The Kenyan Keralite

It’s now Day 4.

Ok.. I’ll try tell this story as simply as I can(I used to be good at story narration in primary school, not too good now I realize)..

Day Zero : I got a new phone n connection on the last day of July(I salute the credit card’s invention!). The gentlemen at the store were very helpful with advise on which connection to opt for and also lent a very understanding ear to my requirements. So after considering all the positives, I got a number I liked from service provider X. (Alas! If I may add.) The store people forget to recharge my number with talk-time so my connection stays inactive for the day.

Day One : I take my Address proof to the store and get my number recharged but unfortunately the ‘server’s’ down at the service provider’s end and so the whole day my talk-time does not get reflected in their systems(and so I remain inactive). I travel to Kerala the same evening.

Day Two : Still inactive. The people at the store take my Kerala number from my filled form and call me to say that I’ll have to provide them another Address proof because X does not accept rent agreements as Address proof. Thank you, why was this not told to me first ??!

Day Three : I walk in to the store with my driving license copy and my inactive phone. The store calls the Customer Care at X, who tells them that there is no talk-time registered and that is the reason for not having my number active. So the store(from their pockets) recharges one more time for me.

Back to Day Four, Today : Yup, still INACTIVE. I call Customer Care from my friends phone, the lady tells me I have NOT recharged and so I will continue to remain inactive. I say I have the transaction numbers for the recharges done but apparently only those recharges that reflect in the system can be traced using a transaction ID number. Suggested Solution – please recharge with talk-time! I then call the store who says they will give me a new SIM(again their own expense)..

Well I’ve worked in the Telecom field for 8 months.. And I am very interested in knowing this story’s end. I don’t want the store to spend another dime just to satisfy their customer. I eagerly look forward to seeing how X takes this further. I’ll try calling up a few friends of mine (used to work in X) and check whether I can have my number active.

Meanwhile, phone stays inactive but still serves me with all the extra features I am new with.