My ADSL Application Experience

M

macPhallus

Banned
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Aug 26, 2005
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Gonubie
Hi All
I do not view myself as a newbie to this forum – I’ve just upgraded my status from LTL (Long Time Lurker) to Subscriber.

I work for myself and my only connection to Telkom is via a few strands of copper.
I find them no longer beneath my contempt.

My tale of ordering ADSL:

04/08/2005
Phone 10219.
Speak to Elaine.
Ref No: 623665/53

16/08/2005
Phone 10219.
Speak to Riaan.
Request activation - I will install modem myself.
Told me to phone 0800 456 786 - as he’s not sure.

Phone 0800 456 786
Speak to Nicky.
Request activation - will install modem myself.
She will ask a specialist to call me.
I asked when and she said any minute from now.

18/08/2005
Still no call from Specialist.

Phone 0800 456 786
Speak to Martina.
Says that there is no note for Specialist call-back on my call log.
Said I must phone 021 4144 832 and speak to George, the Specialist

Phone 021 4144 832
No answer - auto transfer to special services help line.
Give up after 5 attempts.

Phone 0800 456 786
Speak to Gail.
Request activation - will install modem myself.
She says it is not possible. I argue. She says I must e-mail George at [email protected]

Phone 0800 456 786
Speak to Seziwe
She reveals that the self-installation is not available in all the provinces but someone will get back to me.

I send e-mail to George (yes, the spelling of his name was a Freudian slip)

“Hi Geore

After speaking to Nicky, Martina, Gail and Seziwe I'm pinning my hopes on you for assistance.

I would like to have my current phone line Upgraded/Activated for ADSL use.

I will then install my ADSL Router and Filter myself.

Could you please advise me when the Upgrade/Activation will take place?


Regards

Marcellus”


Travel 50km to the nearest Telkom office.
At Telkom office wait in queue for 30mins - only one person serving.
Second person steps in to helpdesk: <Enter Marcus>
I explain my situation and he phones 0800 456 786 and asks me if I would mind holding onto the phone until someone answers and explain what I want.
I say yes I do mind.
He e-mails Willem in CT and says he will get back to me shortly.

Get back home.

Got e-mail from George:

Marcellus,

Currently the self install option is not commercially available. I see you have been informed of the installation date for the 8th September.

I will get this improved for you and will contact you shortly.

Regards

George Hill
Specialist DSS
Special Services Division
Western Region
Fax : (021) 419-1117

I reply to George:

Hi George

Thanks for the quick response.

Apart from saving the R404-00 installation fee, I was under the impression (SA Computer Magazine?) that it was offered as a standard option. I am in the process of investigating different brands of ADSL Routers and have narrowed them down to Billion, D-Link and Netgear. I need to check specs on PPPoe capability.

Regards


Marcellus

<sigh>

19/08/2005
Get call from Telkom guy. He’ll be at my place in fifteen minutes.
He arrives and plugs modem into my phone line.
Green light flashes and stops.
He says connection is good and do I want a micro filter?
I say yes, he installs one and leaves.
I’m dazed and confused (yes I love Led Zeppelin).
Go and pick-up my Netgear DG834 ADSL Firewall Router (for under R800.00 {and none-of-this-wireless-crap}), install, configure and 10 minutes later I’m subscribed to Web Africa.
Check for software updates.
Chuck out my Satellite Card, tell M-web to shove it and Bob’s your aunt.
 
Last edited:
2 things..

1. you got it fast though with some effort. be happy its working while other people are still waiting.

2. Self install is not yet a option yet cause i was thinking of saving that install fee but read comming soon so just ordered the normal way. why you ask for it ? Did the a Telkom Technician/Call agent tell you about as a option ? Oh wait magazine.. hrm.. At least its done
 
Last edited:
Be happy, you got it really quick! :) It took some people to get it after 6 months!

:)
 
Yep that 11 work days - not bad at all - be very happy
 
No complaints at all. I followed all suggestions in the, highly recommended, post:
Forum: ADSL hardware, software, technical help
Post: Here it is: an ADSL NEWBIE F.A.Q ( 1 2 3 ) by lewstherin http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=24418

Started keeping notes, as the post suggested, and posted them here for anyone who is interested. No criticism or complaints, just an objective post.
I was very impressed once George took matters in his own hands.
Points:
1. I was quite comfortable with the quoted installation date. I was trying to save myself the R404.00 installation fee.
2. All my queries was related to the “self installation” but everyone assumed I was in a hurry for the service.
3. My post is purely for information purposes
 
As the posts suggest, your experience can be classified as hassle-free compared to other experiences, just shows what a cockup the whole process still is.
 
It took exactly 1 month for me to have my ADSL installed. The whole expierence with the call center of Telkom and their staff was pleasant - even though a little drawn out. But reading this forum prepared me for a long wait, so I was pleasantly surprised when it *only* took a month.
 
I work for myself and my only connection to Telkom is via a few strands of copper.
I find them no longer beneath my contempt.
Click to expand...

Why? Because you ONLY spent 5-6 hours chasing after them (over a period of 11 WORKING days) to get something sorted out? Are we, as a nation, so accustomed to cr@p that we find this acceptable? Pity.
 
Hey McPhallus, i too had a good experience with my ADSL installation. I place my order on the 19th (Friday), called them the monday to confirm that they received everything & query how long it would take to get it installed. Got told it normally takes anywhere from 21 days to 3 months to have ADSL installed. Got given a reference number and was told that someone would call me in about a week.

Wednesday decided to give Telkom a call to check on the status of the application. Got through to probibly the most helpfull guy there ever (Ghakiem). After a bit of a technical chat with him, he said he would see what he could do for me if I was prepaired to hold on for 5 - 10 mins. About 6 minutes passed & Ghakiem came back to me and said it's all systems go and I should call the technical department and tell them that I wanted to do the installation myself and they could have everything done in a couple of hours. Followed this advise and was told it would take them about a day or two to allocate a port for me.

Friday, get a call from Lloyd at Telkom to let me know that I could go ahead and install the modem & collect a self install letter from one of there stores. Followed the instructions and was setup friday evening when i got home.

Just goes to show that they can have it done quickly if they wanted to.
 
Moederloos said:
Why? Because you ONLY spent 5-6 hours chasing after them (over a period of 11 WORKING days) to get something sorted out? Are we, as a nation, so accustomed to cr@p that we find this acceptable? Pity.
Click to expand...

<sheepish grin> Some forgotten famous curmudgeon quote, perhaps apocryphal...

The quote "You are no longer beneath my contempt" is a borrowed quote.

The full quote, I believe, is as follows:

"Perhaps your whole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
You are not as bad as people say - you are worse!
You are no longer beneath my contempt".

Keep Well

macPhallus
 
Moederloos said:
Why? Because you ONLY spent 5-6 hours chasing after them (over a period of 11 WORKING days) to get something sorted out? Are we, as a nation, so accustomed to cr@p that we find this acceptable? Pity.
Click to expand...

i agree 100% this is why we have the service level we have
 
DjStyles said:
Hey McPhallus, i too had a good experience with my ADSL installation.
Click to expand...

I would not say that out loud if I were you – I’ve lurked here long enough to understand that any posts remotely resembling a Pro-Telscum statement will get flame throwers hauled out of every nook and cranny – better you put on your Kevlar shorts… (;
 
I applyed DSL 2 weeks ago and i got it now :)
Firstly I foned 0800 375 375 help line and told me i have to wait for 2 months for my istallation because my area run out of ports!
i fone the helpline everyday until i get a number that i can call to make the application fast
You guys can call 0313633747 ask for Elize she will help u got with ur order fone her after a week of ording ur adsl
 
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