Honesty and integrity are still hallmarks of a truly successful business

Mar 14, 2022 Letters

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Dear Editor,
It is said that a successful business or anything successful is built on honesty and integrity! When it crumbles or appears to be crumbling then these two important elements are surely lacking.
On Thursday 3, March, a letter was published by Kaieteur News and signed by yours truly. I mentioned the royal “run -around” that I got from GTT after my phone and internet stopped working on Wednesday, 9th February after being on and off since the beginning of the very month. In that letter, I mentioned that the matter was reported on the very day, to 097 and a reference #2334088 was given. I even mentioned that subsequent calls and visits to GTT proved futile. An issue that could have been fixed in less than two minutes took almost a month due to the incompetence, which stemmed from a misdiagnosis of the issue, as is a regular occurrence by this company in cases faced by me and others before. The entire content of my letter are THE FACTS about what occurred.
What is disturbing, is the content of a letter published in this News Outlet on Friday, March 4, 2022 and signed by someone (name provided) on behalf of GTT. This was brought to my attention only recently by persons who are knowledgeable about the facts of the matter. I was shocked by what I read. There are three points mentioned in that letter which I would like to deal with.
(1) This person states that I reported the issue on February 24, 2022, when in fact it was reported on February 9, which is the very day the phone and internet stopped working. The last call from me to GTT was on Tuesday, 22nd February 2022. That call was made due to the report given to me by the two workers from the cable crew, as they were working nearby and I had to inform them of the issue on Sunday, 20th February. They checked and they found “No damage CABLE” unlike what was reported by a technician. I believe them. They didn’t have to fix anything. The last call on February 22 was made after they (cable crew) told me that a technician would come within the next 24 hours to check around the phone in the house as there’s where the problem seems to be but up to this date never did. So I had called to inquire why, since it was 48 hours later and was told that the technician report of “CABLE problem” is still in their Database.
Now, how can I report the issue on February 24 but it was checked on February 20 by the workers who had it on their list and database? Are we dealing with TIME TRAVELLERS? How can they have gotten the report before it was reported?
Between February 9 – 22, 31 phone calls were made to various numbers connected to GTT, three visits to N/A Business office and four visits to the workstation were also made with no results. I have it all written down. During the said period, other persons including those in societal authority tried to help but to no avail. Every time I called 0907, the operator would mention the date of the first report (9/2/2022). You see February 24 would make it look good on GTT’s side as it falls within the 7 – 8 days grace period given to them by the PUC to respond (didn’t even happen). I was and am, still hurt and angry about this statement. How can trust be gain like this? I had no intention to let it ride. Honesty is the best policy! My previous letter is there for everyone to see. Some persons would go to any extent to cover their faults. Due to the company’s track record, we can’t expect better.
(2) It was stated that work commenced before the letter was published, to restore my service on March 2, 2022.
What work commenced? The only thing that was done by GTT was the checking done on the CABLE BOX on the post by the two helpful workers on February 20 after I spotted them working nearby and asked them to help. They didn’t have to fix anything as everything was fine on their side. A technician was to be sent in 24 hours, none came.
On Wednesday, March 3, I had to purchase and install a new phone cord adaptor. It’s a device on which the phone cord is attached to, then it’s plugged into the wall jack, in the house. As I had mentioned, it was suggested by a retired technician to check the adaptor since the phone would go on and off when the phone cord is gently pulled. I was advised to buy a new adaptor as the previous was faulty.
This was done after March 2 since no one turned up as promised. My phone and internet became fully functional again on Thursday 3, March, and not on 2, March as was stated, since on that date it was still problematic. I fixed the very simple issue, not GTT as they want the public to believe.
(3) She claimed that they contacted me on March 3 and that I confirmed that all is well.
At 3:54p.m, on the said date, a female caller contacted me on my cell phone saying to be from GTT. I explained all that occurred from inception. The phone (it’s a GTT) kept cutting off (twice) during the conversation. I told her that earlier in the day that I purchased and have a bill for a new adaptor and it’s working. She asked if I wanted her to send a technician. I said that would no longer be necessary.
If, as she claimed, my service was restored on March 2, 2022, how can I be asked on 3rd March if I wanted a technician to come to fix the issue? This is beyond ridiculous.
In her letter, why were the other issues, which I had mentioned not also addressed? These would be non-answering of phones, misdiagnosis of issues, numbers not published, ignoring of customers whose money pay their salaries, payment of rent for phones and equipment bought and own by customers, etc. and the list goes on.
The 7 – 8 days grace period before responding is too long. This was granted when this company was the sole provider. There are other companies now, so the Government and the PUC should cut it to one day. GPL is the sole electricity provider and they are given three days maximum to respond or they are penalised.
Due to what I experienced and the response from the person in the letter, I don’t want her to call me, since I have no trust that anything can be expected. It should be noted that I would counteract anything put out by them, which isn’t right.
Yours truly,
Ivin Ramlall

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