If you can spare the rest of your life to read this, because it's quite lengthy, then please do. I've had to learn the hard way, and by sharing my experiences I might be able to save some or all of you a bit of hassle. I'm sure there are those of you who have had no trouble at all - but this may be of some use at the end of the day, especially if you want 3G. Please read on...
1. I bought a Blackberry Curve mobile phone on Ebay.UK which was delivered to me by friends.
2. I went to Maroc-Telecom (opposite the Dome cafe) in Agadir, where I asked for 3G Internet usage.
3. I was told I couldn't have 3G that day and had to pay 60MAD for a small plastic covered pack. "Bring this back tomorrow and you can have 3G." I was told. It didn't make much sense at the time - but what does down here, depending on who you talk to!
4. I returned the following day, with the small pack - unopened.
5. I spoke to the same lady who dealt with me the previous day. She didn't seem to recall anything about my visit and opened the pack and installed the sim-card into my Blackberry phone.
6. She stated, in surprise, it wasn't 3G.
7. I needed a new sim-card.
8. She produced one and demanded 80MAD for it. I paid.
9. She inserted the card and said to phone 888 call centre, telling them I needed, Blackberry-on-demand.
10. I phoned the number (888) and received an assault on my ear-drums. The French language came at me hard and fast with the loudest and most ridiculous music I've ever been subjected to. too loud to allow me to understand what was being said and what I might be needed to do.
11. I returned to the same Maroc Tel boutique, asking if they could help me.
12. The same lady I previously dealt with phoned 888 on my behalf, again, and said 3G would be available within 24 hours. She apologised for not speaking good English. I apologised for speaking worse French! We both laughed.
13. I was on the internet for a day before it disappeared.
14. I returned to the same Maroc-Tel boutique... again.
15. I spoke to another lady - who stated in no uncertain terms I needed to phone the 888 number and was to go away. She didn't speak English and said i should wait to speak to the manager who did. I waited..., and waited... and waited... while the doors were locked to prevent anyone entering while they closed for siesta. I eventually left as an enormous amount of time had passed and there didn't seem to be any interest shown in helping me!!!
16. It was when I was driving passed the hairdresser's shop where i get my thatch cut that I saw the guy who cuts my fur. I had a brainwave... Oooer! I stopped and asked if he could help me, explaining what had gone before and what i needed doing for my phone.
17. He phoned, 888, but couldn't get very far.
18. He called another local for assistance - a Moroccan who worked next door renting cars to tourists. He spoke pretty good English.
19. He phoned 888, managing to speak to someone - telling me to expect a phone-call within 48 hours from the 888 Help Desk.
20. It was the next evening when my Blackberry rang, so to speak, and a guy spoke in French. Having asked to speak in English I was left with someone who didn't speak English very well and understood it even less. Sigh!
21. He rambled on for a while before saying I would be on a 200MAD contract for 3G, whereupon I wanted to say, Bugger-off! However, as there was a language barrier between us I said yes, with the intension of getting it sorted-out once I was finally on the www. Phew!
22. It worked... for about 24 hours... again - before it died. What is it with Maroc-Tel that their system only last for a short period before it gives-up the proverbial ghost!!!
23. I returned to the same Maroc-Tel boutique. I asked if they could help me. The guy who dealt with me started to write the numbers, 888, before I mentioned I had already tried that avenue plus 3 Moroccans, whereupon we ended up getting nowhere.
24. He got onto his computer, having looked at the Offre JAWAL form I was initially given when I signed-up with the telecom's company. He typed away quite merrily before printing an A4 sheet of something, stating the call centre would phone me.
25. I waited and waited, carrying my Blackberry with me everywhere - even to the toilet. You wouldn't want to borrow my phone!
26. I never, ever received a call, but instead got a warning on my mobile stating - in RED, sim-card has been rejected. And in the top right corner of the small screen was an, SOS... also in RED.
27. I returned to the Maroc-Tel boutique, and today... as I write this lengthy tale of woe, only to be told my sim-card was finished and I needed a new one. I mentioned it was new and I hadn't had the use of it. He stated in no uncertain terms it was not him but Maroc-Telecom's rules!
28. My sim-card had been rejected before it had been used.
There was at least a thousand MAD's of recharge on it.
I had done nothing wrong - except choose to use Maroc-Tel for a 3G Internet connection.
My experience of Maroc-Tel customer support has been a disgrace.
I'm left without any Internet connection, out of pocket to a hefty sum, and left feeling completely pissed-off with the way the company operates.
29. My last visit, by the way, was quite funny, really. I arrived a full 10 minutes before the Maroc-Tel boutique was due to open, with the plan of being the first, or one of, in for attention. As I waited, the chap who last dealt with my problems arrived, about 5 minutes before opening time. He waited across the road from me, making me think he was also waiting for the individual with the key & authority to unlock the alarmed system and doors for the working day to begin. I waited. and waited a bit more, until a local Moroccan arrived, whereupon he too waited - until he looked at his watch and asked me when the establishment opened. Nine o'clock (in French) I replied with a questionable shrug of my shoulders.
We both motioned forwards to the opening times sign, querying it, when the chap who had been sitting for about 15 minutes suddenly moved towards us and unlocked the doors. Lazy sod!
30. My advice, from personal experience, is this.
AVOID MAROC-TELECOM LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!!
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