” said Mr Mundell.