The mail box nightmare

For about the past two years Telkom has offered customers a free voice mail system. The way it works is as follows: When someone phones if you are not at home or if you are having a conversation (and therefore your phone line is busy) straightaway the caller hears a message that says: "Tidak ada respon dari nomor yang anda hubungi. Anda terhubung dengan mail box nomor..." (There is no reply from the number you want. You are connected with mail box number ...,) and then you are invited to leave a message.

Although Telkom's plan was probably to give a modern facility to its phone users, I find that this service is most confusing and unpractical.

First of all, most phone users are not even aware that this service exists; second, virtually no one ever leaves a message. People, instead, just hang up thinking that no one is at home or that they have dialed the wrong number.

I have been told that if I do not like the service all I have to do is call 126 and ask Telkom to remove it. I have done this four times now. At first it works, but then in a few months the voice mailbox is back again on my phone, causing all kinds of confusion, delays and misunderstandings in my business as well as in my personal communications.

Wouldn't be more easier if such a service was just offered and not imposed? I would find it easier if Telkom would just offer the service and those who are interested could register.

The mailbox "aid" has become a nightmare. Please Telkom, free me from your voice mail ghost!

LAURA ROMANO Surakarta, Central Java