Sasktel

This is an ancient story but quite telling as I do not think that their practices or attitudes have changed. We were a non-profit Internet provider to several insitutions in town (schools, higher education facilities, et al) who were initially provided with Internet supplied by Saskatchewan universities. Due to the high cost, we had a number of dial-up clients who relied on us for their connectivity. Service was supplied by two university technicians, but it was of high quality. During the Internet switchover from the universities to Sasktel in the 1990s, we, as a client, were paying around $100 per DAY for connectivity for a 56 kBit dedicated line. Rather than carefully plan their switchover, SaskTel sent their only technician, with knowledge of Internet routing, to a conference on the day of the switchover. We, of course, were never informed of this. Hence, the big day arrives. No internet. Our clients were phoning us constantly, trying to find out what was wrong. I phoned SaskTel and got the run-around. I finally got a hold of the technician, who did the re-routing which restored our Internet, during a conference break. The fun continued. Rather than have a set price for their plans, they refused to commit to a given price but only gave a range of prices (until they are sure of what THEIR costs might be). Not a good sell for institutions, our dial-up clients, that must budget every penny a year in advance in order for them to be approved. They then rolled out their services to individual customers. Following AOL's lead, they developed a comprehensive interface that allowed you to connect, check email, et al within it. However, this software was cheaply developed overseas and was full of bugs. I had to individually help clients install and use freeware software, such as email clients, that would check their email and provide much more functionality than this dodgy interface.
I complained to SaskTel, and it literally took me over a year to get a reply. I had to constantly contact SaskTel and follow my complaint as it was passed on from one department to another, with each department refusing to respond. The letter finally went to their Vice-President, Dan Baldwin. We had it out on the phone. He first tried to blame me for the issues, claiming that I did not provide enough information for them to investigate. I replied that if they wanted more details, he could have easily contacted me over the year of its circulating through Sasktel. He stated that it was on his desk only a few days ago. I then pointed out that even if that was the case, it was his poor management that caused this to be so. He then went off on a tangent, stating how hard SaskTel works and how people do not appreciate their work. The phone call abruptly ended. I sent a paper towel to Sasktel's president, Don Ching (a former room-mate of former Premier Romanow, a lawyer, and totally unfit for his appointed job [in other words, a political hack]), asking him to give the towel to his vice president so that he could dry his tears and, more ever, to instruct Dan to tell someone who cares. Don did not care for my letter and stated that SaskTel did not want to conduct any further business with me, which suited me well.
Some years later, I spoke with another SaskTel manager about this episode. Although he admitted that the vice president committed a mistake in not researching the complaint beforehand (really?) and it was common for complaints to be passed from one department to another as no one wants to take responsibility for anything (quite telling), he complained about having to deal with complaints like this every day (given the way that they manage their business, it is quite understandable). He called people who complained "cranks" who did not deserve a reply to their complaints. What customer service model is this? I can see how the government monopoly attitude has seeped in deep within this organisation and in the quality of people that work there.
I do not deal with SaskTel, as mentioned previously, and given their customer service and attitude, I never will. I am sorry that the lowest rating is one star as I definitely would rate Sasktel lower.

I called in May to explain the items I was to return were stolen from my vehicle and needed the full amount to have my insurance cover it and with a change of address, reasons my use for the items were not needed because the home I'm in now has everything included. So I get an email stating that the amount owing would be removed from my account would be out July 3rd 2022. Not June 22nd...Call in and I get the run around and finally get Jim on the line. Complete jerk if you ask me. The only thing he could do was repeat the same thing without understanding my question and telling me that if I had an insufficient amount that they would refund me. Because that helps me right now. (single mom) I have set bill dates noted so this wouldn't happen...This is called budgeting. Still not explaining why this happened he went on about the billing process. I received this email in June. Nothing was ever sent to me because the last person I spoke to didn't update my profile with new address. Not my fault but left feeling that it is. My point to this is that why email something different if you sent a bill to the wrong address and argue with a customer and then blame another worker for that happening and not apologize for your companies error. Glad I left Sasktel and will not recommend your company in the future. I have no problems paying my bills but when you email someone something and send mail to a different address and can't hear what the person is trying to explain to you, then customer service isn't your job! Especially how ignorant JIM was with me on the phone.

Cell contact ended dec. continued to charge us for three months till unnoticed. Both service and manager said I had accountability to figure it out ourselves and he contract said we had to tell them we wanted to cancel service. We assumed it was over and could not remember fine print from two years prior.

Offered to credit one month and ten dollars for next six Mingus. Service said if I talked to manager that offer was off the table. *** Kept on hold for ten minutes throughout calls with the service rep and manager. Manager repeatedly said I need to take responsibility and be accountable. Highly offdnsive then agreed to acquire to services initial offer. Agreed that she wouldn't remember but would have checked it before I did. We haven't touched the phone since the contract ended.

I have been a faithful customer of Sasktel since I believe 2008. My contract was up so I was looking to renew my contract and get a new phone. I saw they had a good Black Friday deal, so I figured this was a good time to upgrade, I did some research and settled on a Samsung S9. I checked around to find the best Sasktel resellers promotions and settled on the Costco promo. When I went to go get the phone, they were out of stock and maybe some coming tomorrow. So I went back 3 times, always out of stock, I also checked with other resellers and also out of stock. I called Sasktel and they were out of stock. I offered to signup now and pick up the phone later, but they told me it was not a possibility. I kept calling the resellers till the sale was over. Nothing. Sent an email to Sasktel inquiring which is suppose to solicit a response within 24 to 48 hours. No response.Now I am on my way south so cant deal with this now. Right after the sale, there is lots of stock, lol. And don't get me started on their internet service, having issues there too. Time to make a look at some alternatives.
Hubert G