Outrageous service
ALTHOUGH poor service is a fact of life in Namibia, in some cases it is so outrageous that it boggles the mind.
I am a Tango subscriber with our one and only MTC (Much Too
Complacent).
Since I mostly use my phone to receive calls, I don't often buy
a top-up card.
Apparently MTC is not very fond of this approach.
Last Wednesday I received an SMS to warn me that I should buy
more credit or I will lose my number.
This unfortunately slipped my mind, with the result that on
Saturday my phone stated "unregistered SIM".
I phoned the Tango Hotline only to be told that there is "no
way" I can get my number back.
So your phone can be stolen and you can get your number back,
but not when "the computer takes you off".
Not leaving it at that, I phoned MTC Headquarters yesterday.
The PRO is a woman called Liz.
She went to check the computer and promptly phoned me back,
recording the phone call.
Same story, but this time with an even more bizarre twist.
And I quote: "You can only get your number back in a year's
time".
Offering to pay to get my number back did not sway her, or for
that matter the computer, either.
Now I want to know, how is it possible that I can get my number
back in "a year's time" but not the same day? I also have a South
African card and this has never expired, even though it has not had
credit for more than six months.
The only conclusion I can come to is that MTC must have the most
archaic computer system in Africa.
But isn't that normally the case when a company has no
competition? And didn't MTC only have the cellular monopoly for
five years, why is it still the only operator in the country? Of
all the poor service I have experienced in Namibia, MTC comes out
tops, I hope it is very proud! I am sure I am not the only one who
cannot wait for Vodacom, MTN or Cell C to start operating in this
country.
MTC wouldn't stand a chance.
Perhaps it should start thinking of building a loyal customer
base now, because that day is not far away.
Tanya Menges
Via e-mail
Since I mostly use my phone to receive calls, I don't often buy a
top-up card.Apparently MTC is not very fond of this approach.Last
Wednesday I received an SMS to warn me that I should buy more
credit or I will lose my number.This unfortunately slipped my mind,
with the result that on Saturday my phone stated "unregistered
SIM".I phoned the Tango Hotline only to be told that there is "no
way" I can get my number back.So your phone can be stolen and you
can get your number back, but not when "the computer takes you
off".Not leaving it at that, I phoned MTC Headquarters
yesterday.The PRO is a woman called Liz.She went to check the
computer and promptly phoned me back, recording the phone call.Same
story, but this time with an even more bizarre twist.And I quote:
"You can only get your number back in a year's time".Offering to
pay to get my number back did not sway her, or for that matter the
computer, either.Now I want to know, how is it possible that I can
get my number back in "a year's time" but not the same day? I also
have a South African card and this has never expired, even though
it has not had credit for more than six months.The only conclusion
I can come to is that MTC must have the most archaic computer
system in Africa.But isn't that normally the case when a company
has no competition? And didn't MTC only have the cellular monopoly
for five years, why is it still the only operator in the country?
Of all the poor service I have experienced in Namibia, MTC comes
out tops, I hope it is very proud! I am sure I am not the only one
who cannot wait for Vodacom, MTN or Cell C to start operating in
this country.MTC wouldn't stand a chance.Perhaps it should start
thinking of building a loyal customer base now, because that day is
not far away.Tanya Menges
Via e-mail