Satelindo's service

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