£20 to change name on Virgin Media bill. Justifiable???

jc808

fluffnutter wrote: »

We're going to have to disagree! As someone who has designed and built such systems, and migrated data to them, and maintained them, I know that a name change request would cost a fair bit. Plus name is always a key field on the systems I've worked on. Together with your unique number (whatever that might be called) and your NI number, it's about the most important field the systems I've worked with carry!

Here's the process on the MOD system I work on (I'm not going to give any more details). Name request comes in with accompanying paperwork. Received by admin section and verified. Change request initiated by admin section. Paperwork raised and completed by change team. Change request passed to data team. Change tested on test systems. Paperwork completed for 'go live' request. Go live request passed to implementation board. Request discussed and approved at implementation board. Change scheduled by operational team. Change actioned and checked. Some dozen people will be involved in that seemingly simple activity.

This is all stipulated by the MOD and actioned by a private IT contractor so there are extra tasks and effort involved in actually charging for the work! But that's outsourcing for you... :rotfl:

But there's a serious point in there - I don't think data changes are as straightforward on all systems, as on the ones you've developed.

Reality check:

Dont forget your method statement, your risk assesment, your change control request... your PEEP (Personal Emergency Evac Plan, if your in a wheelchair...) blah blah blah

Or you could come back down to earth and realise its just Virgin Media not the Ministry of Defence.

PS noone really cares about the soup flavours you change in the vends at the MOD... cos thats what you really do, hotshot