NASHUA refuses to allow NUMBER PORTABILITY...

[Mams]

Please read this article:
http://www.mybroadband.co.za/nephp/?m=show&id=423
The article is:

Switch providers, keep your number
By Ana Monteiro, Moneyweb, 30 June 2005





Being able to switch mobile network operators and retain the same cellular phone number is something that South Africans cannot currently do. Choosing to go with another operator to get a better deal brings with it the inconvenience of having to inform all and sundry that your number has changed.

The Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa), mandated to regulate the telecommunications and broadcasting industries, is currently looking into changing this state of affairs, and has started the rule-making process for number portability to become a reality.
Although Icasa has said number portability should go live at the end of this year, there have been reports that this will be delayed until next year, according to Mark Taylor, managing director of Reunert subsidiary Nashua Mobile.

However, an announcement by mobile network operator MTN has shifted the goal posts and looks set to bring South Africans one step closer to keeping their numbers and moving to the network or service provider that offers them the best package suited to their needs.

As of July 1 this year, MTN will allow its contract subscribers to move between service providers and still retain their cell phone number.

MTN has five service providers – Nashua Mobile, Allied Technologies (Altech) subsidiary Autopage Cellular, Orion Telecom, iTalk and its own service provider. Not to be confused with mobile network operators (Vodacom, MTN and Cell C), service providers resell on behalf of the big three, but then tailor-make their own packages to distinguish the services they provide to the customer. Although service providers can make up their own packages, they are not allowed to set call tariffs, having to adhere to what is specified by the networks.

Autopage Cellular was clearly happy about MTN’s concession. In a full-page advertisement that appeared in this weekend’s edition of the Sunday Times, Autopage Cellular’s managing director Stephen Blewett wrote an open letter addressing MTN contract subscribers about the news.

“If you’re with MTN and you’re out of contract, you can now switch service providers and keep your existing MTN number,” writes Blewett. Blewett stated that an official automated switching system will be available towards the end of July 2005, but “for those who cannot wait until then, Autopage Cellular and MTN have put a manual system in place.”

He explains that “at this stage, it is not yet possible to switch to another network”, as the other two networks, Vodacom and Cell C has not yet announced the ability to port their numbers between service providers.

Although excited, Nashua Mobile is being a little more cautious, as the rules governing the porting are not yet clear, says Taylor: “At this stage, all we’ve got to go on is MTN’s announcement, and there is not clarity on what to do in certain situations. For example, if an MTN-Nashua customer decides to end their contract before the 24-month period is up, MTN would claim the full connection bonus back from us. We don’t know what the case would be with number portability.”

Taylor says that although this interim step is good news for consumers, the real prize will be when inter-network number portability (that is, when people can move to another operator and not just another service provider) becomes a reality: “That’s when we’ll see more competition,” he says.


Taylor explains that network portability will only happen in the first quarter of 2006: “This will require a central database with mobile phone numbers so that networks know where to route the calls to. Construction of the database has not yet started.”

Source: http://www.moneyweb.co.za


NOW HERE IS MY DILEMMA:

I have a few contracts with Nashua Mobile and they are offering me a pathetic deal on an upgrade on an OLD contract ( Mycall 100 ).
I am out of the current 24 month period and want to change to MTNSP who are offering me a deal R1500 better in Rand value...
I called Nashua Mobile and they REFUSE to help me.
They do accept that that in principle it can be done but say they will only allow it from next year August. ( THEY WANT TO HOLD ON AS LONG AS THEY CAN! )
MTN says they have the systems in place and it can be done and is being done with certain SPs but requires a letter of release of my number from Nashua.
After escalating the matter with Nashua they say I must bring a letter from MTN.......
Mtn says the letter is supposed to be from Nashua....
FROM PILLAR TO POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What must i do?????????????????

 

[stoke]

Bite the bullet and send your customers some marketing material with new numbers on it.
Fsk Nashua Ripoff Mobile.

 

[jhart]

When number portability steps in, will it then be possible to switch from a contract to pre paid while retaining the same number?

Currently it is only the other way around.

 

[3g_rox]

Bite the bullet and send your customers some marketing material with new numbers on it.
Fsk Nashua Ripoff Mobile.

When I switched a few months ago from MTN to Vodacom (best move I ever made! ), Vodacom offered to sms all my contacts (they read my address book from my MTN sim and I gave them another list) advising them of my new number.

The switchover went relatively painlessly thanks to the commitment of the sales person at Vodacom. I presume Vodacom will do the same for you if you move to them.

 

[MrG]

I am a Nashua Mobile customer and am rather pleased with their service, but I guess if I had been in your posistion it would not have been the best.

My family own a Autopage Cellular branch and as understanding Autopage's system there is no reason for Nashua not to allow the change.

I fully agree with stoke, bite the bullet and tell them you dont need them to write a written permission for number release you will simply write them a nice letter that cancels the contract rendering that number useless for the next 5 years.

Get your new number from... um maybe you should do yourself a favour and switch to Vodacom aswell. I have been on all three networks, there is a reason why Vodacom is South African's Leading Cellular network, because they really offer excellent service!

 

[Unchained]

Don't even mention Nashua...

I have a couple of contracts with Nashua on all 3 networks and am about to stop the debit order and cancel everything, my upgrade Nokia 6680 (on MTN) has been in 3 times for the same problem (bluetooth) since Oct and when I switched it on at their premises today when collecting it, the BT wouldn't even switch on, although it has apparently been at QA 3 hours earlier . Everytime I receive the phone, its in a worse state than when I handed it in.

Although Nokia (aka ExactMobile) repairs the phones, my contract is with Nashua so I hold them responsible. If the prob is not sorted by 11:00 tomorrow, it's the end of the line of 10+ years with Nashua.

Anybody here with the name & number of somebody with some influence at Nashua? Please post or pm...

 

[MrG]

Unchained, as I understand having examined the way Autopage operates (family owns a branch), if Nashua worked in the same way, they have no control over the stock they receive (quality or reliablity) or even repair processes because its usually 3rd pary or the actually provider themeselves. Nokia 6680 have Bluetooth problems on certain firmware due to Nokia's absence in quality control, but if I ever ask you anything, and every member at MyADSL, physical hardware such as phones, problems with them cannot be pinned onto a service provider. If there are billing errors etc then blame the SP, afterall thats all they really take care of, the VAS etc is loaded by the SP but the Network still implements it.

 

[Unchained]

... but if I ever ask you anything, and every member at MyADSL, physical hardware such as phones, problems with them cannot be pinned onto a service provider.

By being an agent for the phone manufacturers and NO's, they accept a certain amount of responsibility. The least the SP's can do is to provide acceptable client care, note complaints properly and deal with the providers on behalf of the clients, that's what they're paid for. To support this: Nashua insisted the last time that I hand the phone in at their offices and not directly to Nokia. This they told me telephonically while I was inside Nokia's offices ready to hand the phone in.

Anyway, the actual logging of the problem every time was pathetic, I even sent an email describing the problems (yes, others as well, not only BT) in detail and what workarounds I had to use (when BT still worked ). As far as I can determine this info was not forwarded with the phone.

 

[MrG]

Your problem sounds pretty much straight forward protocol, and the state of management of the phone's problems are handled with horrific care. I believe Number Portablility is going to cause great deal of problems for SP's if they dont straighten out.

Service Providers today are only interested in really making the contract, once they have done that, there is nothing more to it. Then all of a sudden they care again when you are almost finnished your 24 month contract or you have decided to cancel.

I agree, the service providers do often need to take a closer look at their management of complaints regarding phone repairs. Maybe I was being a little general in my statement, I was saying more, if you get a out of box failure then you cant blame the SP, since they are not allowed to open their stock that come from the phone manufacturers.

However I would always prefer to take my phone to a Vodashop and not go via my SP and have my phone sent away.