No self-install on a line transfer

Juice

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South Africa.
How's this little gem:

We're moving to a new house in April. I called Telkom this morning to enquire about the process of moving the phone line and our ADSL connection to the new property. The lady takes the address and checks availability and says that there are lines available and because we're still going to be on the same exchange, we won't get a new number and we will also not have to pay for the line transfer. I was very pleasantly surprised at the last bit, since I never really expected anything from Telkom for free.

So I say, just to confirm: "So it's basically just a line transfer with an ADSL self-install on top?"

To which she replies: "Ah, er... uhm... no, sir. Because it's a transfer, the ADSL self-install option isn't available. You have to pay for the transfer of the ADSL service to the new property."

What the blue blazing f....???

After approaching this from several angles, it turns out that Telkom does not offer a self-install option on a line transfer. Only on a new line. But wait! The true ridiculousness of this is about to become apparent. I can transfer my line and discontinue my ADSL and then, when I move in, I can re-apply for my ADSL line and then I will be able to do a self-install.

Cue disbelief. Cue rant and rage.

This is just about the stupidest thing I've yet seen from Telkom...

What makes it worse is this overwhelming sense of futility. Lack of cometition in this space puts all of us at the mercy of this kind of carp from our entrenched ADSL monopoly. I want to do something about this, but I can't see that there is anything that can be done.

Juice
 
Hahahaha - it gets worse. The lady told me that if I have a problem with this, I should go to the Contact Us section on the Telkom web-site to find the contact details for the Complaints Department.

It's not there. Seriously. There's no link there that leads to a complaints division. Unless I'm blinded by my rage. But I doubt it. Does this mean that Telkom no longer has a complaints division? Hahahahahaha!! The irony...

Juice
 
and if you get a new telephone line installed and you dont want to pay for installation you can just take the closer option two which is a few bucks extra and then you dont pay for the installation and you can cancel the closer option after the first month....
 
Welcome my son. Pull up a chair and join us in the realm of peace and tranquility! Here's a beer/whiskey/wine/sletsappie. Have a smoke, kick back and relax. It's much easier this way and less likely to induce a heart attack.
 
Waitwaitwait!!! There's MOOOOOOREEEEE!!!

So, having been unable to find the contact information for the complaints department, I phone 1023. The lady doesn't know the number, but shouts around the call centre to see if someone else knows. 0800 600 126, she tells me. I call. Option 1 - progress on line order, Option 2 - progress on your fault, Option 3 - accounts query, Option 4 - reference number or other query. Option 4, right? Riiiiight!

"This number is no longer in service. Please address your query in writing to [email protected] or fax number or call 10219, 10212, etc."

So far, the only one I haven't tried yet is the e-mail or fax. I don't like using this as a complaints channel, since you have no guarantee that anyone is even going to read it. I want to speak to someone and spit in their eye over the phone!

Juice
 
Wow, that's pathetic.
What to do...?
Paintball gun all things Smellkom? Stab van radiators / tires? Take technicians hostage?

I saw a lovely big 'do 3G' advert on the side of a building, walking this morning to work. So wished I had a paintball gun!!
 
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Hahahahahaha - I'm weeping with futile hillarity as we speak...

[email protected] on 2010/03/03 10:27 AM
The e-mail account does not exist at the organization this message was sent to.

BWAHAHAHA!!!
 
Look on the bright side - you've just hit 1000 posts with all your ranting and raving. Congrats! You're now a Grandmaster.

Back to reality. Just cancel the ADSL service, let them do the free line transfer, then re-apply for ADSL when your line is transferred. It's no use breaking your head over this. We are all forced to do silly, unnecessary things with Telkom to avoid these fees that shouldn't be there in the first place. There systems are obivously ancient, and can't be changed to reflect reality. So find a loop hole and use it.
 
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Oh freck, I had better check with my friendly Telkom staff, they told me that the line move and ADSL line move would be completely free.
 
Okay, checked with 10219, and, because I am using the closer 2 option, the free installation of both the line and the ADSL is still active.
But, in the conversation, she mentioned that the "free-install special offer" ends as at the end of March, which excludes you from benefiting from the offer.
 
Unless I apply now for installation on the 31st of March? That could work...

Where did you find out about the special?
 
Okay, checked with 10219, and, because I am using the closer 2 option, the free installation of both the line and the ADSL is still active.
But, in the conversation, she mentioned that the "free-install special offer" ends as at the end of March, which excludes you from benefiting from the offer.

I suggest you call them again. I just spoke to them and they said that the promotion only qualifies you for free telephone line installation. They quoted me R500 for ADSL installation over and on top of the promotion...

The helpful lady, Naledi, did tell me about something called "Project Reconnect" that allows the transfer of the phone line and ADSL line free of charge. Trying to get onto that now. Why someone else couldn't tell me that from the beginning blows my mind. Left hand, meet Right hand. Right hand, Left hand.

Juice
 
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