to the forum.
Unfortunately your experience is not unknown when it comes to the customer service side of 'the company formerly known as ntl'. Unattendance of a tech is probably the most frustrating and unacceptable aspect of the 'service'. I have no doubt that a fair number of members of these forums have been there at some point! In that respect, I suppose you've not been unlucky then!
All you can do is deliver an ultimatum in terms of resolving your issues (fix it or remove it) and certainly ensure that you are compensated by discounts. It's rich that you have to pay if you're not in when a tech turns up on an arranged visit, but if it's the other way round then 'tough luck'.