Astonishing Incompetence

[=ChaosTheory=]

I have just received my first phone bill after getting ADSL (the 384 option) installed, and was somewhat shattered to see the total amount owed: R4232

After nearly having heart failure, I checked the subtotals to try figure out how this was possible: Rental -> R2626.68, Usage -> R 224.55, Service -> R383.77. Now, R2626 seems a little excessive for a DSL384 line to me... so I turned to the next page. Long story short, I've been billed for 10 different Advanced 3GB Shaped accounts.

I do know how this happened - and this is where the tale of incompetence begins. This link on the Telkomsa website offers the option to sign up instantly. Since I had my line installed on a Sunday and couldn't phone for a username and password, I tried this. I tried this 9 times, each time getting a "email already in use, try another" type message. I then attempted to email the webmaster (using the link provided on the website), only to get a "message undeliverable, address does not exist" message. So, I gave up on using the so-called instant access option. The next morning I phoned, and was informed that I had 9 active accounts (how can they even set up and bill you for an account that wasn't successfully created?). These were, apparently, deleted by the person on the other end of the line. A new account was then set up for me, and I've used this one account only.


What are my options here? I REFUSE to pay that amount.... apart from the obvious fact that I've not used 10 accounts, to be billed for 9 accounts that were not successfully setup (and which were apparently deleted) is just crazy. I must pay because their website doesn't work properly?

Advice would be great!

 

[Kasyx]

I'd suggest going to one of the Telkom Head Offices in your area with your bill and your story, some of the poor sods who work there are actually quite sympathetic, probably because you aren't just a voice on a phoneline, but rather a living, breathing person who could rip their throats out if your rage is peaked.

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Hope you get it fixed up promptly....

or else you can sell off some of these accounts to other capped people?

 

[MrG]

I have used that online system twice already, worked fine for me, but the it has been a problem for alot of people /sigh

 

[hans100]

If u in SS Cape Town

I had a similar account mix up abt 2 yrs ago partly due to my practice of paying a rounded off figure month end on a account that was cycled mid month thereby causing a bookkeepers nightmare . The initial 192 installation bellie flopped and the redo 1 month later resulted in been billed for two installations AND two accounts.....Eventually I avoided payment until the "please pay or else "ph call came through...ok enough ....so..

Anyways, the Claremont Telkom center has a Lady of Muslim faith with the name Shaheida or similar is without doubt the most accomodating and meticulous "beaurocratic establishmnet employee" I have ever dealt with. She swung the manager without hesitation, passed credits I asked for as well as giving a payment extension.

If you elseware, forget the customer help desk ..go straight to managers office. You going to have to get he's approval for credit at the end of the day so save your breath for then!