Getting Telkom struck off ProudlySA list

MaD · Mar 15, 2004

That's good news, BTTB... I am sure the people at ProudlySA are responsible enough to take this matter with a bit more concern than was previously shown.

We should have a public survey done of as many people in SA and ask them one question - "Do you think Telkom is a Proudly South African company?". I have asked just about everyone I know that question and all have said no, not a chance.

In my opinion them being on the list makes a mockery of the whole idea - it brings the PSA logo into disrepute, and until they are either off the list or pull themselves together, I will laugh under my breath every time I see a product with the PSA logo on it. Telkom being a member makes me think 'what's the point of it if they are on the list?'.

My 2c worth.

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Just imagine where SA would be now if it weren't for Telkom

BTTB · Mar 15, 2004

Well your 2c is accurate.

I’m just waiting for guidance from RPM and then we will take it from their. The only problem with the criteria of PSA is, absolutely nothing about monopolistic competition is mentioned in their 4 points. They say if we are concerned about pricing etc, we should contact the Competitions Board. So we would have to focus mainly on their point, "2. The company and its products or services must meet high quality standards."
Well we know that due to their monopolistic position in the market, standards and quality priorities have taken a back burner while making money for the shareholders is their main goal. Plus of course a lot of other issues like comparative services offered in other countries compared to ours and slow roll out of well known technology available to other countries but been hampered by Telkom in SA.

One could also question PSA's 4 Criteria points to be a PSA as incomplete. Like Unfair Business Practices should have been point 5 etc.
Well let’s see what RPM says.

Later,
BTTB

<hr noshade size="1">You can take Telkom out of the Post Office but you can't take the Post Office out of Telkom.

BTTB · Mar 19, 2004

Im giving this topic a *bump* as if any complaint to PSA is going to succeed. We will have to brainstorm and summarise all points so that we can draw up a proper letter. RPM still needs to come back on this one so that he can show guidance in the matter.
In other words, we will need input from the whole forum and RPM's authority so to speak.

Thanks,
BTTB

<hr noshade size="1">You can take Telkom out of the Post Office but you can't take the Post Office out of Telkom.

MaD · Mar 19, 2004

Yeh maybe this topic should be a sticky! hint hint...

IMHO their products are lacking, except the very expensive ones (read: corporate products). A few starter points about products would be...

-Their home phones are cr@p (and the sound quality out of those speakers are terrible, even my T610 sounds better.)
-The ADSL modems are sub-par.
-Line quality is never checked on installation (Caps test).
-DSL/Satellite/Diginet connectivity has no value for money.
-CallAnswer, IdentiCall etc., should be free (especially as one pays R70 line rental for a piece of wire that costs no more than R30).
-SurfMore, XtraTime are about same as normal price.
-International calls are a rip-off (to say the very least - even from overseas).
-Their boxes on just about every street corner are a k@k colour! [

]

Service:
-Waiting period for a new line ranges from 7 days to a few months in some cases.
-Getting charged for a callout is ridiculous.
-Staff pass the ball to other staff and create confusion for the customer - no one knows what's going on.
-Online Billing works intermittently. (I have been trying for weeks to receive the activation link, no success.. obviously, it's Hellkom).

I can think of more points, but we need to start mailing each other rather and set up a formal document outling the main points in detail.

In their "defense" R7 call is a blessing although prolonging the inevitability of high bandwidth permanent connections. The grootkoppe in Hellkom have that at home for free, and those are the guys that dictate what WE must pay for that same service. Telkom gives their normal staff a discount of +-R100 on ADSL... because they know it's bloody well overpriced.

Any which way, we will be adding a number of new T-shirt designs to the website soon. Any suggestions would be appreciated, catchy stuff.. see what u guys can come up with! (A few drinks helps when one thinks of the sarcastic pay-off lines hehehehe). Any other ideas for rhyming words for Hellkom/Melk-hom/Telscum/Telscam etc...?

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Just imagine where SA would be now if it weren't for Telkom

VQuest · Mar 20, 2004

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by MaD

In their "defense" R7 call is a blessing
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Agreed. In my opinion the R7 call plan was a good idea and I think it's the one and only idea I can actually congratulate them on. It helped me tremendously before ADSL was around. The only down side is the quality of their lines are so bad that I got disconnected so often that it became a R14 call plan. I still say they should charge about R10 a day and have an "all day call plan". I would gladly pay R300 a month for a 56k connection.

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United we stand!
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BTTB · Mar 20, 2004

I heard a rumour about 24/7 ISDN.

<hr noshade size="1">You can take Telkom out of the Post Office but you can't take the Post Office out of Telkom.

VQuest · Mar 20, 2004

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by BTTB
 I heard a rumour about 24/7 ISDN.

<hr noshade size="1">You can take Telkom out of the Post Office but you can't take the Post Office out of Telkom.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That would be fantastic! But if that were true, we could expect to be ripped off.

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United we stand!
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MaD · Mar 22, 2004

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">
But if that were true, we could expect to be ripped off.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
If so that would be more evidence against them. [}

]

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Just imagine where SA would be now if it weren't for Telkom

Sadad · Mar 23, 2004

I used to have a good friend that worked for Telkom and one thing I remember is that most of Telkoms equipment is from overseas. Infact Siemens is the biggest producerof Telkoms equipment. I had ISDN prior to ADSL and that box that they supply also produced overseas. So its very possible the Telkom could be exceeding a 50% local production rate.

Sadad

MaD · Mar 23, 2004

I wonder if even the terrible home phones they make are made locally? At the minimum the chipset(s) is from overseas... hhmmmm I have two different ones stashed away so will crack them open & sniff around...! [

]

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Just imagine where SA would be now if it weren't for Telkom

MaD · Mar 23, 2004

OK ok everything inside these things is unbranded. No-name stuff. Not a big surprise tho. The business phone I have here is made by Marconi... i know that 'cos there's a sticker underneath that says so, but inside there is absolutely nothing indicating manufacturer or anything...

Looks like Hellkom was too cheap to even buy a Made in Taiwan stamp!! [

]

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Just imagine where SA would be now if it weren't for Telkom

antowan · Mar 25, 2004

Look at this....

http://www.myadsl.co.za/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2171

He who does not understand the value of war at the right time, cannot comprehend the value of life at any time - Anonymous

Getting Telkom struck off ProudlySA list

MaD

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BTTB

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