Hi everyone.
I noticed a couple of posts regarding bad Telkom porting experiences. I have been meaning to port to Telkom from Vodacom since the Free Me packages was announced. I was hesitant due to the mentioned posts, but decided to bite the bullet. I can't be more impressed than I am at the moment. Maybe I got lucky, but I dealt with competent people all the way through. I hope my experience will balance out some of the others. Here it is:
Monday, 8 August 2016:
Phone Vodacom and request early cancellation forms for two numbers. Funnily enough, agent asks whether it is due to Telkom's Free Me packages. I say 'yes'. The forms promptly arrive via email. I was informed that my last bill will still go off via debit order at the end of the month. That evening I fill out the forms, make final payment via EFT and send back to Vodacom along with proof of payment and copy of ID. Something to note regarding this step is that I requested the numbers to go onto prepaid.
Tuesday, 9 August 2016:
Public holiday. Nothing happened.
Wednesday, 10 August 2016:
Some time late morning I receive text messages on both numbers saying they have been converted to pre paid.
Thursday, 11 August 2016:
The big day. Telkom wants three months bank statements (stamped by bank), latest payslip, proof of address and copy of ID for post paid products. I opted for month to month sim only plans, and even though they are not long term contracts, they are still post paid. I gather all required documents, stopping at the bank on my way to Telkom to get the stamped statements. On my way a thought crosses my mind. I still have an outstanding balance with Vodacom, they might use this as a reason to decline the port. So before Telkom, I go to Vodacom (all in the same mall) and settle my outstanding balance.
After that off to Telkom. There was a bit of a wait but I was helped eventually. I fill out forms and request a port in. The process is that they request it on their system and I receive an sms with a port pin. Both pins arrive promptly and they enter it on the system. Both numbers receive a message that a port was authorised and that I can cancel by replying. I receive my Telkom sim cards and is told that when the Vodacom numbers die I can insert the Telkom sims. They mention it can take a day or two.
I go home and at some point during the day I receive messages that the numbers have been ported. They are still working on the Vodacom network though. I know NST (Network Sync Time) is between 19:30 and 22:30 so I cross fingers that the port will be finalised that same evening.
At about 20:00 both numbers stop working. When I tried to make a phone call I got the message "Not registered on network", still shows strong signal though. I decide to wait an hour just to be safe. I don't want to unwittingly interrupt the process by bringing my Telkom sims online too soon. At 21:00 I change sims in both devices and switch them on. After booting, both get the same sms: "Welcome to Telkom Mobile! Your new number is **********" The new numbers in the messages is my old Vodacom numbers. I make a couple of phone calls to test and it works without a hitch. I log on to the Telkom online portal and my new(old Vodacom) numbers show alongside my LTE number.
Success!
I noticed a couple of posts regarding bad Telkom porting experiences. I have been meaning to port to Telkom from Vodacom since the Free Me packages was announced. I was hesitant due to the mentioned posts, but decided to bite the bullet. I can't be more impressed than I am at the moment. Maybe I got lucky, but I dealt with competent people all the way through. I hope my experience will balance out some of the others. Here it is:
Monday, 8 August 2016:
Phone Vodacom and request early cancellation forms for two numbers. Funnily enough, agent asks whether it is due to Telkom's Free Me packages. I say 'yes'. The forms promptly arrive via email. I was informed that my last bill will still go off via debit order at the end of the month. That evening I fill out the forms, make final payment via EFT and send back to Vodacom along with proof of payment and copy of ID. Something to note regarding this step is that I requested the numbers to go onto prepaid.
Tuesday, 9 August 2016:
Public holiday. Nothing happened.
Wednesday, 10 August 2016:
Some time late morning I receive text messages on both numbers saying they have been converted to pre paid.
Thursday, 11 August 2016:
The big day. Telkom wants three months bank statements (stamped by bank), latest payslip, proof of address and copy of ID for post paid products. I opted for month to month sim only plans, and even though they are not long term contracts, they are still post paid. I gather all required documents, stopping at the bank on my way to Telkom to get the stamped statements. On my way a thought crosses my mind. I still have an outstanding balance with Vodacom, they might use this as a reason to decline the port. So before Telkom, I go to Vodacom (all in the same mall) and settle my outstanding balance.
After that off to Telkom. There was a bit of a wait but I was helped eventually. I fill out forms and request a port in. The process is that they request it on their system and I receive an sms with a port pin. Both pins arrive promptly and they enter it on the system. Both numbers receive a message that a port was authorised and that I can cancel by replying. I receive my Telkom sim cards and is told that when the Vodacom numbers die I can insert the Telkom sims. They mention it can take a day or two.
I go home and at some point during the day I receive messages that the numbers have been ported. They are still working on the Vodacom network though. I know NST (Network Sync Time) is between 19:30 and 22:30 so I cross fingers that the port will be finalised that same evening.
At about 20:00 both numbers stop working. When I tried to make a phone call I got the message "Not registered on network", still shows strong signal though. I decide to wait an hour just to be safe. I don't want to unwittingly interrupt the process by bringing my Telkom sims online too soon. At 21:00 I change sims in both devices and switch them on. After booting, both get the same sms: "Welcome to Telkom Mobile! Your new number is **********" The new numbers in the messages is my old Vodacom numbers. I make a couple of phone calls to test and it works without a hitch. I log on to the Telkom online portal and my new(old Vodacom) numbers show alongside my LTE number.
Success!