TelkomInternet's latest money-making trick ?

[BCR]

In the August 2010 issue of ‘ConnectSA .. News from Telkom’ which arrived in same envelope as the phone a/c, is the following :

‘’PC ASSIST – SUPPORT YOU CAN COUNT ON
What is PC Assist: It’s a reactive, secure & remote PC End-user Support Service that is provided telephonically or over the Internet. It’s designed specifically for PC-related faults – using Windows XP, Vista or 7 operating Systems.

How does it work: PC-Assist aims to provide reactive Desktop Support Services to TelkomInternet customers – across all market segments, including the mass market.

How to order: ..10215…0800-375-375 (left out unnecessary text)

(This is the nice part) -
How much does it cost: The first 20 minutes (or part thereof) are charged at a premium of R119, with subsequent 10-minute intervals (or part thereof) being charged at R50. Calls may last up to a maximum of 3 hours.’’

Does this mean they’ve done away with their PC Desktop support which certainly hasn’t been charged for up to now on those same nos.? ... or will the 2 services work in conjunction with one another ?

I’m no longer with them as my ISP, but they’re obviously out to try make as much from those clients’ who’ve not yet moved away.

 

[burn]

I see $$$'s! I should try a similar service from my home

Wonder who would pay for Telkom's advice anyway?

 

[Grouter]

"Reset the router, Sir. Do you have internet now? No? Oh. Well this is going to be difficult then."

 

[dD3]

oh lol !!

what a joke...

No internet.. No desktop support.. What a useless service.

 

[BCR]

"Reset the router, Sir. Do you have internet now? No? Oh. Well this is going to be difficult then."

... and for these few words you'll have the pleasure of paying them the small (PREMIUM rated) fee of
R119 !

 

[Sting]

No, this is not your normal ADSL or ISP type support. It is other PC related faults that you would normally take to a PC company (if you cannot fix it yourself).

 

[Grouter]

There are just so many reasons why you can't properly troubleshoot and fix a pc over the phone. If I had to do it I'd go mad. The person with the expertise (ie: the tech) being guided by the user (usually clueless) as to what's wrong with the pc? Fail. In fact, I usually go with the rule "If the client thinks it's XYZ, then that's the last thing I look at".

Troubleshooting PC problems is about listening, observing, trying this to see if that happens, checking a multitude of settings, etc, etc. Sometimes it's a hardware problem, sometimes software, often a combination of both.

I can sit in front of a misbehaving pc and achieve in a minute or two what would take an hour or more trying to get the user to do over the phone. Perhaps this is telkoms hope / business strategy.

And what PC tech worth his / her salt is going to be working for telkoms' phone support anyway, ffs?

 

[Sting]

There are just so many reasons why you can't properly troubleshoot and fix a pc over the phone. If I had to do it I'd go mad. The person with the expertise (ie: the tech) being guided by the user (usually clueless) as to what's wrong with the pc? Fail. In fact, I usually go with the rule "If the client thinks it's XYZ, then that's the last thing I look at".

Troubleshooting PC problems is about listening, observing, trying this to see if that happens, checking a multitude of settings, etc, etc. Sometimes it's a hardware problem, sometimes software, often a combination of both.

I can sit in front of a misbehaving pc and achieve in a minute or two what would take an hour or more trying to get the user to do over the phone. Perhaps this is telkoms hope / business strategy.

And what PC tech worth his / her salt is going to be working for telkoms' phone support anyway, ffs?

QFT !!!!

 

[thrakath]

There are just so many reasons why you can't properly troubleshoot and fix a pc over the phone. If I had to do it I'd go mad. The person with the expertise (ie: the tech) being guided by the user (usually clueless) as to what's wrong with the pc? Fail. In fact, I usually go with the rule "If the client thinks it's XYZ, then that's the last thing I look at".

Troubleshooting PC problems is about listening, observing, trying this to see if that happens, checking a multitude of settings, etc, etc. Sometimes it's a hardware problem, sometimes software, often a combination of both.

I can sit in front of a misbehaving pc and achieve in a minute or two what would take an hour or more trying to get the user to do over the phone. Perhaps this is telkoms hope / business strategy.

And what PC tech worth his / her salt is going to be working for telkoms' phone support anyway, ffs?

+1

QFMFT

 

[VioAdmin]

F*** Telkom, I can't even get them to install a line within 1-2 weeks and now they are releasing new 'services' to rape the consumer. Who is 'policing' Telkom? Who is policing the government? Argh, the frustration...

 

[Adrenalin]

Wow, quite something this.

I have to agree that helping someone over the phone when they know nothing, or speak a different language and aren't to fluent in english, let alone a PC, might be a 3 hour $$$ making scheme. Good grief.

Someone has to take these people out!!!