USELESS - new number has outstanding balance

I had a new line installed in Plettenberg Bay. Only thing is - no one told me that the telephone number used to belong to a 'Mr Freeman" who owes Telkom in excess of R 3000!! I have been hounded by lawyers, Telkom is USELESS when it comes to assisting me, and it does not seem to stop. I feel like my identity has been ******!