ICE (eee-say) is the Instituto Costaricense Electricidad - the national utility company - electricity, internet, telephone - like the old Bell - and no stay here would be complete without a saga about dealing with the unique bureaucracy.
First off the internet service has SUCKED since we arrived - barely 0.5 download (for the non techies - remember when you had a phone modem and it took forever). Email was timing out and downloading anything close to a Mb took 30 minutes - don't even think about streaming.
Lisle decided we needed a better solution from ICE - so off he went to Uvita to see Ruper (the guy who actually speaks some english). This was Wednesday. After a 2 hour wait - New plan for his iPhone4 - postpaid - up to 3Mb (of course that is based on service, topography etc. etc. - so we are likely to still get .5Mb but for more money every month) but to get this a personeria is required (a document certifying the corporation). You get that at the bank next door - wait - wait - wait --- closing time - come back tomorrow.
Thursday 8 am - speak to Ruper - all ready to go - just need the Personeria - bank doesn't open until 9. Get the Personeria - back to Ruper - get the new chip with a new phone number - but needs to be activated on the new system in San Jose - that will take 15 hours - he will call when it is active.
Friday - no call - wait - wait - drive to Uvita - Ruper says not active yet - he will call when it is. Add prepaid minutes to the existing chip to keep it going.
Sunday - OMG - i could walk an email to Canada faster than trying to send it - Sunday is the worst - all the Ticos are off work and on the internet!
Monday - text message from Ruper - it is being processed - switch the chip just in case - no service - back to the prepaid chip. Not done, just in process
Tuesday - the drive to Uvita - don't need a Personeria so 8 am should be good and there wont be anyone else in line. Arrive shortly after 8 - no one else there - Lisle explains what is up - yes, I am working on it - the paper is right there in front of him - it will be done shortly - - that's ok, we'll wait - he taps away at the computer for about 15 minutes - will be all set in 15 minutes - turn off your phone and then back on and the chip will be set - already there are 5 other people waiting - - - very clear that if we hadn't gone in and hadn't waited, the paperwork would still be the next thing to do - - after all the other people.
Can hardly wait to hear if the time and effort was worth spending. Oh, and the money too, of course! We've been really happy with Cable Tica's service but I realize it's not even available throughout Ojochal yet so Fase 9 might be a while off yet. (Lynn)
ReplyDeleteno chance of Cable Tica any time soon up the mountain - Lisle thinks it has made a difference, but he likes to justify his efforts!
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