Lost in space<\/p>\n
Having lost my mobile phone last week, my first time mind you,
\nI promptly went out to buy a new one legitimately. To my
\nsurprise, and rising disgust, there appeared to be only a handful
\nof satellite numbers available, and at usury prices. Previously,
\none could purchase a Mentari 100-pulse starter pack with a number
\nfor Rp 175,000. Now it costs Rp 900,000 on the black market for
\nthe number alone. The stores said they have no choice in the
\nmatter as that is the price enforced by distributors even though
\nthe suggested retail price is still printed on the pack.<\/p>\n
I went down to Satelindo and they are selling only 50 packs
\nper day. \"Stand in line at 7 a.m.\"<\/p>\n
It turns out that Indosat and Telkomsel have also run out of
\nHalo and XL numbers also. Are they telling us, the public, that
\nsix months ago all three modern global corporations didn't have
\nthe intelligence to predict this major marketing faux pas, or is
\nit that they couldn't care less about customers. Could this be
\nsome monopolistic conspiracy engineered by third party
\nmasterminds? Whatever the excuse, there is a failure to uphold
\nconsumers' rights, and if this was known in advance, then a
\ncriminal act has been perpetrated.<\/p>\n
Now, here's some advice for us poor suckers, i.e. consumers
\nwithout rights. On your mobile phone, dial *=06= and your
\ninternal security number will be displayed. This number
\nauthenticates your individual phone. With this number and proof
\nof purchase, you can cancel your phone worldwide from the
\nmanufacturer. The local distributors don't know about this, so
\nyou will have to instruct them also. Thieves can never use it
\nagain. For your lost satellite number, take your proof of
\npurchase and insist in the strongest terms possible that your
\nsatellite server block or cancel the number. I am serious about
\nforcing them as they continued to say no until I used my
\ninimitable Yankee charm.<\/p>\n
And here's some advice for Satelindo, Telkomsel and Indosat.
\nWhether you like it or not, you have an inherent responsibility
\nto the public, your customers. It is your obligation to provide
\nservice and help discourage theft. As there are thousands of
\nstolen numbers being used, you will assist the police, or your
\nown security service, in tracking these people. It's
\nextraordinarily easy as all the numbers are still processed
\nthrough your computer. You can then advise the public to retain
\ntheir proof of purchase and report any loss or theft in order for
\nyou to block those numbers and assist customers in retrieving
\ntheir rightful property. We're mad and we're not going to take it
\nanymore.<\/p>\n
BRIEN D.<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lost-in-space-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }