[maddy42]

Was expecting people to have gone for a tea break when sam entered the officecheers:

[Rotorhead]

Geez sam.can understand ur frustration.talk about inefficiency of the Govt sector,making customers run desk to desk for a simple thing. When will these guys ever learn from the private players.

[X-Machine]

Shucks, thats really bad. Ive been on MTNL since almost 2 years now, but never faced any inconvenience. The plan im using is TriB 1199 2mbps with 2GB Free D/L at Home and DSL Premium 2mbps with 70GB Free D/L at Office.

Please crosscheck the bill with Mtnl, as they do mess up at times.

X

[Sam Kapasi]

10.10 am

The Gentleman at the counter has given me 3 names as a passing shot.
Go to the first floor and meet Mr. N, Mr.S, Mr.D or Mrs M.
(I would rather not use their full names)

I go up to the solitary security guard at his desk.
Ek maale pe jaana hai. (I want to go to the first floor)
Kis se milna hai? (To meet?)
Mr. N, S, D ya Mrs. M.
Hmm.. Koi abhi tak aaya nahi hai. (they aren't in yet)
Office timing kya hai?
10am, he says, a mixture of humour and uncertainty on his face. He is a nice guy and he likes me too. I can tell.
But it is now 10.15.
He suggests I go up and check. He had left his counter to start up the lift and possibly they may have come during that time.

I nod and he writes me out a chit.

Shall I take the stairs? I ask him in Hindi.
Haan, he says pointing.

I climb up to the first floor and I am facing 2 elevator doors. It is not the sorry state of the doors that amazes me. There are cycles parked here. Kids cycles.
It makes no sense.

Next to the lift is a sign that says "MTNL Officers flats" pointing to the left. I turn left. It looks very residential, clothes drying and all that.
Right next to the elevator is a sign that reads toilet.

To the right is a door, I walk in. Everything inside looks very unoccupied and dirty. There is a solitary carpenter in his banian. (white undershirt vest)
Ummm sab log kahan hai? (where is everybody)
Abhi koi aaya nahi hai, jaake dekho.

I walk inside. The offices are huge but strangely filthy beyond all recognition. Glass partitions are opaque with dust. Metal and wire chairs have wires sticking out of them. There are no computers, no printers, no paper, no people.
I walk past a corridor of ghost offices.

Not only is there no one inside, but it looks like they have not been used for years. I see enough place for 100 people to work here, even more. Not a soul in sight.
I keep walking to the end of the corridor. To my left is a large room, completely EMPTY, a high ceiling and the room is about 10,000 square feet.
Everything is filthy, untouchable.

I keep walking. The door at the end of the corridor is locked. I turn back. It doesn't seem right here. I walk all the way out. Even the carpenter is gone. I look at my watch, it is now 10.25.
I must have entered some old wing or something.

I retrace all my steps and look around. Nothing. There is no one here.

I go back down the stairs and inform the guard.

Wait karo, he says.
I make a few calls and stand to the side. WHile I am walking around chatting on my phone, he waves out to me, informing me that Mr. N has arrived.

I go back upstairs to the cycle ridden floor. From the right of the elevator, where the toilet is, I can hear a lot of hacking, coughing and nose blowing. Ah! Signs of life!

I re-enter the deserted corridor. It is still deserted.

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

Not only is there no one inside, but it looks like they have not been used for years. I see enough place for 100 people to work here, even more. Not a soul in sight.
I keep walking to the end of the corridor. To my left is a large room, completely EMPTY, a high ceiling and the room is about 10,000 square feet.
Everything is filthy, untouchable.

I keep walking. The door at the end of the corridor is locked. I turn back.

The was the door to the twilight zone. You should have entered.

YouTube - Twilight Zone intro.

[m3_07]

Excellent Boss!!

This is exactly how smart technology deceives smart people.

Nice writeup...as usual, Mr Sam!!

[wheeler]

Sam, the way you are narrating the incident itself makes me feel like going up there and giving these people a piece of my mind. I wonder how you managed to keep your cool when this happened to you in person!!!

Waiting for the next part.

[vivekiny2k]

Originally Posted by X-Machine

Shucks, thats really bad. Ive been on MTNL since almost 2 years now, but never faced any inconvenience. The plan im using is TriB 1199 2mbps with 2GB Free D/L at Home and DSL Premium 2mbps with 70GB Free D/L at Office.

Please crosscheck the bill with Mtnl, as they do s***w up at times.

X

guys, please enjoy the story. or add your stories. there are other places to discuss plans, scripts and workarounds.

[BaCkSeAtDrIVeR]

Originally Posted by wheeler

Sam, the way you are narrating the incident itself makes me feel like going up there and giving these people a piece of my mind.

Eh?? How? There are no people there!!! Sam is just entering and leaving empty rooms!!!

[Sam Kapasi]

10.45 am

The ghost corridor is still devoid of human existence. However I did hear some nose-blowing in the toilet.

I wait. Soon an elderly Gentleman walks by me. I will not comment on his appearance but let’s just say I ask him to direct me to Mr. N’s office.

Bhaisaan, N saab ka office?
Haan bolo. He’s still walking.
N saab ka office kahan hai?
Bola na bolo!
I am now following him.
Aap N saab hai? I ask incredulously.
Bolo.
Kya mein aap se 5 minute baat kar sakta hoon?
He stops. Turns. I guess politeness doesn’t come by often around these parts.

Bolo. A softer kinder tone.

I stick out my bill at him and very quickly explain my situation.

Aap baara baje modem bund karte ho?
I am quite tired of this question by now. Yes sir, daily bund karta hoon.

We talk for another 30 seconds and I softly say “Sir 14000 Rupees?” in a very plaintive voice.
He softens.

You can run around all over this exchange, but nobody can help you. There is one person who can help you – S.
Where can I find him?
Mr. N gives me his mobile number that I quickly enter into my phone.
But you don’t call him now, call him in the evening. Now he will be busy.
OK sir, thank you.

I leave, waving a thanks to the guard.

3 pm

I dial the number. It is busy for a long while, I keep trying, then it rings.Hello?
Mr S?
Yes
Sir aapka number mujhe N saab ne diya hai.
Boliye.
Can I speak to you for 5 minutes?
Can you call after half and hour please?
Yes OK.
Click.
30 minutes later I call him again but he tells me he has not reached his office and this time he will call me back.He doesn’t call.

I call him again at 7pm, surprisingly he is still working. He says he is out in the field and will call me later. When?
I work late, I will call you tonight.

The call never comes. This day has passed.

[Sam Kapasi]

11 am

I call S.

Good morning Mr S my name is Kapasi, I called you yesterday.
Haan haan.
Sir aapka phone nahi aaya.
Yes, I was working in field, I was out till 10.
Toh Sir, mera kaam?
Main office mein nahi hoon, I will call you when I reach office.
OK. Click.

No call from him.

2 pm

I call S.

Good afternoon Mr. S. I am Kapasi.
I am keeping my tone polite and straightforward. This situation is not his fault. He is not obliged to help me.
Haan, maine bola na, main phone karoonga.
Sir, aap karenge?
Haan karoonga. I will call, don’t worry.


4pm

My mobile rings. It is a 2643 bandra landline number.

Hello?
Hello, S from MTNL Bandra.

He called!


Haan sir, thanks for calling.
Aapka number kya hai?
2642XXXX.
Clackety clackety clack.
Problem kya hai?
Sir detailed internet usage chahiye.
Why?

I explain quickly.
Clackety clack, click, click, clackety clack.
I have detailed usage on my system only March and April. May is not available on my system.
We are approaching the end of June. How can he be saying that he does not have the May details online?

Sir what to do?
Problem kya hai?

I go on quickly to explain a Rs. 14500/- bill and so on like a stuck record.

Clackety clack clack.
When did you change to 849 plan?
Last month.
Faster clackety clackety clackety. Clack. CLACK. He's found something.

There is no night unlimited on your account. You have a 399/- day use plan.

What?

There is no 849 night unlimited on your line. Only 399/- per month
Uhhh.
My head is reeling. No Sir I have night unlimited.

Do you have any proof, any intimation, email fax?
No Sir, it was done on the phone. I even received a confirmation call.
From who?
From MTNL.

I feel silly, stupid and very angry.

No it is not activated, therefore you are paying 1 rupee per MB, you have used 14000 MB, your bill is 14000, problem solved.
He sounds almost triumphant.

Nonononononononono this cannot be happening.

Sir, one minute, hold on. I am paying a service charge of 800. PLUS when I came yesterday to the sewa centre (shudder) he said that my 849 Night unlimited plan was active since 5th may!
On his computer? He sounds skeptical.
Sir I saw it, it said DSL849NU.

He stops clacketing. Hold on.

Now I can hear him talking in Marathi to a lady. The conversation lasts a few minutes. I am very frustrated, but I must keep a bright and cheery voice if I want help.

Speak here.
Mrs. M comes on the phone. She sounds straight, hard and no nonsense, like a teacher.
I explain the whole situation again, adding the bit about how it shows as 849/- on some computers and 399/- on some.

Please come to MTNL Bandra exchange, Monday morning at 11am and meet me. I am M.
Yes Mrs M. My name is Kapasi, I will come to you.
Bring Xerox copy of your bill. Click.

I have no idea what to do with my anxiety. I spend Sunday calming myself. I am finding it hard to use the internet at all.

Let’s see what happens on Monday.

To be continued.

[whatcanthisbe]

wow this is exactly how almost every indian co works may it be mtnl or even airtel for that matter, sam the waiting must be ridiculous, if she can see the issue why cant she solve it now, what's gonna happen on monday ?? UGH !!! do keep us posted

[nisarg86]

To match your local pc time with MTNL/BSNL server time.
use this NTP server. 0.asia.pool.ntp.org
I am getting exact timing in my logs.

[pjbiju]

From my experience of using BSNL broadband for the past 1.5 years and from the experiences of friends using Tata Indicom and other private players, I would say that BSNL is probably better - lesser of the evils. At least with BSNL, you can walk to an office and talk to someone. This is not the case with the others, where you can only call them up. They are great as long as ther are no issues. But if you have a serious problem, then it can bring a lot of headaches.

[jkdas]

OT, Bharthi 2Mbps DSL Unlimited at 15K.