ELISA or: How to lose time and nerves
In the spring of last year me and Tapsa got ourselves new cellphones along with 2 year-contracts. From ELISA, one of Finlands biggest telecommunication companies. Unlike in Germany, where the phone itself is basically free with such a contract, in Finland the phones full prize is payed in monthly rates as part of the phonebill. 10,-€ in my case.
My contract was in Tapsa's name; as a foreigner I hadn't lived in Finland long enough to get my own contract.
Then Tapsa and I split up. Phone still in Tapsa's name, I still hadn't lived here for more than 2 years - so the bills continued coming to Tapsa's address. No problem, we thought, they come early enough and with enough time in between, that they'll find their way to me in time.
But unfortunately ELISA had started using a new billing system in summer. Being busy sorting out our lives, we didn't really notice that there wasn't cellphone bills coming for about half a year. well, of course we got internet and home phone bills - everything seperately - otherwise we might have noticed even then.
The bills that hadn't come in summer started coming in December, I think- about once per week, deadline immediately. Until I got them, there was usually already a second and third one. Well, I made sure to pay them all, though it was sometimes hard to find the money.
On January 21 tapsa and I went to a local ELISA shop trying to get the contract in my name. we explained the situation and the woman said, no problem. But then the computer didn't work, she took all the information down and promised to take care of things and send us the neew contracts.
The next 2 bills still went to Tapsa's, nor did we ever receive contracts. In the end of February Tapsa went to the store himself. After that, the bills came to my address - with Tapsa's name on them.
So on 14th of March we went to ELISA together. And surprise - the computer worked and we left with new contracts IN MY NAME. Cost only about 7,-€, which nobody ever told us. Oh well, as long as it works.
YEAH right.
Shortly afterwards Tapsa got a huge bill. At first we didn't understand at all, what it was, but turned out, it was all the remaining monthly rates for the phone at once. So again we went to the store to ask, what had happened. There we got to hear, that they can't help us with that. We'd have to call the customer service - preferably immediately after 9 a.m., because then we might get through in less than 2 hours. But of course, both of us were at work then.
Good thing, that a friend is working at the customer service and wanted to help. She got us a new contract, though still in Tapsa's name (for some reason it's impossible to get that into my name). So basically, I got to pay my 10,-€ per month again, just not along with the phonebill anymore. Or something like that.
Along with the contract came a list with the reference numbers for all the monthly payments. I payed the first bill 4 days ahead of the deadline - and got a message from the friend the next day: Don't pay, the reference numbers are wrong.
Well, too late. I had payed, it wasn't my mistake and I wasn't willing to pay again.
The new list arrived in time for the next rate, which I duely payed. And 3 weeks after that, Tapsa gets another letter along with another list, saying: the reference numbers were wrong again, wait for the new list.
The numbers on the list in the letter were the same as on the former one, so I didn't dare use them and waited for the new list, which never came. So the last rate of 10,-€ was overdue (2 weeks).
And Tapsa got a letter from one of those companies who collect outstanding money for other companies. Funny enough, the amount there was the original amount, including the rates I had already payed.
So we decided to try calling ELISA again. After waiting for only about half an hour, we even got through. The customer service woman was soon as confused as we were. Evidentially, there was tons of contradictory information in the computer. In the end, after about another 30 min, she said she'd sort it out and call back the next day.
Now it looks like I'll get to pay my monthly rates again, though the contract is still in Tapsa's name. They also said they'll take care of the collecting firm... Let's see.
My contract was in Tapsa's name; as a foreigner I hadn't lived in Finland long enough to get my own contract.
Then Tapsa and I split up. Phone still in Tapsa's name, I still hadn't lived here for more than 2 years - so the bills continued coming to Tapsa's address. No problem, we thought, they come early enough and with enough time in between, that they'll find their way to me in time.
But unfortunately ELISA had started using a new billing system in summer. Being busy sorting out our lives, we didn't really notice that there wasn't cellphone bills coming for about half a year. well, of course we got internet and home phone bills - everything seperately - otherwise we might have noticed even then.
The bills that hadn't come in summer started coming in December, I think- about once per week, deadline immediately. Until I got them, there was usually already a second and third one. Well, I made sure to pay them all, though it was sometimes hard to find the money.
On January 21 tapsa and I went to a local ELISA shop trying to get the contract in my name. we explained the situation and the woman said, no problem. But then the computer didn't work, she took all the information down and promised to take care of things and send us the neew contracts.
The next 2 bills still went to Tapsa's, nor did we ever receive contracts. In the end of February Tapsa went to the store himself. After that, the bills came to my address - with Tapsa's name on them.
So on 14th of March we went to ELISA together. And surprise - the computer worked and we left with new contracts IN MY NAME. Cost only about 7,-€, which nobody ever told us. Oh well, as long as it works.
YEAH right.
Shortly afterwards Tapsa got a huge bill. At first we didn't understand at all, what it was, but turned out, it was all the remaining monthly rates for the phone at once. So again we went to the store to ask, what had happened. There we got to hear, that they can't help us with that. We'd have to call the customer service - preferably immediately after 9 a.m., because then we might get through in less than 2 hours. But of course, both of us were at work then.
Good thing, that a friend is working at the customer service and wanted to help. She got us a new contract, though still in Tapsa's name (for some reason it's impossible to get that into my name). So basically, I got to pay my 10,-€ per month again, just not along with the phonebill anymore. Or something like that.
Along with the contract came a list with the reference numbers for all the monthly payments. I payed the first bill 4 days ahead of the deadline - and got a message from the friend the next day: Don't pay, the reference numbers are wrong.
Well, too late. I had payed, it wasn't my mistake and I wasn't willing to pay again.
The new list arrived in time for the next rate, which I duely payed. And 3 weeks after that, Tapsa gets another letter along with another list, saying: the reference numbers were wrong again, wait for the new list.
The numbers on the list in the letter were the same as on the former one, so I didn't dare use them and waited for the new list, which never came. So the last rate of 10,-€ was overdue (2 weeks).
And Tapsa got a letter from one of those companies who collect outstanding money for other companies. Funny enough, the amount there was the original amount, including the rates I had already payed.
So we decided to try calling ELISA again. After waiting for only about half an hour, we even got through. The customer service woman was soon as confused as we were. Evidentially, there was tons of contradictory information in the computer. In the end, after about another 30 min, she said she'd sort it out and call back the next day.
Now it looks like I'll get to pay my monthly rates again, though the contract is still in Tapsa's name. They also said they'll take care of the collecting firm... Let's see.
flussziege - Jul 4, 14:14
