Telkom woes

[CathJ]

Oddly enough, there doesn't seem to be a Telkom-specific forum (or if there is, I've missed it - in which case, mods, please move this thread to the right place).

I knew I was heading towards trouble, but I misguidedly thought it might work out okay. I'm moving next month, and need a new telkom line (and thereafter adsl).

Picking up the form wasn't too bad, although they neglect to tell you on their site that you need your ID book to be able to apply. The telkom shop wasn't busy, nor was it on Sunday when I went to drop off the form. Nobody could tell me if a deposit would be required, what the criteria for this were, or how much it might be (and I'm not prepared to pay a deposit, since you only get it back when you cancel your line, so it's effectively a donation rather a deposit). When I picked up the form, they said it might be about 2 weeks.

Today I was amazed to receive an SMS from them! It quickly turned to dismay when I read that the installation date has been set for 30 July - *5 weeks* from now!

Bear in mind that there is a physical line, etc - all they have to do is plug it in at the exchange (although for some reason they still need access to my premises, requiring a day off work).

I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but really! This is so ridiculous - how do they expect to get new customers if that's the fastest they can get it done? It's insane.

And I just know it's going to get worse. I mean, I'm actually expecting them to turn up on the 30th, and I suspect they won't. And then I need to get ADSL, and I just know that's going to be another mission (I plan to go through WebAfrica with their 'complete' product - or at least I will if their price comes down to match the 'do' packages in August - but it's still Telkom behind them, so I'm sure it will still be a mission). And the most frustrating thing is that there's nothing you can do - except complain here, and that's not so satisfying because everyone here knows all this already, and has their own, worse, horror stories

 

[kris860911]

telkom...delightful

Don't we all smile when we hear those tall tales... "Telkom users are happy with the ADSL service that Telkom gives

Now, as much as it is difficult to organise a protest or something meaningful. Could there not be something that we can do, us that read the comments on these forums and go: "Yes please, for goodness sake. Could we not just get decent ADSL service?"

I'm tired of this situation. As im sure, many of you are as well.

I'm proposing, a petition of sorts. Lets all put our names on a big list, get some clever person to write a paragraph of what we stand for, the type of service we expect from Telkom, and the price/value package we expect in our ADSL.

The admin at myADSL are very much on our side, they have meetings with the big boys to try and improve it to us. So I'm thinking if we could do something, then maybe we could get a nice big ball rolling (towards the unsuspecting hypothetical Telkom offices preferably)

You in?

 

[The_Omlette]

Hmmm I have had a similar experience and do have some advice for you Cathryn. I applied for a new telephone line with the intention of having it converted to ADSL once it was physically installed (advice from some Telkom people I know). When I first applied (28 May 2007) I called 10219 and was told that installation was scheduled for 25 July 2007!!

I nearly had a heart attack but if you are polite to the ladies at the call center they can send the application into a "scheduler" who will try and move it closer. They rescheduled mine for the 25 July 2007 (today!!) and true as nuts the technician came through and I have a phone line at home.

It did take a month for them to do it but I did manage to shave off half the time by asking for a better date. Perhaps you can try that (if you havent already). The other advice I can offer is to be as nice as possible on the phone. I have a feeling that with the people at 10219 you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar

 

[killadoob]

guys tell them u use it for business should speed it up

 

[milomak]

When i applied for a new adsl line (on the phone), I was told 6 to 8 weeks. A couple of days after the application I got a call to expect installation within 16 days. In the end the line was installed within a week of my applying for it. So it seems sometimes they can do things quickly.