Telkom - you can never get service

[ekkekan]

I had a prepaid SIM from them. 2 days before it expired I decided to move over to Smart Broadband. Yes I did loose the data I had. Moved 250MB to the new account. Got all the confirmations. When I use USSD codes it shows I still have 238MB left yet my PC and phones indicate NO INTERNET. TELKOM keeps on redirecting me to a login page to buy data.

What can one do to solve this?
I cannot leave my job to go to a Telkom shop. The chat service does not work as a support member just comes in and after a hello from me the chat window is just closed and nobody comes back.

TELKOM will never change..........

 

[D3nz]

I had a prepaid SIM from them. 2 days before it expired I decided to move over to Smart Broadband. Yes I did loose the data I had. Moved 250MB to the new account. Got all the confirmations. When I use USSD codes it shows I still have 238MB left yet my PC and phones indicate NO INTERNET. TELKOM keeps on redirecting me to a login page to buy data.

What can one do to solve this?
I cannot leave my job to go to a Telkom shop. The chat service does not work as a support member just comes in and after a hello from me the chat window is just closed and nobody comes back.

TELKOM will never change..........

I feel your pain trying to get an actual person to help with your query. If you have Facebook you can get support through Messenger. May take a day or so though.

 

[ekkekan]

I feel your pain trying to get an actual person to help with your query. If you have Facebook you can get support through Messenger. May take a day or so though.

Thanks for the tip. Will give it a go. Can use hot spot for internet but all my Sonoffs and inverter are connected to this router.

 

[DapperDanMan]

The chat service does not work as a support member just comes in and after a hello from me the chat window is just closed and nobody comes back.

Sounds like you've run out of data.

 

[PsYTraNc3]

Telkom in store consultants are so much better than any of their chat or call in options.
Trying to find time to go in store would be the best bet.

There are also phone settings that could cause these issues.
APN settings correct?
Dual sim phone with the correct sim selected for data?
Roaming?

 

[ekkekan]

Sounds like you've run out of data.

Nope. When I use USSD code it shows I have data expiring 25/12. Telkom customer service also confirmed it does show there is data even now. They use the lame excuse of network problems. Can it be as I have the same tariff plan on my phone and it is working fine.

 

[ekkekan]

Telkom in store consultants are so much better than any of their chat or call in options.
Trying to find time to go in store would be the best bet.

There are also phone settings that could cause these issues.
APN settings correct?
Dual sim phone with the correct sim selected for data?
Roaming?

I'm not using in a phone but on a router. Router show all is fine including signal and WiFi is Broad casting. When going to any Web it bring up a out of bundle yet a USSD shows there is data and customer service confirms it.
Thanks for the tip. Will have to go to a shop.

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

paging @TelkomUseless

 

[deesef]

I had a prepaid SIM from them. 2 days before it expired I decided to move over to Smart Broadband. Yes I did loose the data I had. Moved 250MB to the new account. Got all the confirmations. When I use USSD codes it shows I still have 238MB left yet my PC and phones indicate NO INTERNET. TELKOM keeps on redirecting me to a login page to buy data.

What can one do to solve this?
I cannot leave my job to go to a Telkom shop. The chat service does not work as a support member just comes in and after a hello from me the chat window is just closed and nobody comes back.

TELKOM will never change..........

Make sure that roaming is disabled. Telkom Smart Broadband only works on Telkom towers.

 

[ekkekan]

Make sure that roaming is disabled. Telkom Smart Broadband only works on Telkom towers.

I guess just like Afrihost data via MTN one needs to setup a new profile with access point for Telkom only towers.
Anyone that can provide such detail. I know it will be auto detect. Not sure about the name and login or password.

 

[deesef]

I guess just like Afrihost data via MTN one needs to setup a new profile with access point for Telkom only towers.
Anyone that can provide such detail. I know it will be auto detect. Not sure about the name and login or password.

The APN is possibly different?

 

[PsYTraNc3]

I'm not using in a phone but on a router. Router show all is fine including signal and WiFi is Broad casting. When going to any Web it bring up a out of bundle yet a USSD shows there is data and customer service confirms it.
Thanks for the tip. Will have to go to a shop.

I guess just like Afrihost data via MTN one needs to setup a new profile with access point for Telkom only towers.
Anyone that can provide such detail. I know it will be auto detect. Not sure about the name and login or password.

Most routers also have roaming and APN settings that could be affecting this.
What router are you using?

 

[ekkekan]

Most routers also have roaming and APN settings that could be affecting this.
What router are you using?

Here we go -
Service - what service????????
I get to the Telkom shop in Main Mall. Sorry we only sell products. Go to the other Telkom shop luckily in the same mall.
Provide my router and ask for the setting to be changed for Smart Broadband under the profile.
Techie looks and says no we cant work with a micro SIM. He wants to use it in his phone. Sir you will have to do a SIM swop to nano so that he can use it in his phone. He even opens the SIM tray to show me my SIM cannot be used in his phone.. I say not today as I don't have my ID. He speaks to the manager who does not want to use my driver's licence. I have to get my ID. 30min before close up time so I can only get home at closing time.
I ask but lets just connect via a LAN cable and I know where the settings and new profile is. Techie has 2 laptops to do this on his desk. He is not keen but agrees to help me. With LAN cable going into the router it makes no connection even if the correct addy for router is used. I suggest we connect with wifi. Spot on we connect and he asks now how will be get past the login. I say no problem. I Login and he tries something under the Telkominternet profile. He ten opts to create a new profile with the same details. The router was already on NO ROAMING as I had it.
Next he does not really know what to do next. He looks around under USSD codes. His snr comes along and guides him to go to the management options fir the SIM. It was option 14. Goes in and selects NO ROAMING to apply to the SIM. Log out and all had a lucky ending with router working as it should.

My statement still stands that one just cannot get service from TELKOM even if I am sorted out. Would this change via USSD be that difficult to train customer support staff??????? for a common change from normal connection to Smart Broadband.

This might help others that are using a Huawei B315, B525 and may be other routers that move over to the Smart Broadband tariff at Telkom which is very cheap even if it only works on Telkom towers.

 

[ekkekan]

So we move on and with luck the router is still working but not as it should- Who do we thank. Telkom and ESKOM for LS starting this evening.

After 3 SMSes Telkom indicated my data is used up at 19h34. Amazed but what can one do. 3 hours lapse and I go in with USSD code just to find but there is still 38MB left but no internet. I decide to add a bit of data and yes internet is suddenly working fine. After nearly 24hrs this 38MB is still available as well as the bit I added.

 

[Amnesia]

So we move on and with luck the router is still working but not as it should- Who do we thank. Telkom and ESKOM for LS starting this evening.

After 3 SMSes Telkom indicated my data is used up at 19h34. Amazed but what can one do. 3 hours lapse and I go in with USSD code just to find but there is still 38MB left but no internet. I decide to add a bit of data and yes internet is suddenly working fine. After nearly 24hrs this 38MB is still available as well as the bit I added.View attachment 1207008

Could've avoided all this by popping the sim into a phone. Then *180# -> press # to scroll down -> press # to scroll down again -> Select Option 14) Manage TelkomSA-R -> Select option 1) Disable TelkomSA-R then afterwards reboot the router/phone so the setting takes effect.

This always sorts that issue.... Your router was roaming.