Call Center Incompetence

I just had the most terrible call center experience.

I have been trying for a week to take out a new 24 month contract with Telkom SA. I have been with them for the last four and a half years, so I have migrated to a month to month client in the meantime. My first phone call to the call center, to request a new 24 month contract kept me busy for about an hour, including the time I had to hold on. I was assured by the call center operator afterwards that all is in order and that the services has been successfully app**** for and the devices has been ordered. Two days went by with absolutely no contact from Telkom, not even an sms with a reference number. I decided to log into my Telkom account and to my amazement they have cancelled my orders on the same day as I app**** for them. I phoned again, another 45min on the phone, just to be assured that it was a mistake on their side, they will rectify the problem, I received a confirmation sms this time around and thought that it was now sorted out eventually. I received an sms that I should deposit money into their account for my new services, after I was assured by the call center operator that she has switched me over to a 24 month contract and no payments are required for the devices. I followed these sms's up today with the call center, another hour and 15min wasted on the phone, only to be told that the money I should deposit is because I am still a month to month client. This is now after a week of being told I am on a 24 month contract. So the previous order has to be cancelled now and they will now for the 3rd time try and get it right. In the meantime a week has passed and I am back at square one with Telkom. How many times can you get it wrong in one week Telkom. I am a customer trying to take out a contract with you, surely this is not how the "number one" telecommunication company in SA does business. I just wonder how long it will take you to do something a bit more technical like moving a line, or even trying to cancel a service. I suggest you properly train your call center staff in the ways of business, and at least a bit of telephone ethics. I am very frustrated, this is not my first encounter of the sort. Please sort out your house!!!!!!