Satelindo's service

On Sept. 17, 1997 I purchased an Ericsson model GH688 mobile telephone handset together with SIM card and a package of services that purported to include GSM roaming and IDD. This package cost Rp 1,600,000. Like a number of your readers who regularly travel in the region, GSM roaming was a key item in my choice of telephone services.

On my first trip overseas it became apparent that PT Satelindo had not registered me as a GSM roaming user. Having clarified this matter with repeated telephone calls a messenger from our office visited PT Satelindo's offices in Wisma Artha Graha in order to register my interest by providing a guarantee letter and a copy of my credit card. Such requirements were not mentioned at the outset at which time PT Satelindo staff very happily took my payment in full.

Despite this visit, roughly 20 telephone calls several faxes and a repeat visit in person to PT Satelindo's offices on Nov. 20 to watch a terminal operator apparently keying in and changing the software set up on my hand phone it remains the case that only the IDD service is operating: more than eight weeks after I first paid for a full service.

I continue to suffer the inconvenience of inoperable GSM roaming whilst traveling abroad on business. I cannot think of any further steps that I can take to rectify this inconvenience.

IAIN GUTHRIE

Jakarta