beerygaz
Well-Known Member
I've been checkingthe Telkom ADSL web site for some time, hoping for ADSL service in my areas (Olivedale, Randburg, 462-XXXX). A few months agos the status changed from "Service expected in April" to "Service Available".
I got prematurely excited and applied for my ADSL line. I was told the ISDN department and ADSL department differed and first I must cancel my ISDN (and all MSN numbers, etc) downgrade to an analogue line and then re-apply for ADSL. I dashed out and bought my modem (Netgear), cancelled my ISP subscription and waited with baited breath.
After 2 weeks I called Telkom back to ask the status of my installation and was informed that my application had been cancelled. Apparently my bit of the 462-XXXX range is on a sub-exhcnage that is linked via fibre to the the central exchange and there are no plans to put a DSLAM into my mini-exchange, thus no ADSL.
I now had a R 2000.00 Netgear paperweight and no ISP.
To condense 2 months of phone calls, e-mails, faxes and letters to Telkom, many grey hairs and a more time listening to "on hold" muzak than I ever care to repeat, I managed to convince Telkom's legal department to re-imburse me for my modem purchase. I argued that I wasn't informed that even though I'd been issued a Telkom order number, that my order may still be cancelled. So, a small victory over Telkom, and I believe they acted fairly, if not vey professionally or quickly.
Of course, I'm still stuck on ISDN with no hope of getting ADSL. I'm considering moving house anyway, but there is no knowing whether wehere I move to will support ADSL either (I must be a sad person to make ADSL access one of the criteria for my choice of new home).
If I want to check whether my new home will support ADSL, I need to actually order ADSL at that physical address and have the testing done, etc. If the tests ARE successful, then an some lucky bloke trying to sell his house is going to get ADSL installed and I'm going to get the bill. I tried to explain the flaws in this process to Telkom but the subtelties were clearly lost on them.
Despite many phone calls and e-mails, I've been told that hell will freeze over before my "mini-exchange" is fitted with a DSLAM to support ADSL. Even more frustrating is that a friend has ADSL and he's no more than 1km down the road from me! Time to get out the 802.11 bridge and the pringles tin I think.
I got prematurely excited and applied for my ADSL line. I was told the ISDN department and ADSL department differed and first I must cancel my ISDN (and all MSN numbers, etc) downgrade to an analogue line and then re-apply for ADSL. I dashed out and bought my modem (Netgear), cancelled my ISP subscription and waited with baited breath.
After 2 weeks I called Telkom back to ask the status of my installation and was informed that my application had been cancelled. Apparently my bit of the 462-XXXX range is on a sub-exhcnage that is linked via fibre to the the central exchange and there are no plans to put a DSLAM into my mini-exchange, thus no ADSL.
I now had a R 2000.00 Netgear paperweight and no ISP.
To condense 2 months of phone calls, e-mails, faxes and letters to Telkom, many grey hairs and a more time listening to "on hold" muzak than I ever care to repeat, I managed to convince Telkom's legal department to re-imburse me for my modem purchase. I argued that I wasn't informed that even though I'd been issued a Telkom order number, that my order may still be cancelled. So, a small victory over Telkom, and I believe they acted fairly, if not vey professionally or quickly.
Of course, I'm still stuck on ISDN with no hope of getting ADSL. I'm considering moving house anyway, but there is no knowing whether wehere I move to will support ADSL either (I must be a sad person to make ADSL access one of the criteria for my choice of new home).
If I want to check whether my new home will support ADSL, I need to actually order ADSL at that physical address and have the testing done, etc. If the tests ARE successful, then an some lucky bloke trying to sell his house is going to get ADSL installed and I'm going to get the bill. I tried to explain the flaws in this process to Telkom but the subtelties were clearly lost on them.
Despite many phone calls and e-mails, I've been told that hell will freeze over before my "mini-exchange" is fitted with a DSLAM to support ADSL. Even more frustrating is that a friend has ADSL and he's no more than 1km down the road from me! Time to get out the 802.11 bridge and the pringles tin I think.