A small business owner who struggled to stay afloat during Covid, is facing new hardship after trying to have a phone line installed six times over two months without success.

Brenda Burns, owner of the Wee Bunty’s takeaway restaurant on Paisley Road West, started her business 13 days before the national lockdown was imposed in March 2020.

After struggling through the restrictions, she had to close for three and a half months while moving premises, due to extensive repairs needed at her previous location.

Now, she claims she has missed out on customers as, for more than two months, she had been trying to have a new phone line installed at her new unit. 

The 53-year-old, who is leasing the unit as part of the Parkway Bar and Lounge, had contacted Openreach in November to install a new line under a Plusnet contract.

Glasgow Times:

She said Openreach engineers have since attended a total of six times, but each time either business’s line was cut off, causing both to lose sales. 

No reason had been given for the difficulties in installing the line.

Service provider Plusnet said they have now solved the issue after the Glasgow Times stepped in.

Brenda said: “It's been extremely stressful and I've lost so much business. My landlord was without wifi so he's lost business too. 

“I spent a lot of money on advertising with my new number, and then my landlord ended up with my number. 

“Every time they come out they're cutting me off to put him on, and vice versa.

"All I asked for was a new line for my business, I mean, it's not rocket science is it?”

Glasgow Times:

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The food outlet regularly feeds the pensioners who live in the area, but as they are less likely to use social media and food delivery apps, they would rely on phone calls to place orders. 

“It's just been so harmful,” said Brenda. “The reason I'm really angry is the fact that I let my pensioners down, they are what the business is all about.

“I tried to stress this to [Openreach], I said 'listen, I've got pensioners I feed on a regular basis who need us to have their dinner'.

She added: “As a brand new business, between Covid and being shut, it’s been a struggle.

“It’s been a long process of trying to get back on track, I’ve put everything into this and more.

“And now that I’ve reopened, I can’t get a simple phone line, it’s just unacceptable.”

Glasgow Times:

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After being approached by the Glasgow Times, Plusnet said the Wee Bunty's service would be up and running.

A Plusnet spokesperson said: “We're very sorry we didn’t get it right the first time, Wee Bunty’s are now connected and we’re in touch to offer a goodwill gesture.”

Openreach has also been contacted for comment.