Screamer has me screaming

[TK-Sp3cialiSt]

So...since Screamer had the wimax equipment seized by the sheriff, i was moved over to Wifi.

This happened approximately 90 days ago, and for the first 30 days i had little to no communication from Screamer, after much arguments and fighting and a million phone calls, their technicians pitched and installed the wifi equipment...great i hear you say....it failed later that night....a week later i manage to get hold of them and they install another unit....great i hear you say again....

Since that day i have had intermitent connectivity at best, i have taken to mailing them EVERY time the connection is down(and i am home to see this). This weekend has been the last straw as it has not been connected for more than 30 minutes at a time.

Through all this i have had to pay hundreds of rands in phone calls to them, hundreds of rands in alternative limited services. I have paid them in good faith for services that have not been received and have been offered NOTHING as compensation for the lack of service and am sent invoices by them for the services that have not been delivered. To their detriment, they installed this after 1 April 2011, now i ask anyone that is able to assist me with my option in taking this company to task for their lack of communication and lack of service. I have already looked into contacting the CPA in order to have this rectified, so if you are able to assist, please help.

I have proof of all mails sent as every time i send them a mail i receive one saying that the complaint has been refered to the correct department and will be attended to(which never happens). I have received two additional mails back from them, one claiming that the problem is caused by my use of the bandwidth causing the constant disconnects...now correct me if i am wrong, the reason for a connection is to use it to transfer data, so you will therefore use the bandwidth....

This whole thing has driven me to insanity, and the fact that Des and Quinten are not interested in rectifying this problem leads me to believe that they have a serious problem and are unable to fix the problem, however this is not my problem as i am seeking compensation and need this problem rectified ASAP

Thanks for readin and i hope someone will be able to assist me

[Valis]

Have you tried contacting the DTI? (Department of Trade and Industry)

[TK-Sp3cialiSt]

What i find quite amusing is that in under 24 hours from posting this, i get a call from Des telling me his technicians are coming to see me today, no specific time, but uncanny that i got a call this morning after having a FULL weekend of 0 connectivity....Will report back later and let you guys know what has transpired

[Venomous]

Can't you move to another ISP?

Warning bells should be sounding if your ISP is getting their stuff taken by a sherriff.......

[TK-Sp3cialiSt]

Problem is the cost, i have spent a small fortune during the last 3 months due to this service being a problem, and have been offered NOTHING in compensation from Screamer....absolutely disgusting....they take their money for providing no service and offer NOTHING back....the least they could do is upgrade my account at NO ADDITIONAL COST to me, on a permanent basis

[iDenTiTy]

Go see them personally.
I did so, met Desmond, and the Technical Director.
The Director kept on spewing excuses.. "We have many clients in Midrand, so it takes us a while to sort your problems out."

My reply: "Don't make that my problem."
He then started using technical terms - to confuse me.
My reply: "Nice to hear you sound like you know what you talking about. But don't waste an electronic engineer who specialises in radio frequencies, before you.."
His reply: "We've had to upgrade our systems recently, it caused problems nationwide"
My reply: "I know. Read about your issues with Icasa."
His reply: "Um...we will need to upgrade you to a lower frequency."
Mine: "That's fine, currently I'm on 5,6Ghz frequency, so I'll soon be moved to 2,4Ghz?"
His: "Yes. Provided you have signal"

I then told him I'm disgusted with his service, and demanded that we get 1 month free internet (within bundle, of course) as compensation.
I also told him to never try pull a cloth over their clients eyes again. One day they will find that one of clients knows what they talking about and seeks legal advice.

He apologised and promised that a technician would be at my premises in 24hrs.
True as Bob, so it happened.

I have no WIFI access, so still on Wimax. Because their machines have been downgraded (only the Wimax ones), I now connect at 512/256 MAX.
I used to have a stable 1/512 connection.

My advice?

Go the 8TA route.
I would've, but don't have signal.

[CaTcH21]

I say cut your losses and cancel with them, give someone else a shot. Does 3g ( Cell C , 8ta ) not work for you ?

[iDenTiTy]

I say cut your losses and cancel with them, give someone else a shot. Does 3g ( Cell C , 8ta ) not work for you ?

CellC is about the only bet.
Running that in tandem.

So far, I'm getting 3.5G with my N8, so speeds are pretty cool there.
Pings are also not bad at all. I may consider CellC to be a gaming platform after all.

[nerf]

go over to 4mb adsl uncapped its much cheaper than screamers uncapped and is faster.

[TK-Sp3cialiSt]

It is beyond a joke, the techies were here on the 4th, got the line up and running, thought my problems were a thing of the past....line went down approximately an hour ago....no answer on the (lack of) helpline....

[Aquila ka Hecate]

It is beyond a joke, the techies were here on the 4th, got the line up and running, thought my problems were a thing of the past....line went down approximately an hour ago....no answer on the (lack of) helpline....

My Screamer went down about the same time last night.

My partner had a seat booked in a webinar which was really important to him, and he got cut off by Screamer about 2 minutes before it was due to start.

I can't begin to tell you how frustrating this is....and I see it's down this morning as well.

No, not a word from the provider itself.

[TK-Sp3cialiSt]

More than 90 days since my ordeal with this started(sheriff seizing equipment from Screamer) and no offer of compensation from Screamer, they are pathetic when it comes to service, yet another 12 hours down and not a word from them.

I have spent a small fortune of alternate services to allow me to be able to sort my clients, cannot believe that ICASA can allow this to continue, will have to seek legal reprisentation to see what my options are, as this has to stop...this is the reason the government put the Consumer Protection Act in place, to protect the consumer from lack of service, I think Screamer had better get themselves right

[TK-Sp3cialiSt]

go over to 4mb adsl uncapped its much cheaper than screamers uncapped and is faster.

How do you work out that 4mb adsl is cheaper? Telkom line rental, adsl line rental and uncapped account, well over a grand, please explain how this is cheaper?

[Borrels]

I can't believe anyone is still relying on these Screamer clowns for their connectivity. By all means, give them a full go to get your money back and make up for the frustration (they certainly deserve it) but at least get a 3G or something in place in the meantime so you have a half-decent connection.

[nerf]

telkom line rental is about R120pm for residentail
adsl line is R413pm for 4mbps
openweb standard uncapped for R539 @ 4mb

total cost = R1072 pm for adsl uncapped @ 4 mb
Screamer uncapped is going for R1799 pm @ 1mb

Adsl uncapped is not only cheaper than screamer but also 4 times faster