Telefonica can be an extremely difficult company to deal with and I often wonder whether they really have their heart in the fixed telephone business.
The classic way of obtaining a phone is to ring 1004 and ask for a phone to be installed. You will need on hand your address, national identity number, a contact telephone number to be answered by a Spanish speaking friend, and your bank details. Be sure to get a reference number from Telefonica as you will need this for any subsequent complaints.
They do have an English speaking service, but I believe better results are obtained using the normal Spanish speaking service. Get a friend to help.
If you strike lucky and Telefonica phone you to arrange a time to install – then do not play hard to get. Whatever time they suggest is just fine. If you explain that, say, the most convenient time for you is next Tuesday between 11.30 and 12.00 then you may never hear from them again.
In any event, be prepared for the possibility that you hear nothing from Telefonica. This is especially likely if you live in a rural area or a newly constructed urbanisation.
If you hear nothing after a month then you must take action. If you sit patiently waiting, then Telefonica will simply bin your application.
Best results are obtained by protesting to the Spanish national ombudsman (Defensor del Pueblo) in Madrid. A standard letter with address in Spanish can be copied from this address:
Ordered via the web in June. Said it would be 20 days. Telefonica arrived and some neighbours were connected but sadly we weren’t on the list. When queried they said we had been installed.
Have been fighting ever since. Have now said we will wi-fi from a neighbour so to cancel the service. Telefonica in English are yet to refund us (€94).
Had no help from English speaking Telefonica person who denied T in E were anything to do with them and that Telefonica did not take money up-front. Said we couldn’t have a telephone installed as we were a new urbanisation. As I was just about to say my neighbours had phone lines (she insisted I meant street neighbours, not neigbours right next door) she hung up on me.
Great service.
Thanks for the info on the Ombudsman – will try that if our money is not refunded shortly.
Telefonica in English are nothing to do with Telefonica. They just act as an intermediary and charge accordingly. Better off dealing with Telefonica direct.
My worst and most frustrating experience was trying to get a landline with Telephonica.
Problem is,in my case anyway, they use an associate company to instal.
A mere 500 m from the sub station, Surrounded by telephone poles. Took my fee and given the run around for 6 weeks. WHEN they eventually discovered they drove passed my house decided they couldn’t supply until we had laid trunking to the nearest pole 15m from house. No overhead cables allowed !!!!!!!
Found a local radio system and up and running in 2 days from contacting them.
My fee has yet to be returned.
My neighbour who had same system installed has not yet been disconnected from Telephonica despite repeated requests.
Just a warning.