My dealings with Telkom!
Hey All!
I'm new to this post so, hello hello.
I just felt I needed to join a community where I'm at liberty to discuss my feelings regarding the broadband issue in South Africa, or should I rather say the Telkom issue. As a student with little money, I actually started a IT business earlier this year, and obviously, the naïve person i was back then, applied for a Telkom line and ADSL 192. Ok, so 3 weeks later I heard that my order was filled in and would be sent through to the order department. Yipee. I nearly croaked when I heard I needed to wait 8 to 12 weeks for my ADSL! But again I accepted their excuses... Ok, so after they installed my ADSL it actually worked! I used it for 3 months and we decided to move to a new place. I immediatly went to Telkom and ordered a move of my whole setup, line, adsl, etc. At first they told me that it wouldn't be a problem. So I was quite happy en pursued the MOVE>>>> 2 weeks after I moved in I went to a Telkom Direct store to find out why they haven't contacted me yet, I mean this is now almost 2 months after I put the order in! Only to be told that someone would contact me soon. 2 weeks later I recieved a call from them, telling me that, get this: Telkom is still designing the infrastructure for adsl in your area and you will only be able to get ADSL end FEB 2007! shocked, I almost burst out in tears. ok, fine, I thought. I'll have to cancel my account with telkom, because I can't wait until Feb!? Now here comes the fun part. Firstly, they wouldn't cancel my account because of an R76.00 arrears. So I payed them and then asked for the cancellation. Telkom reminded me that I signed a 24month contract, as to get a telkom adsl modem for free. This I knew. They told me that I was liable for penalty fees for early cancellation. This I also knew. They told me that the penalties would be R1500! now, this I did not know!
So I made the mistake of signing with Telkom, but never again. From my legal perspective (I'm a 3rd year LL student at tuks) telkom's performance as set out in the contract is to provide me a service. My performance is to pay. ok. Now telkom tells me that they cannot provide the service for me anymore, so, they are in breach of contract? not true? Nonetheless they charge me penalties. As expected they don't want their modem back, but what tickles me is that they charge me R1500 penalties for a modem worth R600 and their the ones in breach.
Anyways, I paid, and thats that. Now I use iburst and not a problem since.
I read all u guys' postings regarding the cases against telkom and I would like to congratulate u all on your hard work.
I really feel that, when we look at the law of competition, there should exist competition in every sphere of business as to create a healthy and strong market. This is not the case with telkom and seeing as the need for communication and the internet increases, telkom only profits more and more.
I think that the best solution would be a second network operator, with it's own infrastructure.
Can I put my hopes on SNO? They are going to use telkom's infrastructure aren't they? Doesn't that make them dependent?
So, I look forward to discussing more telkom issues with u guys and ladies...
Cheers for now
Justen