Telkom ADSL promotion

[Pansyfaust]

Hey guys
I am considering getting the Telkom promotion to have some affordable internet for three months without contractual obligations (cough cough, mtn, voda, cell c, 8ta...neotel...-_-). I have a few questions that need urgent explanation before the promotional period runs its course in a few days

1) I'm a student, but next year i wont be and will hopefully be earning a stable salary. Thus I will fianally have myself proper internet. I asked a telkom sales consultant about what my options are and she said that i must pay a "security" deposit of R700 to be able to get the deal. She also said i will only be refunded the deposit after i cancel the line, but the thing is I wont want to cancel the line as I will be able to afford it next year...thus I wont get my deposit back until I cancel. So what are my options here? Can they charge me a "security" deposit as I lack a credit history?
2) At the end of the 3 months can i retain my phone line and adsl line, but get the data from another ISP (mweb, WA?) or will i have to cancel everything to be able to sign up for another ISP.

So ya, those are my questions...please assist

 

[eezolive]

I don't know about the security deposit

but to use another isp such as mweb or wa you will need a Phoneline + ADSL

 

[Totempole]

I think the security deposit is bullcr@p! Nowhere did they mention that on their
promotional leaflets or online!

I have recommended this package to a few clients still on dial-up (They can use
the promotion for 3 months then drop to a 384k entry level package).

Is the security deposit only for the line installation? Or is it for everyone?

They said that you could cancel at any time before 3 months is over without
penalties, so why do they need a deposit?

 

[el3venth]

I imagine the deposit might be for the modem?

 

[Totempole]

I imagine the deposit might be for the modem?

It can't be. Their promotion states that while they reserve the right
to give you a "Refurbished" or "Recovered" modem, you're allowed
to keep it even if you cancel.

 

[PsychoticKing]

The security deposit is only if you don`t have a credit history, meaning they don`t know if they can trust you to pay the said amount.This is the same for any package free or not...

Secondly if you cancel this account you will only have the phone line, meaning if you switch to another provider you will have to pay for adsl service and for data.

You can keep the adsl service with telkom but its cost extra.1mb is something like R300 a month.So that R150 for Phone line, R300 for 1mb and then whatever data you get.

Currently running on that package and its pretty good, might upgrade to the 4mb 16gb account when mine expires.

 

[WiZard]

From their terms and conditions:

Telkom reserves the right to collect the modem in its original packaging. The modem remains Telkom’s property.

 

[Totempole]

The security deposit is only if you don`t have a credit history, meaning they don`t know if they can trust you to pay the said amount.This is the same for any package free or not...

Thanks for clearing that up PsycoticKing , it makes sense.

So now the only question that Itye needs answered is:

When will he get the security deposit back, assuming he
decides to keep the Phone and ADSL Line?

Is it possible that they refund the R700 if he cancels within
3 months or credit the account with R700 if he decides to
keep it going? That would make sense right?

 

[PsychoticKing]

From their terms and conditions:

Where did you find that? just checked the terms again for that account and could not find anything

@Totempole
You will only receive the refund when you cancel the telephone line not the service. they should refund you after cancellation, does not matter when you cancel but knowing telkom that can take months.

 

[Totempole]

From their terms and conditions:
Telkom reserves the right to collect the modem in its original packaging. The modem remains Telkom’s property.

Strange, I clearly remember the brochure saying "You may keep the modem."

I keep all my Telkom accounts, so I'll see if I can find a brochure, scan it and post it here.

 

[Pansyfaust]

Hey guys, thanks for the feedback!
One more question, how do you know what line speed you can have? I tried entering the house number into the telkom website to see what line i can get, but it said it "cant complete the request at this time" So what if i can only get a max 512kb line speed?
Thanks King for clearing that up, i kinda assumed it was a little insurance on Telkoms part seeing as i have no history of having debt :/. I also dont think that a refurbised modem costs R700? BTW Psycoticking, what modem is it that they give you? But one logical inconsistency that arose when i asked the sales consultant was that only once i cancel my line (adsl, phone?) then i will get the deposit back. Must still clear that up, because essentially if this is how their system works, hypothetically if I stayed on the package till the day I die, then i would never get my deposit back? :S

 

[Totempole]

"PCBunny"

On the above URL it says "If you opt-out after the three months you can keep the modem". That's what I remember seeing on the brochure.

Does that mean that you can only keep the modem if you ride it out until month four?

Details are sketchy at best.

@Itye - From what I've read the modem you get varies, Netgear, Billion, Mega etc. but if you're not happy with the one you
get, you can try and exchange it for a better one.

 

[WiZard]

https://secureapp.telkom.co.za/ido/about/terms-and-conditions.do

 

[PsychoticKing]

Hey guys, thanks for the feedback!
One more question, how do you know what line speed you can have? I tried entering the house number into the telkom website to see what line i can get, but it said it "cant complete the request at this time" So what if i can only get a max 512kb line speed?
Thanks King for clearing that up, i kinda assumed it was a little insurance on Telkoms part seeing as i have no history of having debt :/. I also dont think that a refurbised modem costs R700? BTW Psycoticking, what modem is it that they give you? But one logical inconsistency that arose when i asked the sales consultant was that only once i cancel my line (adsl, phone?) then i will get the deposit back. Must still clear that up, because essentially if this is how their system works, hypothetically if I stayed on the package till the day I die, then i would never get my deposit back? :S

I got a Billion wireless with mine. Pretty decent and brand new
You can`t really check, the only why you will know is when a telkom engineer comes to your place and checks the lines.
Yeah won`t get the deposit back until you cancel. So you can build a credit history. cancel and then reapply haha!

@WiZard
I think i am going blind, still can`t see that...

 

[Pansyfaust]

"PCBunny"

On the above URL it says "If you opt-out after the three months you can keep the modem". That's what I remember seeing on the brochure.

Does that mean that you can only keep the modem if you ride it out until month four?

Details are sketchy at best.

@Itye - From what I've read the modem you get varies, Netgear, Billion, Mega etc. but if you're not happy with the one you
get, you can try and exchange it for a better one.

This is one of the things they said on that site
If you opt-out before the three month period is over, there will be commitments or penalties charged to you.
o_0

 

[Pansyfaust]

Went this afternoon to telkom direct store and applied. Strangely the same woman who dealt with me yesterday helped me today and there was no mention of the R700 security deposit...maybe it will show up on my first bill :/. Or hopefully not at all!

 

[WiZard]

The very last part of the terms and conditions:

Opt out should be done within the promotional period.
The opt out process that can be followed is:
Click here to complete the request
Call 10219.
For security purposes a Telkom agent will contact the customer to confirm the request.
Telkom reserves the right to collect the modem in its original packaging. The modem remains Telkom’s property.

If you do not opt-out before the 3 months are over, they will start billing you...

After the promotion period, standard rental charges for Do Advanced of R395 per month will apply.
Once billing has commenced the standard cancellation procedure has to be followed to cancel this service.

 

[Pansyfaust]

Those ****ers...so today Telkom lauched their uncapped promotion, same price, same everything, except its uncapped and shaped international!!! So went to Telkom direct in pavillion, cancelled my previous order, now busy waiting for the cancellation to go through, then will apply for the new promotion. One thing they told me though was my area does not have any points open on the exchange in my area...so will still have to wait a while before i have internets proper :/