Implementing a VoIP System but not informing of the correct needs.

Item: AIT Online
Rating: 1

So my client, has used AboutIT for quite a while, and although there were endless issues before, mainly AboutIT, with their own link and equipment, UNABLE TO TELL the Client when the VoIP is down, yet the client is not on that network, has no access to the routers, etc???? So, after quite a few quotations on a NO-TELKOM solution, the owner of AboutIT who has worked with the client for years, comes and SELLS us a professional, FAILSAFE, always up solution, with a OEM Server as the VoIP server, which in the meeting was discused after i asked what make of server they would supply. I also asked to supply the UPS since VoIP companies usually always supply LINE INTERACTIVE UPS backups or else inverters and batteries, both usually cant be charged via a generator and in cases a SERVER PSU like the equipment at the client, and the "quoted" OEM VoIP server, will not take the UPS supply due to it not being very clean. After the meeting AboutIT was making one or two changes to the quotation, and the next day it was signed. So the agreed SOLUTION was signed for then, which we were also told that there would be SITE SURVEYS for a Microwave link, before IMPLEMENTATION, and for 2 weeks heard nothing. Then on a Wednesday, i am called, and asked about the current IP ADDRESS RANGE, which was a public range for the private LAN, which needs to be changed. I said it was not that easy, and i would come there the next day to discuss. AboutIT now states this call was a "Meeting" and i accepted this change. A meeting, would mean physically meeting not so? It gets worse. In the same period, the client had paid AboutIT all costs of the EQUIPMENT, and the licensing, and the VERY NEXT DAY, a SITE SURVEY is done, this i think was on the Tuesday, the day before i was called. And a SITE SURVEY for a link for the SOLUTION, as per quotation, thats not even done, yet AboutIT has taken the money???? How can you quote before you know you can even supply? The next day i am there and the SOLUTION was being IMPLEMENTED TODAY, no pre-implementation checks, no information on whats needed, whats happening, what needs to happen, just, IMPLEMENTATION. Since i said the IP change is not a small job, there is a Server 2003 server, at the client, that relies on DHCP / DNS and usually you select the IP address when installing, and the DHCP / DNS is set around that, it uses DNS and DHCP since, back in 2003, there was no Google DNS - 8.8.8.8, everyone had to do this name resolution themselves, and the main IP was obviously also a big part of that, just changing that was backing up, reconfiguring, usually reactivating depending on changes done, and not a simple process, plus all devices needing new IP's, printers IP's and printer ports needing adding and changing, all applications reliant on old IP's / ports, needing to be changed. Since this server runs the emails, and Accounting System for the client, i cant just do this, and i was not even offered a minute to explain this. Next, told there must only be 1 DHCP server, and all mine must turn off, which is fine for Server 2003, but again, not the safest and best quick choice, but i comp**** and turned off all DHCP servers including the Servers DHCP Server. Next, i needed to make sure there were cables for all POE items, and after 4 - 5 hours asking the technician and calling Candice at AboutIT, for the requirements, for the MICROWAVE LINK, and getting no answers, other than our UPS must also power this link, and extra router and a device to choose the best link so the VoIP was up all the time, which was all not in the original agreed quotation, luckily though the SuperMicro server they said they would use, infact was an Intel i7 DESKTOP, which, if it crashes, now means the client has what? No phones? For how long? Till a new box is supp****, installed and configurations imported, where as a SERVER would usually warn before, and that is what we wanted, and why i even asked what server they would use. Well, a SuperMicro average PSU is 1000W, a desktop is 500W, so they extra equipment fits in with the new POWER REQUIREMENTS, but we ordered and quoted on different specs that we were told was all that was being used. When i called Candice about the Microwave added power on our PSU, not their money spent, the clients, she just said it hardly uses any power, what is the issue??? Candice if we hardly pay your money, what would your issue be??? On the second day of install, where i needed to know the power requirements and how many cables needed extra (i used my own initiative the previous day and the QUOTED cordless phone wireless receiver could take 6 phones, plus 1 spare plus 1 Microwave link) since AboutIT now had cordless phone bases that only handled 5 phones, meaning we needed 2 base stations, plus i still have no clue on the MICROWAVE link requirements, which, without this there is no VoIP or DATA so the client should just close his doors, how else can he trade in todays world? Added to this, since the new VoIP phones were added, printer issues were happening, email issues, IP issues for devices on DHCP getting a new range IP and not able to work, all which should have been done BEFORE HAND, in the PRE-IMPLEMENTATION process, and checked before anything went further, and after half a day where my client, would need to pay me, for this EXPENSIVE AboutIT implementation, i left, more on the fact that i dont like wasting peoples money, and after the SALESMAN was all professional promising things we never got, the "MEETING" to blame others, the fact i was *****ed at about "Do you know how hard it is to call NEOTEL", being the reason no SITE SURVEY was done, and on that being slapped in the face, since we wanted to move of TELKOM with their terrible service, and being told NEOTEL is either just as bad, or else, 2 weeks and then only getting support, in my personal experience with TELKOM, 2 weeks for a busieness sales item, does not happen, since its money in. I stilll dont know what is needed for the MICROWAVE,how much power is needed or what other new devices are being added without being told. We have lost a supply of the UPS and now stock is only available on the 25th, meaning the whole point of NO DOWNTIME, is gone, and the FAI***** is useless till the 25th. I am very sorry, AboutIT, but your very professional sales pitch, done by the owner of AboutIT, which sold us since it seemed we would get the same service, followed by no communication on pre-needed items, and where they are needed (I didnt know till the IP phones were at desks, where direct to POE switch cables needed to be, and wasted a day and cable putting points in an office, where all the sales people are getting PORTABLES, so no cables needed, yet we were told they were needed) Lets add, a SOLUTION, even just a quotation usually comes after a SITE SURVEY, since if the supplier says, we cant do it, then??? No Solution. Yes you will just used LTE, blah, blah, but strange in only a few days your current LTE, which i asked 893573 times on the first day, if the signal was okay where it was placed AS I NEEDED ANOTHER CABLE WITH THE 3 i RAN if the signal was bad, and i still dont know if this signal is okay, but the ADSL of the clients, used over 2GB, in 4 business days, when all computers on the network still used the old gateway, and only the VoIP fai***** was going on the ADSL connection. So if no Microwave, and you using 2GB data in 4 business days, add another LTE does what, since the ADSL will be gone then? Is this just going to get worse from here?

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