What is wrong with Orange Telkom?

It has been nearly 2 weeks now that in the process of so-called upgrading to 4G, Orange Telkom has only been available on and off on a 'speed' of dial-up or less, if at all!

Trying to get any of their employees to give an explanation on when things will be 'normal', gets one nowhere since they have a habit of not answering their phones. This maybe because, they do not want to tell their customers the truth. I wonder what they are trying to hide....?!

They also, I have been told, do not work on weekends, doesn't matter that the few customers (compared to the other networks), that they still have, cannot reliably connect to the rest of the outside world, i.e. get back to the 21st Century.

So, what happens is total frustration - phones not being answered as well as we cannot reliably connect to the WWW! Because, while doing some work online, one suddenly get disconnected and then starts the saga of trying to switch your computer and modem on/off umpteen numbers of times in the hope that this action will somehow reconnect you to the Internet.

But, in the process, you might have lost a lot of work that you had already done..... not to mention all this leads to a waste of precious time.

What is wrong with  Orange Telkom and WHEN if EVER are they going to be a reliable company?

In fact, while I am writing this, we've gone offline, yet, again....

My landline and Telkom Orange

My landline, since the last week of February, suddenly went dead without notice. It is a pre-paid line that was being encouraged by Telkom Kenya since quite a few years as they were at the receiving end of a lot of flack regarding their questionable bills from irate customers.

Since, it has been easier to deal with prepaid lines - it was a win/win situation where they were concerned. They got their money in advance and also did not have to deal with headaches and accusations from customers regarding questionable bills.

I have been one of these prepaid customers since YEARS, therefore, when my line died without any notice, I  immediately reported it to Telkom Orange.

Everytime, I tried to find out, I at first, got a run around, but after a couple of days was told that henceforth, I had two options....

Either, I invest in a wireless line and retain the  same number (this unfortunately is battery dependent in a country with a questionable power supply), or go through formalities one of which is to pay a hefty deposit of 5000/- and return to  post paid services.

Now, without notice, my phone was cut off and to revive it, I have to  go through the added expense of this deposit sum and goodness knows how much of other red-tape involved.

For the past nearly 2 weeks, I have made countless phone calls to Orange 'officials' and been told that my line would be revived, etc., but, to date my land line is as dead as ever and no sign of it ever being revived with empty assurances from Orange to the contrary.

TelkomKenya changed its name to Telkom Orange, but, unfortunately, still retains its previous don't care attitude.

Will they EVER change?

The demise of the landline....?!

About a couple of weeks ago, I  got a call from a female voice (for some reason they are always averse to giving their names), who  claimed to  be from Orange Telkom.

First, despite telling her that I was hearing impaired and if she could please, talk a little louder, she insisted on talking in a low voice - no change in the decibel level.

Second, after getting her to repeat herself a number of times so that I could understand why she was calling me, it finally reached the conclusion that they were planning to do away with landlines and introduce wireless phones.

When I asked her the reason, I was told that they were upgrading their systems. 

Now, just earlier this year, they announced to all their customers who  were using wireless phones to change over from CDMA to GSM for a so-called minimal fee! 

So, when this confusing company calls me up to  inform me that they were changing from landlines to wireless, it did not make sense and told her, so. I also asked her the reason for changing to battery dependent technology in a country where the power supply was highly questionable. Since landlines were not dependent on power, it was very convenient to use when all of our cell phone batteries gave up their ghosts thanks to countless and unpredictable outages for days on end sometimes.

Those of us who have landlines, can, in the above scenario use these to get hold of the outside world despite there being no  power.

There is also the matter of costs. Calling landlines is cheaper from outside.

So, why is Orange Telkom changing? Don't they realize that we need a service that is not dependent on batteries? In fact, after a few years of having such a phone will result in the batteries not being available anymore because that particular model of  phone will have become redundant. Why do  these people create problems and needless expenses?

And finally, could Orange sensitize its employees regarding various kinds of disabilities and deal with them accordingly and not frustrate the people whom they call, please?

Today changes with Orange...... REALLY?

The above mentioned 'new face' of Orange Telkom is NOT new, i.e. they are as inefficient and unaccountable as ever and like KPLC which became Kenya Power - nothing has changed regarding either of these two companies. Ironically, both have connections to our bloated and equally unaccountable government.

I discovered on Thursday that despite having invested in an Orange 3G modem late last year, their new product, D-Link Wi-Fi, if one wants to invest in it, makes no concessions for people who already have a 3G modem. The package comes with one. So, my question to 'new' Orange is, 'What does one do with the one that one already has? What a waste of money in this day of trying economic times! After all, it is the same kind of modem that this product comes with, so why should one buy another.

The insensitive staff at the Orange shop in Nyali flippantly told me to give it away to somebody as though the 3000/- (less 1/-), I paid for it, grew on trees! And even these (the real trees), are being decimated by environment unfriendly Kenyans.

Will the 'new' Orange please, come up with a solution to the above mentioned dilemma of it's customers, please? Otherwise, they will give the impression to the public that they are out to make a fast and dishonest buck.

Nobody available.....

Of course, I will not be able to send this till such a time that I can go online with the Orange 3G modem.

Since the rains started, the couple of weeks of relief, regarding the signal on the modem where I stay which had improved, has gone back to being the way it was previously. We truly live in a typical banana republic as officialdom is NEVER available even if and when they claim that they will be during the holidays.

All of the people whom I have been trying to call are either not answering the phones or they have switched them off! In the meantime, my emails are accumulating.

Despite having told the various employees of Orange about their SMS balance enquiry number that it does not work and getting an assurance that they will do something about that, too, NOTHING has been done and we use their modem (when it works), in a fog. We have absolutely no idea how much balance still remains after every session of going online.

Why are the various 'service' providers in this country so irresponsible regarding their work. Have they no work ethic? They are some of the most infuriating people on earth!

When will something be done about the above mentioned modem problems?

Lots of frustration ......

As I write this, I'm holding on to my landline phone with Orange Nairobi, trying to get my Orange modem loaded. The reason I had to call their Nairobi offices was because NONE of their Mombasa employees whose numbers I have are answering their phones!

The sms confirmations, etc., that one has to go through to load a bundle and activate it is also not working - countrywide.

When Orange finally did something about the modem signal problem near my place and I can now use their modem, the smses for loading and confirming don't seem to work in a reliable fashion.

Why aren't the Mombasa employees of Orange Telkom picking up their phones? After all it is Saturday and when I first started calling them it was before lunchtime. It took two calls to their Nairobi offices and over an hour before a guy called Paul finally solved and activated my bundle.

Some of their employees, whenever I call them, tell me to call 100 or 121. These hardly ever get answered and when they do, it's an automated voice which tells you to press this, that and the other number to get various 'services'. Now, I'm a hearing impaired person and would like to deal with a human on the other end whom I can request to repeat what s/he, just said in case I didn't understand. How can I ask a machine to do this? Why isn't Orange Telkom a handicapped friendly company, especially since they are into communications?

They should be the first ones to take such a disability seriously. There are many people out there who have similar problems like mine. I am not the only one, though, I might be the only one who is the most vocal about it.

Please, get your act together, Orange Telkom.

Is Orange Telkom operating with justice?

Since the beginning of February, I've been having connecting issues with the Orange livebox and despite having been assured of the many days that I've been offline (not being able to connect to the Internet), since the beginning of the second week of February 2011, I still have not got my rebate from them. Why?

Also, I would have used their modem, if I had a signal where I live, but, despite having complained about that, nothing has been done about that, either. In the process, the over 270 Mb that I had on it expired. So, who is to blame for this? And will I get a rebate for this, too?

Orange Telkom does not consider such things important enough to address and their Regional Manager, Mr. Munene, just told me that it was just one of these things that we have to put up with where 'technology' is concerned! Is it really that, or the incompetence of Orange Telkom?

For now, I am having second thoughts about re-subscribing to my 'livebox' and am writing this using their modem at their Nyali Orange shop since I don't have a signal to be able to use this at home. So, I had to lug my laptop to their offices to be able to deal with a lot of emails at my own cost and had to pay a further 150/- to buy the minimum bundle of a 100 Megabytes. That is when I found out that my previous over 270 Mb had been 'swallowed'.

For this company's information, I would have used this modem when I could not go online with the livebox, but due to it's own incompetence and don't care attitude, I can and could not, yet, the customer has to pay for and suffer the consequences of this. Why?

Probably, Mr. Munene, thinks in terms of a few hundred shillings as 'nothing', but, that is not the case for the majority of Kenyans for his information. If they give a 'service' than it has to be an accountable and honest one.

And how long is Orange Telkom going to take in giving me a rebate for all the time that I've been unable to go online using the livebox? And when will and if ever, is the signal near my place, going to improve?

Orange-Telkom's 'service'....

Since last Saturday, I could not go online suddenly using the Orange live-box, for some reason best known to it and my computer. So, I started calling all the numbers that I possess for help, but, nobody was answering their phones for some reason.

Eventually, I got through to Mr. Njenga from the town office who told me that he was off and not in his office, but, if I smsed him my 'bb' number, etc., he would try and help me. I could not get the helpline number '121' from my wireless phone and have subsequently discovered that I can only dial this number from my 'landline'. Nobody can explain to me why this is, so.

Coming back to my predicament of not being able to go online was suddenly solved soon after I sent Mr. Njenga the required numbers. Thinking that my problem had been solved, I merrily went on with my work and ignored the ref. number, 57900, that I was sent via sms by Mr. Njenga.

On Sunday my problems started again. But, earlier in the day, we had an outage and when a guy from the Nairobi office called to help me with the connection, I was not only not at home but, the power was also out. He promised to call me again between 3.00 pm and 4.00 pm. But, this being Kenya, where hardly anybody keeps their word, he did not call at all.

On Monday, I tried connecting, again, to no avail. Again, I had a truly difficult time getting anybody in the local Orange offices to pick up their phones. In desperation I called Nairobi and somebody answered but, I gathered from their numerous responses that they did not have the foggiest idea about any technical issues regarding their live-box.

Finally, I tried calling that 121 number from my landline where an computer responded and eventually got through to a human. She told me that my earlier reference number had been cancelled and so she gave me another one - 58098 - and that somebody from the Mombasa office would contact me shortly.

Well, nobody did and I had to make further numerous calls to the 121 number and told to wait an interminable time by the computer voice, before I would finally get through to a human who would tell me to keep waiting for a local feedback since their technicians were defeated in trying to solve the problem from their computers. It seemed that somebody would have to come to my place to deal with the problem. And since it was past 5.00 pm it was too late for anybody to show up, yesterday.

Now, since I'd been complaining about the connection since Saturday, one would imagine that Orange would not have such a lackadaisical attitude, but, I keep forgetting that we live in a banana republic where none of these 'officials' have any respect for time or keeping their word or thinking of calling in the event they are held up or can't make it.

Today, having got fed up of the computer voice telling me that it would take more than 5 minutes before a human would come on the line, I decided to go and do my urgent shopping all the way at Nakumatt Nyali where the Orange offices are and see them, too.

There I was assured that these techies were around the Nyali area and would come and fix my connection before leaving to go into town. Well, they finally did in the afternoon when I got back home. But, now, everytime we have an outage and the power comes back, I get problems with going online till I reboot my computer and disconnect/reconnect the live-box to get back on.

Before this happened on Saturday (I don't know why), everytime we had an outage and the power came back on (I have a Sollatek device), I never had to reboot, etc., and I could continue with my work. Now, suddenly, I have this added time consuming one. Can somebody explain this and help me sort it out, please? Also, do I get a rebate for this?

Has Telkom Kenya really changed....?

After having spent the whole of yesterday, getting all the paraphernalia of having a 'fixed' telephone line and paying for it, nobody from Orange Telkom (previously known as Telkom Kenya), came to install the line. Why?

After all, they had promised me that it would be installed today and I spent the whole of today waiting for them. First, I was told by the technician, Mwaro, that he would come at 1.00 pm as he was very busy elsewhere. One wonders if they have only one guy to cover the whole of Mombasa.

Well, 1.00 pm came and passed, but, nobody showed up nor did anybody from Orange Telkom have the courtesy to call. So, I did, instead. To enquire first from the techy himself who told me that he was on his way and would be at my place soon. So, I waited some more and when more than half an hour came and went, this time I called various Orange Telkom numbers which were given to me by one of their staff.

This because, their latest directories, do not have a single Orange Telkom number listed anywhere in their glossy pages. And when one starts making enquiries about these numbers and if by mistake, thinking that 991 is a toll-free number, one makes a nasty discovery that it is not! You're charged for calling this number, so BEWARE!!! This is a directory enquiry number and it is an insult to injury when the directory that Orange Telkom publishes is deficient in giving this very important information - their telephone numbers. I wonder if they really deal with telecommunications.....?!

Anyway, to cut a very long and frustrating story short and after having even called their Nairobi number to get some 'action', my phone line has still not been installed and I wonder when it will ever be, for that matter.

I cannot spend my days being dictated to by so-called 'service' providers, i.e. that I cannot go where I want, when I want, just because these horrors cannot keep their word or time. That I have to stick around at home in the hope that somebody will come to install my phone IF, they feel like it. Otherwise I can go jump in the ocean for all they care. It does not matter to these incompetent people that I, too, might have certain important work to do and appointments to keep and I, unlike them, do not want my reputation to be spoiled by not doing so.

Therefore, I wonder now, when and IF, they are going to come. I have a nasty feeling that despite having told them that I will not be available on Wednesday, they will show up tomorrow, and then when I have to chase them away use the excuse that I was not available....., or not there!

So, as far as I and many others are concerned - while Telkom Kenya might have changed it's name to Orange Telkom, they have not changed their attitude one bit!

Re: INEFFICIENCY,ENVIRONMENTLY unfriendly,etc., TELKOM KENYA!

This so-called 'privatized' company, still has the same old employees who are extremely insolent and slothful. I've, since early this year been visiting them, emailing them, etc., the same like you on behalf of friends of mine who are too busy and fed up to be frustrated by this company (in fact, EVERY service provider in this country is the same way), but, they are still waiting for their phone line to be relocated to their new house which is less than 500 meters from where they used to be.

But, till today, NOTHING has been done nor have these people even called or visited the place, i.e. given them a feedback as to WHY, their landline has not and cannot (it would seem), be relocated. After all their neighbours all have landlines except them! So, it's not going to be a 'rocket' science for Telkom Kenya to move their line, will it?!

This company or rather it's employees are totally impervious, inefficient and insolent in the extreme. In fact, they tried to pass the buck to me when the last time I went there and saw the Regional Manager, Mr. Kamande who is hardly ever available but that day I managed to see him, when he accused me without cause of having tried to bribe somebody there, etc., and tried intimidating me by saying that it was a grave offense.

Why should I have tried to bribe anybody there, since; first, I have NEVER ever paid a bribe to our officialdom or anybody for that matter to get something done and in the process I get frustrated at every turn!

Second, this was not my personal issue anyway but was doing a favour for a friend and therefore, why should I spend my money to pay a bribe should I have been so inclined?

Third, till today, this line has not been moved. Why? Nobody, including Mr. Kamande, can and is ready to answer this vital question. Why?

We live in a very crooked, unjust and unaccountable country where nothing and hardly anybody has the integrity, morals, professionalism, etc., to follow through on their work in a responsible manner. The ones who are there, are outnumbered by thugs, who eclipse the good work done by the few....., in fact, they sometimes undo it!


Shaileen N.P.N Shah wrote:

Hello Francis,

As per telephone conversation,please find my formal complaint:(communicated to TELKOM's previous RM's with NO ACTION!)

July'08 Telephone Bills(3) sent by seperate covers! WHY?

My Company has 3 phone nos registered in its name:2491467,2490049 and 2224954! Every month we recieve 3 seperate covers(paying extra to POSTA!),when only one could have sufficed! WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY,PAPER,TIME,ETC!!????????

This is NOT the 1st time we have CONSTRUCTIVELY Complained by phone,email,etc.,with the 'USUAL' NON- ACTION! HOW WILL TELKOM KENYA survive in a highly 'competative' field? Mind boggles!

ps. If your so called managers cannot increase EFFICIENCY,please sack them 'cause there are approx.7million Kenyans unemployed!!

4aBETTER; EFFICIENT KENYA!

sincerely
Mr.Shaileen NPN Shah,MRPharmS
HARDELECT Co Ltd

Re: Relocating phone No. 041-2221001 - Ref. No. A93139

It is now, yet, another month gone by since I last wrote about the above line and NOTHING has been done about it nor has anybody in Telkom Kenya Ltd., bothered to contact the 'owners' of this number despite having their contact details, i.e. mobile number/s and their email addresses. Even this email contains these in the 'cc', field.

I'm including the whole lot of correspondence with is email, yet again, so that the few more additions to the Telkom Kenya Ltd's recipient list can also get up to date with what's been going on.

Is this company really interested in 'serving' it's various clients? And have they really got themselves 'privatized'? As far as the Mombasa clients are concerned vis-a-vis this company, they get the same old shoddy treatment with employees of the company giving them the old run-a-round of 'button, button, who's got the button'! After all it's the same old employees who populate these questionable and horrid offices. What else can one expect?

And when is the above line going to be dealt with? We hope, in this century and while we are all still alive! Below, is the correspondence for everybody to get updated.....

N.B. the other emails are entitled the same for follow the thread...

Re: FW: FW: Relocating phone No. 041-2221001 - Ref. No. A93139 and now another Tel. No. - 2226115

I went to see the Regional Manager, Mr. Kamande yesterday, in desperation, and for some reason he seemed to be under the impression that I'd given a bribe to somebody in Telkoms. I don't know why he seemed to assume that I had, but, he started warning me that both the giver and the taker of a bribe would be in big problems as it's against the law.

I kept insisting that I HATE such an insinuation and that I've NEVER personally EVER been guilty of doing such a thing, but, I think it had little effect.

Anyway, he had led me into Sood's office where all the above took place. And thank you for passing on his email address as most Telkom staff seem to be very averse to using this means of communication! Very strange attitude considering we live in the 21st Century where worldwide people do mega business using this means and the fact that Telkom Kenya Ltd., is, after all in the business of communications.

Many thanks, again, for fwding this email to the 'right' people,
God bless,
Razia.

George T. Nderitu wrote at 7:58 AM:

Jambo Mr. Maina,

Please assist in sorting this customer out.

Kind Regards,

Nderitu

My prepaid line - 041-2228655

When I checked my post box yesterday, I got a notification with a 14 day's notice (ambiguous), telling me that I have an outstanding account of 1114/10 dating back some years and that this 'offer' lapses after 14 days! Whatever that means.

Now, I keep getting these notices nearly every year despite being assured by the, then, Mr. Boriga, that this was settled at the time that I opted for becoming prepaid. Specifically for this reason - that I get ridiculous bills despite using the calling card 0844 for making all my calls.

Therefore, the above amount is contentious due to the fact that my phone line would 'die' for a while and then come 'alive', again, for no apparent reason. In fact, it still does, nearly everyday! But, previously, before the prepaid 'service' was available in Mombasa, one could go round the bend and dry in the mouth, trying to convince Telkom staff, that you'd not made those calls. After all, they were made from your line, and therefore, it was and is assumed that we made them.

Doesn't matter that some of the 'technicians', were/are capable of 'allocating' phone lines to other people. Hence, it would become very difficult for the holder of a number to prove otherwise.

This is the problem in my case, unfortunately, and yesterday when I went to see the signatory of that notification, a Miss Baimo, she was not ready to listen to any excuse and passed me on to a Mr. Farid who unsmilingly insisted and told me to pay or else my line would be cut off at the expiry of the 14 day period....., unless I wrote to them disputing this. I asked him for an email address and he told me that they don't recognize emailed responses and that I would HAVE to write a regular letter! How strange that this comes from somebody who is working for a telecommunications company!!!

I then, went to the the Chief Accountant, Mr. Irungu, who was equally unfriendly and didn't like my attitude and told me so. It seems that none of these people in the accounts section are customer friendly or have had any training in dealing with irate ones like me. In fact, they sounded more like the proverbial mafia.

Due to lack of time, I'm writing this email, despite being told otherwise, as it's more convenient and prompt.

To show how 'efficient' Telkom Kenya Ltd., really is, one just has to see the address at the top of this notification which says that the physical address is Telkom House/Nkrumah Rd. This is shoddy work as their offices are no longer housed at that address. Please, correct this anomaly and then 'threaten' customers with cutting off their phones for supposed non-payment.

Re: FW: Relocating phone No. 041-2221001 - Ref. No. A93139 and now another Tel. No. - 2226115

I don't know how many times, it takes for Telkom Kenya Ltd., to do a simple job of relocating a phone. It would seem 'many ages', as the above number has still not been moved to where it was requested that it be taken!

Now, I have another very close friend who told me yesterday, that, their pre-paid number, 041-2226115 has been 'off', dead, since over 2 months. Despite having reported, there's no sign of life, either from Telkom Kenya Ltd., or the phone! I wonder, how much revenue Telkom Kenya Ltd., is losing due to such behaviour?

There seems to be so end to this insolence and taking customers for granted. As I mentioned before, while this awful company might have got privatized, it is highly unfortunate, that the people populating it, still work in the same old lackadaisical manner. In other words, they don't care.

Last week, I went to see Mr. Sood, and he is a Senior Asst. Manager, who behaved like this was completely unacceptable and promptly (at least that's the impression he gave me), sat at his computer and 'pretended' to write an email to 'everybody' in Telkom including the Regional Manager, Mr. Kamande with a BCC to me (I thought), but, to date, I still haven't got anything nor has the phone been relocated! So, all that Mr. Sood was claiming and telling me, was nothing but hot air! Typical of our officialdom.

Razia.

Raziya wrote on 06-May-08 8:18 PM:

Nyatia, Nderitu!

How are you? And how's Nbi?

Thanks for fwding my email to the 'right' guy. I called my friend on her mobile this morning and was told that they still haven't got their phone problem solved nor has ANYBODY, despite my email to many at TELKOM KENYA LTD., contacted them about it.

Seriously, is anybody doing any work out there?!!!! I really have my suspicions. In fact, I'm also CC'ing this email to both my friend and her husband, Vinay Shah, so that they, too, are in the picture.

Salaams from Msa,
Razia.

George T. Nderitu wrote

Please note !

Regards, Nderitu

-----Original Message-----

From: Raziya
Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2008 9:05 PM
To: George T. Nderitu; J K. Mugo; Customerrelationscoast; Oscar R. Juma; Patrick W. Masimba; Khalid Salim; Julius K. Rukaria; Philip Nyakwaka; Mfaume Bakary; Vinay SHAH Cc: Presidential Press Service; moses baya; Mwende Mwinzi; Kenya Times; British Broadcasting Corporation - News Online; British Broadcasting Corporation - Outlook; Sunny Bindra; The Public Watchdog; comms@comms.go.ke">comms@comms.go.ke; East African Standard; East African Standard, Editorial; THE WATCHMAN; FACE THE FACTS - East African Standard; GIKONYO Macharia; Yusuf Ali; Imre Loefler; Jacque Ooko; John Mulaa; KamemeFM Radio; oketch kendo; palaver; Nation TV; Salama Radio; send2kj@yahoo.com; KTN; Vip Ogola; Letters To The Editor; radiowaumini@wananchi.com
Subject: Relocating phone No. 041-2221001 - Ref. No. A93139
Importance: High

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

Telkom Kenya Ltd in Mombasa had been informed by the subscriber, Mr. Vinay C. Shah, over a month ago to move their line to another location within Ganjoni, not far from it's original one. He was given the above reference number. I personally, also, went to see them about it, over a month ago, and was referred to a Mr. Maina, who took all my contact numbers as well as my friends', who are still waiting for a call (on the mobile), from him. At the time, he had promised me that this simple moving of the phone line would be done in a couple of days, but, it is now over a month, since these people have moved to their new place and nobody from Telkom Kenya has contacted them nor showed themselves, there! Why? It would seem that while Telkom Kenya might be reducing it's staff, etc., the ones who are still populating those offices are still of the old bent of mind. They try and make a simple matter very complicated and in the process nothing gets done......, unless of course, we get fed up and either end up paying 'something small' or forget about the whole issue and to hell with Telkom Kenya and it's awful (dis)services! Short of going to their offices every other day and following the matter up, nothing gets done in this country without wasting our time, money and energy in fruitless pursuits. Why should this be, so? Can Telkom Kenya answer this question, please? And how many more visits, reminders and emails will it take to get them to move this line? One gets the impression that its a herculean task way above and beyond their simple minded capacities. No wonder that mobile telephony is making such progress in leaps and bounds. With such 'services' from our only fixed line company, it's not surprising.

Razia.

Re: FW: Relocating phone No. 041-2221001 - Ref. No. A93139

Nyatia, Nderitu!

How are you? And how's Nbi?

Thanks for fwding my email to the 'right' guy. I called my friend on her mobile this morning and was told that they still haven't got their phone problem solved nor has ANYBODY, despite my email to many at TELKOM KENYA LTD., contacted them about it.

Seriously, is anybody doing any work out there?!!!! I really have my suspicions. In fact, I'm also CC'ing this email to both my friend and her husband, Vinay Shah, so that they, too, are in the picture.

Salaams from Msa,
Razia.

George T. Nderitu wrote:

Please note !

Regards,
Nderitu

-----Original Message-----
From: Raziya 
Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2008 9:05 PM
To: George T. Nderitu; J K. Mugo; Customerrelationscoast; Oscar R. Juma; Patrick W. Masimba; Khalid Salim; Julius K. Rukaria; Philip Nyakwaka; Mfaume Bakary; Vinay SHAH Cc: Presidential Press Service; moses baya; Mwende Mwinzi; Kenya Times; British Broadcasting Corporation - News Online; British Broadcasting Corporation - Outlook; Sunny Bindra; The Public Watchdog; comms@comms.go.ke; East African Standard; East African Standard, Editorial; THE WATCHMAN; FACE THE FACTS - East African Standard; GIKONYO Macharia; Yusuf Ali; Imre Loefler; Jacque Ooko; John Mulaa; KamemeFM Radio; oketch kendo; palaver; Nation TV; Salama Radio; send2kj@yahoo.com; KTN; Vip Ogola; Letters To The Editor; radiowaumini@wananchi.com
Subject: Relocating phone No. 041-2221001 - Ref. No. A93139
Importance: High

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN 

Telkom Kenya Ltd in Mombasa had been informed by the subscriber, Mr. Vinay C. Shah, over a month ago to move their line to another location within Ganjoni, not far from it's original one. He was given the above reference number.   I personally, also, went to see them about it, over a month ago, and was referred to a Mr. Maina, who took all my contact numbers as well as my friends', who are still waiting for a call (on the mobile), from him. At the time, he had promised me that this simple moving of the phone line would be done in a couple of days, but, it is now over a month, since these people have moved to their new place and nobody from Telkom Kenya has contacted them nor showed themselves, there! Why?  It would seem that while Telkom Kenya might be reducing it's staff, etc., the ones who are still populating those offices are still of the old bent of mind. They try and make a simple matter very complicated and in the process nothing gets done......, unless of course, we get fed up and either end up paying 'something small' or forget about the whole issue and to hell with Telkom Kenya and it's awful (dis)services!  Short of going to their offices every other day and following the matter up, nothing gets done in this country without wasting our time, money and energy in fruitless pursuits. Why should this be, so? Can Telkom Kenya answer this question, please? And how many more visits, reminders and emails will it take to get them to move this line? One gets the impression that its a herculean task way above and beyond their simple minded capacities.  No wonder that mobile telephony is making such progress in leaps and bounds. With such 'services' from our only fixed line company, it's not surprising. 

Razia. 

Calling cards... and the disabled

I don't know if anybody has had similar problems but, Telkom Kenya's calling cards are very unfriendly to the visually challenged!

After one has scratched off the the number and password is barely visible as they are written very faintly (as though their machines are running out of ink!), and on a background or green. Therefore, the contrast is not good enough for the numbers to been properly visible. Add to this, if the scratching off is not done very gently, the numbers themselves start getting scratched off!

This is really awful. Fortunately, one can then dial the toll-free number and get help from whoever answers by giving the serial number of the card and getting the right numbers, again. But, all this boils down to a lot of wastage of time. It would help matters if these numbers were written in bold print and people with visual impairment kept in mind.

Why do we, in this country, only cater for very fit people and totally forget about the many and variously disabled in our society? Starting from buildings to 'services' provided, nobody even gives a thought to the many disabled in our country?