Sir/Madam,
I have a fault with my cable TV. I called Telewest who told me they would be here between 4 and 7pm today to look at it. I left work early especially to meet them. When they didn't appear, I contacted them and they stated that they wouldn't come to Burngreave after 4pm. They claimed that their staff have been the victims of a couple of ‘incidents’ in the last few weeks. Can the police verify this? If not, Telewest are totally unjustified in their, what appears to be, discrimination against this area. I pay the same amount as any citizen elsewhere in the city and am entitled to the same service. If they have no intention of providing me with such, they shouldn't charge me the same amount of money!
I am fed up with being stigmatised for living in this area. My colleagues and acquaintances, who live in more affluent areas, consider it perfectly reasonable that Telewest should behave in this way. This acceptance that it is ok to discriminate against poor people appals me. I am therefore changing my TV and 'phone supplier. If every Telewest customer in Burngreave did the same, they may change their policy. At least they wouldn't be making any money out of us.
The people of Burngreave are as entitled to decent service as anyone else and we should demand it, whether it be from Telewest, the police or the council.
If the louts supposedly responsible actually exist, they should please stop and think about the effect their behaviour has on the other members of our community. It is pointless spending huge amounts of money, time and improving the area, if individuals behave in a way that causes companies to act like this.
Yours faithfully, Sally A Stracey