Whining about Telmex ... - Thorn Tree travel forum

Whining about Telmex

Replies: 41 - Last Post: 21-May-2007 16:09 Last Post By: lisi

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Posted
10-May-2007 10:38
by: bixaorellana

Posts: 1,663
Registered: 22/06/06

Whining about Telmex

Sorry, I have to vent about this. If anyone has any advice, please jump in.
I'm trying to move from one place to another in Oaxaca. The problem is, every time I find a house I like, it's impossible to get phone service there.
I currently own my phone line, & want it transferred to the next place. For the record, when I moved the last time (one year ago), the charge for moving the line was 543 pesos. It is now a whopping 1,020 pesos.
Monday I went to Telmex on Garcia Vigil, armed with all the info they needed, including the numbers on the phone pole that is directly in front of my prospective dwelling. Upon checking the computer, the phone Telmex rep. immediately told me that yes, I could transfer my line there. She asked me to wait while she called the highway office, since that's where the maps are kept. She then came back, saying it was not a sure thing, & could I return in a week to check again. She said that in the meantime she would put in the order for service. She returned to her computer, frowned, then approached the manager, who was standing out in the customer area.
She came back to me to tell me the order could not go through, & that the manager said they wouldn't be selling lines in that area for at least two months.
Upon my return home, I phoned the prospective landlady to tell her what happened. The next day, she went to Telmex to ask for a second line for herself, which would be installed in the rent house (which is a few blocks from her home). She was told they could install it in two or three +days+! The charge for this service would be 2,300 pesos.
Now, from my extensive & tortuous relations with Telmex, I know damned well that if it's possible to put a new line in a house, it is equally possible to transfer a line there.
Yesterday I phoned the 800 number & spoke to a person who told me that indeed I was correct in this perception, but that there was nothing she could do about it. She then passed me to her supervisor. He also said that it was very peculiar that one client was told that she could have a new line, but the other client was denied a transferred line to the same location.
He promised to look into it, taking my phone number & my email address. To date I have not heard back from him, and calling the 800 number (the only one I have for him) only gets me put on endless hold.
I'm assuming, Telmex being what it is, that other residents in Mexico have had similar experiences. PLEASE, if you can give me any tips or advice, post them here asap.
Many thanks.

http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com/

Posted
10-May-2007 10:42
by: Bartleby

Posts: 638
Registered: 16/04/02

1

Have you tried Vonage or another VOIP service? The thing about Telmex is, well, they got you and there's not much you can do about it.

(s)Dan

Posted
10-May-2007 10:45
by: bixaorellana

Posts: 1,663
Registered: 22/06/06

2

Too true, Bartleby.
I don't know if those services are available here, but will definitely check. I desperately need a phone in order to have internet connection, as you can well imagine.
What does VOIP mean?
Thanks.

http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com/

Posted
10-May-2007 10:51
by: Bartleby

Posts: 638
Registered: 16/04/02

3

bix, *V*oice* O*ver* I*nternet* P*rotocol. You have to have a DSL connection to get it. I'm not sure if Vonage is available in Mexico, but I'm pretty sure there are several TTMB members who use VOIP in Mexico. I'm not sure if they use Telmex DSL or another service. Sorry I'm not much help, but I do feel your pain! I hate monopolies!

(s)Dan

Posted
10-May-2007 11:06
by: bixaorellana

Posts: 1,663
Registered: 22/06/06

4

Dan, it's most kind of you to try to give me a ray of hope.
As far as I know, pretty much nothing other than Telmex is available in Oaxaca. I use dial-up, serviced by AT&T. AT&T doesn't offer dsl in Oaxaca.
The dial-up, & my living out in the boonies is dictated by economics. Frankly, those same economics, coupled with the endless frustrations in obtaining the most basic services here, have me seriously thinking about leaving Oaxaca.

http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com/

Posted
10-May-2007 11:24
by: longford

Posts: 4,117
Registered: 28/05/03

5

You've lived there long enough to understand how slowly things often work. It sounds to me as if you're expecting things to work on "gringo" time, not Mexican time. Your last converstion with the supervisor at Telmex was about 24-hours ago, give them time to respond. My "gut" feeling about your situation is that someone's setting you up for solicitation of a large "tip" transfer the service - maybe because you're a foreigner. You can either wait for an answer from the Telmex office (you really haven't waited at all - from yesterday's conversation), or look for a Telmex truck in the area of the new place and have a talk with the workman - ask him what it'll take to connect your service . . . that's how it's done in many parts of the country (a very corrupt union that often dictates service policies to Telmex, and its customers). Leave Oaxaca, don't leave Oaxaca - I think you'll encounter similar service problems elsewhere, too.

Posted
10-May-2007 11:41
by: RichTX1

Posts: 1,474
Registered: 28/03/01

6

Have you tried giving the local office a "consideration"?

Pero yo ya no soy yo.
Ni mi casa es ya mi casa.
(Garcia Lorca)

The Mex Files

Posted
10-May-2007 11:49
by: RJ_1

Posts: 651
Registered: 06/03/02

7

When I couldn´t get phone service here in Veracruz because there were no lines available, I bought a Nokia cell phone for about $100 pesos. It was $600 pesos for the phone and $500 pesos air time.

A year and a half later the phone guys showed up to install my phone, and I decided not to get it. The basic service was $245 pesos/month for only 3 local calls per day. I told them I was going out of town in a couple of days and wanted to wait until I got back. The phone guys were a little miffed that I didn´t want their service, and I kind of chuckled inside. I was getting a better deal with my cell phone and no wrong numbers, or standing in line each month to pay their bill.

Now I have have one more cell phone in case the other one fails. I hope I never have to go back to Telmex.

John

Posted
10-May-2007 11:52
by: Bartleby

Posts: 638
Registered: 16/04/02

8

I was going to suggest using a cell phone as your primary phone and Internet cafes for the 'Net, but the cell phone option may not work too well if you make or receive a lot of international calls.

(s)Dan

Posted
10-May-2007 11:52
by: mexijo

Posts: 169
Registered: 07/09/01

9

There is an alternative:
Internet and Cable TV via Cablemas Cablemas.
And a prepaid cellphone to receive calls.

And my experience with Telmex in Oaxaca has been that they are a bit slow but always friendly and helpfull. I would strongly advise against giving a "mordida". Try to get a name of a person in charge and keep calling them every day with a good story why you need your phone urgently (something along the line of "my sister is very sick in mi pais and I am waiting for urgents phonecalls....").

http://www.house-oaxaca.com

Posted
10-May-2007 11:55
by: longford

Posts: 4,117
Registered: 28/05/03

10

John, what do you do for computer use - with no land line? Are you using an internet café?

Posted
10-May-2007 12:08
by: Bartleby

Posts: 638
Registered: 16/04/02

11

When I'm in Mexico, I do contract work over the Internet and I've ended up using Internet cafes exclusively. At 8-10 per hour for a DSL connection, it's hard to justify having an Internet connection at the house. mexijo seems to have a good plan with Cablemas- and you might be able to add VOIP once you got the cable/DSL service.

(s)Dan

Posted
10-May-2007 12:11
by: GoodtimeBob

Posts: 2,779
Registered: 12/04/00

12

It could be worse. Back when Peru had a monopoly phone company to get service you had to buy stock in the phone company... about $2000US. Then you bought the line $1500. Transfer the line...ha!.

Posted
10-May-2007 12:32
by: corazon753

Posts: 211
Registered: 09/05/07

13

Longford you are such a hater. It seems that you just love to talk shit to anyone and everyone. Do us all a favor a take your rude comments elsewhere. This is a forum to gain positive information.

later

Posted
10-May-2007 12:45
by: Aloysius

Posts: 1,764
Registered: 25/08/01

14

I was in Antigua a couple weeks ago. Everyone was making long distance calls over the internet from internet centers, and very cheap, too. I should think this is an option in Oaxaca. So maybe a cell phone and an internet center will solve your needs.

Buen viaje!

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