THE EDITOR, Sir:
I AM using this medium to ask the OUR to investigate Cable & Wireless and it's new GPRS promotions. My experience may indicate that they are taking the Jamaican public for a "joyride".
Recently, I upgraded from an ageing TDMA phone to the new third generation GPRS phone from C&W. To my disappointment, the new phone indicated 'No Service - No Signal' very often, especially when inside buildings.
For example, I have no service in my home, although my old C&W TDMA unit and my wife's Digicel has full signal. I have to go outside to use the phone! My friends and associates have complained that they cannot reach me by cellphone - a very recent phenomenon.
After a week of growing discontent with the short-comings of the phone, I surmised that the unit must be faulty and headed to the C&W office in Half-Way Tree for checking or possibly replacing the unit. My disappointment changed to ire after interacting with the customer service representative. He told me:
The phone was working properly; there was no need to check or replace the phone.
The GPRS signal was just.... Weak!
Other customers have been complaining too!
He enquired where I lived and worked so that maybe the technical people could turn up the signal in these areas (Yes, I'm serious!)
There was nothing more he could do for me.
"Horror of horrors," I had fallen prey to their 'Switch On' media blitz and forked out cash for a service far inferior to the old but robust system I had been using all along.
Since there is nothing C&W can do for me, I am asking the powers that be to investigate this matter. I would like to know whether C&W has rolled out an inferior programme that is not quite ready for public use; and whether an unsuspecting public may be paying dearly for this oversight.
I am, etc.,
SHAUN BATTICK
sbat@anngel.com
Kingston 11
Via Go-Jamaica
