ESSENTIAL SERVICES BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

On March 20, 2020, the phone provider announced that its corporate stores would move to an appointment-only model, while still remaining open for essential services such as phone repairs, critical new phone sales, SIM card swap and replacements, or modem and/or MaxTV box exchanges.

To facilitate the new process, the crown corporation launched an [appointment booking tool] for clients to use, and caution that clients should bring the confirmation email that is generated with them to their appointment or they will not be served.

Most service requests, such as changing wireless, internet and maxTV plans and add-ons, can be completed through either the mySASKTEL portal or by calling 1-800-SASKTEL.

PROTECTING THEIR INSTALL TECHNICIANS

That same day, Sasktel announced that in an effort to minimize the risk to its installers, it would ask clients a series of screening questions when booking an appointment for in-home service.

If anyone in the home has recently returned from international travel, or anyone in the home is currently self-isolated, the technician will only be able to do work required on the outside of the client's home.

If work is required on inside a client's home in those cases, the client will have to call to make an appointment after the mandatory fourteen days of self-isolation or opt for the remote installation option (below)

Any technician required to enter high-risk locations such as hospitals and nursing homes is equipped with the appropriate PPE, including masks and gloves.

REMOTE INSTALLATIONS AND REPAIRS

Most recently, Sasktel introduced a temporary residential self-install and repair process.

As above, a series of pre-screening tests will determine the level of interaction that the Sasktel installer will have with the client.

Once on-site, the installer will complete all the necessary exterior work and then contact the client by phone to walk them through completing the final steps of the work remotely.

Technicians will only enter a client's home if absolutely necessary and only if they have passed the pre-screening questions.

It should also be noted that, as a crown corporation, Sasktel is a part of the recently announced Crown Utility Interest Deferral Program.

As a part of that program, neither consumer nor business clients will be required to pay late payment charges for a six-month period and can repay any outstanding balance afterwards over a twelve-month period with no interest.