Lauren’s cousin, B. has been paying a lot of money for a less than latest phone so, as many young people do, he was drawn in by a smooth-talking woman at the Pelephone booth at the Central Bus Station in Jerusalem. Her name is Tamar and she’s very smart.
Each time Tamar spoke about the good things, she spoke slowly, and each time she went into the details, she would speak very fast. Tamar heard what B was paying and offered him a deal – 50 NIS MORE per month for the next 18 months and he can get a new phone. In 18 months, the deal gets worse.
Luckily, B called Elie after realizing that it might not be perfect. As they were talking, B.’s phone died. Tamar then convinced B to take the deal, that he could sell his used phone for thousands of shekels, etc. She closed the deal, but told him he could cancel it if he wanted to. B called Elie from someone else’s phone.
Elie told him to go back to the booth and cancel the deal. When she heard Elie was behind his cancelling the deal, Tamar agreed to call Elie on her phone and speak to him.
Tamar, who is paid minimum wage plus bonuses for sales and regularly sees soldiers on their way back to base on Sundays, told Elie that if B wanted to cancel the deal, he would have to return the next day, and then tried to convince Elie that B should not cancel it at all. Elie too noticed how she changed the speed of her words over the details.
When Elie questioned the deal, Tamar started getting annoyed. Elie tried for a better deal, saying that if they left the company, B could save money. Tamar first insisted that B could not leave Pelephone…a lie…and then when Elie said that was impossible, she said there was a 600 shekel fine and continued to try to convince Elie, while refusing to answer his questions.
First, to ask a combat soldier to “come back tomorrow” is absurd.
Second, by law you can cancel a signed deal within 3 days.
Her response when he insisted on canceling it today was to say he could do that if he took buses across Jerusalem (a 45 minute ride). Elie told him not to leave until the plan was canceled. Finally, Tamar canceled the “new” plan, leaving the old one that has him paying 160 shekels (and from next month 210 shekels) for what other companies are charging from 60 – 100 per month.
So first, I want to know why Pelephone hires an aggressive saleswoman who doesn’t hesitate when lying and cheating people, especially lone soldiers.
And second, I want to know what Pelephone is going to do about this incident and about the unfair plan B has. Pelephone?
Please prove to me that you aren’t like Partner/Orange.
Visit A Soldier’s Mother.
