Hi folks
An official complaint sent to ASASA:
[email protected] and http://www.asasa.org.za/ConsumerComplaint.aspx
If you feel that there is false advertising involved feel free to use this information for your own complaint.
Regards,
RPM
"Dear Sir/Madam
Telkom’s current advertising campaign is misleading as they contradict their own policies in these advertisements.
I think it is time that we highlight the inaccuracies that Telkom is spreading regarding ADSL.
The advertisements discussed below appeared in the FHM, Time Magazine and possibly other print publications. The following publications definitely contained the advertisements, but there are most likely many more examples:
Time Magazine, September 2, 2005
FHM, August 2005
What Telkom advertises
Gaming
Are you game? (http://www.mydrive.co.za/general/telkomfhm1.gif )
Stuart is dicing with a man in a Porsche. In Sao Paulo. (http://www.mydrive.co.za/general/telkomprint1.jpg )
These advertisements create the clear impression that Telkom’s ADSL is suitable for international gaming.
Large downloads (Advertised as good for downloading movies and music)
Download music (http://www.mydrive.co.za/general/telkomfhm1.gif )
Get your movies on-line (http://www.mydrive.co.za/general/telkomfhm1.gif )
…downloading the Matrix (http://www.mydrive.co.za/general/telkomprint1.jpg )
This is a full length movie which is per definition considered to be a large download!
The term ‘download life’ indicates a large download/s (http://www.mydrive.co.za/general/telkomfhm1.gif )
These advertisements create the clear impression that Telkom’s ADSL is suitable for large downloads.
What Telkom Says
These advertisements are however completely different from their public comments and their recent ICASA submission.
What Telkom stated in their official ICASA submission (can be downloaded from here: http://www.mydrive.co.za/general/TelkomADSL.doc )
About gaming:
Page 9: “…minority of people who abuse the service and use it for purposes that it [ADSL] was not developed for, example gaming.”
Page 11: “Telkom’s ADSL service was never intended for bandwidth hungry applications, such as gaming or online trading”
About large downloads:
Page 3: “For customers with bandwidth intensive communication needs (e.g. such as peer-to-peer applications), these access mediums [ADSL] would not be sufficient and other products, for example Telkom’s Diginet products, would be more appropriate.”
Page 4: “Telkom’s ADSL offering is not designed to offer bandwidth intensive communications”
In the media:
Telkom ADSL ‘not for bandwidth hogs’
http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/telecoms/2005/0504131137.asp?S=Internet&A=INT&O=FRGN
“Telkom's ADSL service was never intended for bandwidth-hungry applications, such as gaming or online trading,”
The ADSL Service
As Telkom has pointed out the standard ADSL service is not suitable for gaming or large downloads. This is also stated on the Telkom website.
Telkom might argue that it is their unshaped service that is intended for gaming. From their advertisements, where they are clearly advertise their shaped service, a consumer is lead to believe that it is these accounts that can be used for gaming and large downloads. At no time do Telkom specify that it is only the more expensive unshaped service that is suited for gaming and large downloads.
Telkom are providing misleading and inaccurate information to the public by creating the impression that their standard shaped ADSL service can be used for applications which they in practice have not tailored their network for.
The Solution
• The specific advertising campaign should be stopped immediately.
• Telkom should apologize for misleading prospective clients
• Telkom should offer a full refund to users who were mislead and have subsequently purchased this product
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need any additional information.
We are looking forward to your positive response."
An official complaint sent to ASASA:
[email protected] and http://www.asasa.org.za/ConsumerComplaint.aspx
If you feel that there is false advertising involved feel free to use this information for your own complaint.
Regards,
RPM
"Dear Sir/Madam
Telkom’s current advertising campaign is misleading as they contradict their own policies in these advertisements.
I think it is time that we highlight the inaccuracies that Telkom is spreading regarding ADSL.
The advertisements discussed below appeared in the FHM, Time Magazine and possibly other print publications. The following publications definitely contained the advertisements, but there are most likely many more examples:
Time Magazine, September 2, 2005
FHM, August 2005
What Telkom advertises
Gaming
Are you game? (http://www.mydrive.co.za/general/telkomfhm1.gif )
Stuart is dicing with a man in a Porsche. In Sao Paulo. (http://www.mydrive.co.za/general/telkomprint1.jpg )
These advertisements create the clear impression that Telkom’s ADSL is suitable for international gaming.
Large downloads (Advertised as good for downloading movies and music)
Download music (http://www.mydrive.co.za/general/telkomfhm1.gif )
Get your movies on-line (http://www.mydrive.co.za/general/telkomfhm1.gif )
…downloading the Matrix (http://www.mydrive.co.za/general/telkomprint1.jpg )
This is a full length movie which is per definition considered to be a large download!
The term ‘download life’ indicates a large download/s (http://www.mydrive.co.za/general/telkomfhm1.gif )
These advertisements create the clear impression that Telkom’s ADSL is suitable for large downloads.
What Telkom Says
These advertisements are however completely different from their public comments and their recent ICASA submission.
What Telkom stated in their official ICASA submission (can be downloaded from here: http://www.mydrive.co.za/general/TelkomADSL.doc )
About gaming:
Page 9: “…minority of people who abuse the service and use it for purposes that it [ADSL] was not developed for, example gaming.”
Page 11: “Telkom’s ADSL service was never intended for bandwidth hungry applications, such as gaming or online trading”
About large downloads:
Page 3: “For customers with bandwidth intensive communication needs (e.g. such as peer-to-peer applications), these access mediums [ADSL] would not be sufficient and other products, for example Telkom’s Diginet products, would be more appropriate.”
Page 4: “Telkom’s ADSL offering is not designed to offer bandwidth intensive communications”
In the media:
Telkom ADSL ‘not for bandwidth hogs’
http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/telecoms/2005/0504131137.asp?S=Internet&A=INT&O=FRGN
“Telkom's ADSL service was never intended for bandwidth-hungry applications, such as gaming or online trading,”
The ADSL Service
As Telkom has pointed out the standard ADSL service is not suitable for gaming or large downloads. This is also stated on the Telkom website.
Telkom might argue that it is their unshaped service that is intended for gaming. From their advertisements, where they are clearly advertise their shaped service, a consumer is lead to believe that it is these accounts that can be used for gaming and large downloads. At no time do Telkom specify that it is only the more expensive unshaped service that is suited for gaming and large downloads.
Telkom are providing misleading and inaccurate information to the public by creating the impression that their standard shaped ADSL service can be used for applications which they in practice have not tailored their network for.
The Solution
• The specific advertising campaign should be stopped immediately.
• Telkom should apologize for misleading prospective clients
• Telkom should offer a full refund to users who were mislead and have subsequently purchased this product
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need any additional information.
We are looking forward to your positive response."
