Shockingly *********** service

<p>I do not know why I am even shocked at what has just happened. I was Telkom's very first 8ta mobile contract client in Plettenberg Bay in June 2010, and since then, it has been one problem after the other, with duplicate accounts and other issues which took months to resolve. So over 6 years of terrible service already.</p> <p> </p> <p>I have just taken a huge risk in that I have bought a small little beauty salon with a loan from the bank. I have staked my entire future on this as it is my pension plan. I went into the Telkom Knysna branch in mid-November to ensure that everything would be arranged and in place for my takeover on 1 January 2017. The branch in Plettenberg Bay closed some time ago so one has to make the 60 km round trip to Knysna to deal with Telkom. I app**** for the transfer of the existing telephone line into my name, and the addition of an ADSL line. I was assured that everything was under control and would be up and running by my first opening day. It was also confirmed that a technician would deliver the router to me in Pettenberg Bay in a week or so as the branch did not have stock at the time I submitted my application.</p> <p> </p> <p>Two weeks went by with no sign of a technician or the router, so I went once again to see Veronica at Telkom, she had handled my application. No need to worry, the technician wil get to me soon. Another week went by so I went back to the Telkom shop. Veronica was now on leave and according to another consultant, my application did not exist on the system! I almost had heart failure as this was already Wednesday the 28th December and I was opening for business in just a few days time! He assured me he would escalate the application with his manager and give me feedback. I waited until Friday morning the 30th and had still not heard anything so went back into the branch. My fourth trip from Plett to Knysna. They couldn't find my application and basically shrugged and said there wa n othing they could do until Veronica came back from leave in a week' time. Needless to say, I had a total meltdown and refused to leave the shop until something was done. A helpful consultant calle Jason then started my application from scratch but said that because the technicians were now on Christmas leave, I would not have any ADSL for at least two weeks. I was speechless with disbelief! Well, at least you will have a telephone line, he told me. He was able to issue me with the router for self-installation, which I have done numerous times before.</p> <p> </p> <p>I checked on Sunday 1st January and the telephone line was operational. I was very annoyed to not have the ADSL connection but knew that there was nothing which could be done about it at the time. I chased up with 10217 numerous times last week to follow up on the ADSL line, and to also report that the jack in the salon is ancent and needs to be replaced. They promised a technician would come to the salon to replace the wiring and the jack and sort out the ADSL. I am still waiting.</p> <p> </p> <p>I received a text message just before 1 pm on Friday the 6th to say the ADSL line was now active. There was nothing I could do with the router because no-one had come to replace the jack, so I lifted the telephone receiver to follow up and then discovered the phone was dead! I used my mobile to call 10217 fo the umpteenth time where I was informed that my telephone line had been disconnected at the exchange, and no reason could be given as to why. What *********** technician disconnects the phone line 5 days after it was activated? I can only assume the activating of the ADSL line had something to do with it but now I have neither a phone line or ADSL line. I used up all my mobile air time this weekend calling 10217, where I was given one empty promise after the other!</p> <p> </p> <p>Today is the fourth day without a landline. Four days with no bookings, therefore no clients and no income. I risked everything I have to take the loan - does Telkom have any idea of the impact this absolute incompetence by has had on my new business? </p> <p> </p> <p>I am beyond angry, I am speechless with rage! I actually just want to sit down and cry. The numerous 10217 consultants told me the techinicians had either gone home at 4.30, or were on leave, or did not work on Sundays, or that one would be on his way shortly. Nothing. No-one arrived or contacted me as had been promised. I worked the entire weekend at the salon, absolutely frantic that the phone was dead and no bookings were being made. No-one is taking responsibility for this! It is too late for me to cancel the contract, I have already paid the R700 deposit and I cannot now arrange an alternative service, it will take too long , and I now have no means of calling expect for my mobile which has run out of airtime. I should have gone with MWeb as intended, I would have been 100% operational from day 1. I just dare Telkom to charge me for the days I have been without service!</p> <p> </p> <p>I am stressed, I am angry, but most of all, extremely panicked - I have lost 4 days of business so far, just 5 days after opening. I am a first time business owner and I could never have imagined that this would be how I would start off after taking the biggest risk of my life. Telkom, you have no shame and not one shred of conscience about how you treat your customers! Your incompetence has been par for the course in the 6 years I have been a cusotmer but this latest monumental *****-up is just beyond belief, you have really topped yourselves this time.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p>