Nov
3
Give me Sattelite!
November 3, 2007 |
Yesterday I was supposed to enjoy watching the news on CNN and BBC World. I was going to enjoy watching a movie or two with my lady snugling up next to me. But that did not happen.
The UBC people simply did not show up to install the Satellite equipment. Nan did try an call them. But this is Thailand, so that involves her calling their customer service people in Bangkok, who calls the regional office in Khon Khaen, who calls the district office in Buriram, who calls the local dude they have up here who actually do the installation. They blew her off by telling Nan they would make the calls and call her back, never to be heard from since.
So I guess we now have to wait until after the weekend. But UBC is not so bad, at least they let me order their stuff online.
To get an internet connection with TOT, now thats another story. In the year 2007 (it’s 2550 in Thailand), they still require you to show up in person at their office to fill in an application on paper, and you have to show them your ID card and house registration book. Now this would not be a problem really, but it’s a 70km round trip to their nearest office in Satuek.
Why on earth can’t they just put a simple form on their website, allowing people to order, and then when they come and install the satelite equipment, check the paperwork? That is what UBC is doing. After all, the whole reason for using their sat.internet service is that you are living so far out in the boonies, that sat is the only alternative you have. If you are not happy with GPRS trough your mobile phone like I am doing now.
I know this is Thailand. And it’s quite a trap to fall in to, to compare anything here with home. But when I got my first broadband connection in Norway, it was a matter of walking across the street, into the electronics shop there, pick up a modem, and pay for a subscription. I then walked home, plugged it all in and the world was my oyster.
Well, we are going into town today, and Nan wants to have a talk with that local UBC instalation dude. I hope she understands that in order for the poor fellow to be able to explain why he did not show up yesterday, she has to give him time to stop crying, after she launches her initial yak-yak session.
But more importantly, us going away will also give the kitchen construction fellows some elbow room to finish the job. She is practcally supervising the placement of every nail out there. These guys must have the patience of angels.
Well, that’s it
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Comments
5 Comments so far
Well, this is Norway - and the local telecoms, satellite providers and such still fil to show up on the promised date. That is also the case on carpenters, painters et cetera. Actually, the only ones you can trust showing up on time, are actually Thais
Just ask your grandma.
Hey Rune. Don’t worry I had the same thing here in the city happen to me but with cable TV. I rang and then actually spoke to 2 guys putting cable into a house about 400 metres away from mine.
It was agreed that they would be around in the next few days, that turned into a month and then one Saturday 4 men turned up and went to work and had the job done in just over an hour.
Same happened with the phone line. I waited for TOT for weeks and had rung them so many times about what was happening. I would always get the Bangkok call centre and they would relay the message to Ubon 600 klms away.
After not recieving any calls I went into the TOT office here and the next day 2 men turned up and my phone line was installed.
Like you said I hate relating things to back home but customer service here in Thailand is something that really can be improved for teh sense of business and also better customer service.
I hope it all works out soon and Nan doesn’t ‘Yak yak’ too much.
Sabai, Sabai
Dude, been a few daze since you have made an entry,reckon you’re still without a sattelite?
Been busy and the internet conncetion was playing games with me for a while