Telkom - how one company makes us all miserable

Today, I went in to the canal walk Telkom store. This is my third or fourth time in the span of about a month that I'm going in because of an issue.

A couple of weeks ago, I went in to have my number ported from another network because I recently signed up for a contract with telkom and found the rates much cheaper. Biggest. Mistake. Ever.

I had to go in twice to ask for my number to be ported, the second time, the customer service agent was rude but we let it slide, not thinking too much about it. He informed us that if it's not processed in two days, the problem lies with the other network. Two days later, nothing happens. I go in to telkom a couple of days later to enquire and they inform me the agent only logged the request the day before due to being on sick leave. Okay, I understand but shouldn't you inform your customer? Send a notification? Have another agent take over the work?

So my number finally gets ported and guess what, I have had no network since Monday evening. I haven't been able to make calls or send messages at all. I go in today to find out what the problem is and they can give me no answer. Not surprising. At all. I ask for a solution, explain my situation several times and they recommend getting a temporary Sim.

I walk up and down the mall to get a bank statement as proof of address, Rica another Sim and am then told that it's not going to work now because there's an issue with the network. After I ask at least three times if I'll be able to use it immediately, as it's urgent and they assure me that I will.

As all of this is unfolding, another employee comes up to the agent that's helping me and tells him he's the store manager, he doesn't have to take this kind of **** from anyone.

Excuse me? One, I was being pretty reasonable, I explained that I'm frustrated and said it's even worse that my telkom line or wifi isn't working either and I really need a proper solution. Two, excuse me? He was the manager? I had no idea and if he was, he could have done a much better job. A much better job! Three, excuse me? I'm the customer!!!!! Need I say more?

So yes, it's all far worse, because every single telkom service I have is not working. I haven't had internet for more than a week and our landline is completely dead.

We've called the customer service line several times and we get defensive, rude agents telling his to have patience. What? Patience? We go in to the store to resolve problems and we get rude, defensive agents that are so ***********, you end up walking out with more problems. That was incredibly insulting.

Telkom has to be the most pathetic, disgusting service provider there is.

I want all of my issues resolved with friendly, really fast and competent service

I hope the new telkom CEO understands that he cannot actually afford to retrench a single employee, instead, keep your employees, train them better and create a better company and better reputation for one of the only telecommunications providers we have.

P. S. after leaving the telkom store absolutely fuming, I walked straight into vodacom and had a new, working Sim in two minutes.