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Telkom store displays LG Stylus 2, FreeMe 1GB @ R249/month; pamphlet has LTE router package 30 + 30 GB @ R499/month. Should be an easy buy...
Credit vetting takes 2-3 days. Vodacom does it in 3 minutes.
Response received: Debt Review. I have been off Debt Review for 9 months... They advise I should call TransUnion... I provide them with TransUnion report showing no judgement / default... and supply same from Experian.
No response from the staff at the store, and I tweet Telkom. They respond, saying I should tweet my ID and they will look into the matter. TWEET MY ID! Really!
I phone their client center: I dial the 10213, at 5 PM, and 5 minutes later, the sales agent advises there is a comment logged that my order is cancelled due to an amount outstanding on my account. I ask to speak to a supervisor, as my account received was paid in full. I hold for 20 minutes; reading the news online.
Eventually, someone answers, and it's the billing division. I am told supervisors leave at 5:30 PM. I ask if my account has an amount outstanding - No is the reply. Your account is up to date.
So I am neither under debt review, nor am I negligent in my payments, but its been a week since I walked into Telkom Kenilworth Center, trying to buy two cell contracts and a router.
Should be easy.
Telkom is negligent in their duty to keep their credit records inline with their ITC providers, infringing on the rights of their clients. Probably goes against the National Credit Act - I registered a complaint at the NCR just to check.
Their communication structures are so weak that any communication involving slight complexity is broken into seperate conversations and multiple interruptions due to dropped calls / failed transfers.
I like the way that they name their Twitter crises response email address HP@telkom.co.za HelloPeter Telkom. I wonder if HelloPeter.com is aware of this.
Telkom has been protected from competition due to the "last mile" connection... the copper wire DSL / fixed land lines use... The inefficiencies in their network have promulgated "Nethoods" as alternatives to Telkom infrastructure.
The government is delaying the release of the spectrum now used by TV because Telkom (and other factors, sure) voice will be even less relevant as cell phones (cell rates in SA are so expensive compared to the rest of the world) increase - WhatsApp, Twitter, etc. doing away with voice.
Fibre provided by 3rd parties does away with requiring the copper, but must still go through Telkom network? Correct this in comments, if I am wrong, please. But Telkom is not getting the lions share of the rental cost.
Will South African citizens be taxed to support Telkom function when fibre and internet calls drop the forced copper lines? The way our government is not reacting to market forces makes me think: Yes.
I bet with all the call center cost saving, the downsizing of their labour force, the pricing of products to increase the squeeze from their clients, they can show a profit. For now.
Why did the second network operator fail to destroy the monopoly Telkom enjoys? Government owns Telkom. Government / ICASA blocked Neotel from owning the "last mile". Still a monopoly.
Its not me, its not recent:
Check their twitter account: @hellotelkom
It's a great read to see how inventive people can be:"It was escalated 3 days ago. we still waiting. wena to who did you escalate it to, Jesu?"
It's not undiscussed:
http://www.itweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=142003
is an Internet parody site about Telkom, South Africa's telecommunications monopoly. It was started by Gregg Stirton in June 2004 as a protest to the parastatal's excessive pricing for its services.
Do we need Telkom? Does SA need a parasite - parastatal - telecommunications provider? Or can we please vote together and get competition in this critical sector!
