Sun wreaks havoc on phone line

A woman from Strubenvale recently brought the matter of her problematic Telkom line to the attention of the Addie.

Annelie Thysse tells the story of her phone line being cut off every day more than two weeks.

The strange part of Annelie’s dilemma, is that the phone doesn’t work between 9.30am and 5pm.

“I couldn’t understand why the line doesn’t work between those specific times,” she says.

She explains the phone will be off for the entire day, only to work again at 5pm.

Annelie says she has reported the matter to Telkom five times without any luck, adding that they became rude when she explained her story.

After the Addie queried the matter with Telkom, Annelie says she has received numerous phone calls from Telkom.

“Technicians visited my house and tried to establish the cause of the problem,” she says.

“I almost couldn’t believe my ears when they told me the problem was in connection with the weather.”

Annelie explains that the technician told her that the copper wire becomes too hot from the sun and then cuts out.

“They said because it’s cool in the morning and at night, the wires cool down and the phone will work again, but during the day the sun makes it hot and it won’t work,” she says.

“I have never heard such a thing in my life.”

On Thursday and Friday, Annelie claims her landline was working throughout the day and she was told it was because the weather was cloudy.

On Monday, technicians visited her house again when the landline was not working and they established there was a problem at the pole and that two wires were touching.

“They said this can also contribute to the problem, but I will keep an eye on it,” Annelie adds.

The Addie is awaiting comment from Telkom.