HUW MERRIMAN BT FRAUDULENT TRADING MONOPOLY OPEN REACH BRITISH TELECOMS BROADBAND SPEEDS OFCOM BREACH OF CONTRACT OMBUSDMAN

HUW MERRIMAN - Is a law unto himself, deciding what he will do and what he considers important, without being answerable to the electorate. Transparency is the key to honest government, a base policy encouraged by the United Nations sustainability development goals. Dishonest government runs counter to the expectations of voters. Decide for yourselves on the facts, if you think Mr Merriman is serving you, or serving himself and the Conservative Party agenda to quell dissidents, and reasonable opposition to their policies.

Huw Merriman is the local member for Bexhill, Battle and Herstmonceux (known locally as Shit Creek because of the proposed ground and surface water debacle surrounding a proposed 70 house development feeding onto the A271).

In 2021 a concerned member of the public wrote to Huw Merriman about the monopoly situation enjoyed by BT and OpenReach and dreadfully slow broadband speeds in Herstmonceux. At time of writing Huw decided not to respond. This makes us wonder if he is an MP abiding by the Parliamentary Code of Conduct, where a special duty is owed to his constituents, or if he is off on a jolly pursuing his own career, using his MP status to foster commercial contacts for when he stands down. So it is alleged.

This matter was taken to the Ombudsman, via Ofcom, hoping for a quick resolution, but that process revealed more of a smell, to add to the odor of the Monopoly being reported. Indeed, the process told of how it is that the monopoly has been exploiting potentially millions of customers in the UK, by charging for download speeds of 30mbps and delivering broadband at significantly lower speeds, with upload speeds also being under the 9mbps they contracted to provide. Indeed, according to the Ombudsman, BT did not have the power to guarantee speeds, making the contract null and void at the outset. But leaving the customers paying for nothing - because there is no effective remedy.

The Ombudsman denies that BT controls OpenReach, when the company is wholly owned by BT, hence under company law they are the controlling minds. You may find such a finding by the Ombudsman perverse in the extreme, but that was their finding.

Huw Merriman was asked to look into the matter, but has so far failed to even acknowledge receipt of correspondence.

Apart from being an advertising standards issue, there is also breach of contract to consider, alongside fraudulent business models, as has been alleged. The case continues ..

BREACH OF CONTRACT - When a company like BT contracts with a person to provide minimum broadband speeds, but then fails to provide such advertised service, they are in violation of the terms of the agreement, as when accepting sums of money from their client.

NO EFFECTIVE REMEDY - The Ombudsman appears to have erred in law, working for BT and OpenReach, condoning a situation where charges have been made, but broadband speeds and a clear telephone line have not been provided over a period of 3 years.

CONTACT HUW

29-31 Sea Road
Bexhill on Sea
East Sussex
TN40 1EE

01424 736861
huw.merriman.mp@parliament.uk

SHORT CUT STONEWALLING - An MP owes a special duty to residents in their geographical region. A failure en-masse, such as this blanket dismissal of complaints, means that this Conservative Member of Parliament is failing to do his job and represent the people, by properly considering matters put to him. There is no transparency or answerability, leaving an MP free to do what he likes. This is hardly conducive to establishing trust with the electorate, in line with the position of power that the MP enjoys - so bringing the Parliamentary system into disrepute.