ClearTel Sucks

We've all had bad experiences when dealing with companies that provide us services. Generally, when they make a mistake, you receive an apology and some credit on your service, etc.

Let me tell you about ClearTel. I own a business and work out of my house. The business line service provider is ClearTel as they offered service for a reasonable rate and businesses are always looking to save a buck wherever they can.

We are moving in two weeks and my wife--who also runs the office--contacted them and told them to switch the service as of March 16th, the day after we close escrow.

Anyway, this morning, my wife attempts to use the business line and it's out of service. She calls ClearTel and they tell her that they have moved the service to the new house--a house we have not yet closed on.

My wife explains to them that we don't quite own the house yet and that what they are doing is pretty damn stupid. She also asks them if they have a service order showing the swith date as March 16th. Indeed, they say, they do.

So my wife tells them to stop the installation at the new house and to restore service to the current house. Sure they say...in 24-48 hours. Now keep in mind that this is a business line. A line that my clients call requesting proposals, vendors call asking specifics for orders and potential clients contact asking for information.

To make a long story short, they kept me and my wife on hold for at least an hour each and they still will take 24-48 hours to restart our service.

Let's review:

ClearTel actually installed a new phone line at a house I don't even own yet even though they have a work order clearly stating that the date of installation was to be March 16th.

ClearTel has shut off my business line so that clients can not reach me costing me an unknown amount of money; and

They refuse to reinstitute that service for 24-48 hours.

No wonder outsourcing takes place.

Update (3/2/06 1826): ClearTel rectified the situation today once upper management got wind of the screw-up. I have to give them credit for making a bad situation right.