When Egypt’s 2011 revolution happened, there was hope that everything would change. Including how companies treated their customers. Spoiler: it didn’t. 😔
This is a story about TE Data, Egypt’s dominant internet provider, and what happened when we tried their service again after the revolution.
Quick Background
In October 2010, we wrote about TE Data’s frustrating customer practices – specifically how they’d force you into becoming a customer just by making an inquiry call.
Then came January 25th, 2011. The revolution. The hope that things would be different.
We decided to give them another chance. Bad idea.
The Internet Blackout
Let’s talk about what happened during the revolution first.
Internet service providers in Egypt, including TE Data, shut down all internet access across the country. Complete blackout. The justification? They were following orders from the old regime.
What They Said
“We had no choice. National security. Government orders.”
What We Think
The army eventually sided with the people. Businesses could have too. They chose not to.
July 2011: Round Two 🎬
Revolution behind us. New hope. Let’s try TE Data’s ADSL service again. Their “unlimited” package sounded promising.
It wasn’t.
The service didn’t meet our needs. Fine – that happens. So we called to cancel. Here’s where it got ridiculous:
- Signed up over the phone? Yes
- Can cancel over the phone? Sure, but…
- The catch: You have to pay a full month’s membership fee. For a service we never used.
- And wait 15 days for a “cancellation number”
Never signed a contract. Never agreed to these terms. Didn’t matter.
The “Twist Your Arm” Strategy
Here’s what they’re really doing:
💰 Force Payment
Even to cancel, you have to pay. They win either way.
⏳ Force Waiting
15 days without internet? For many people, that’s impossible. So they stay.
They’re betting you’ll give up. That the fight isn’t worth it. That you’ll just pay and move on.
And honestly? Most people do. That’s why they keep doing it.
Same Company, Same Problems
The revolution was supposed to change things. To bring freedom and justice. Including in how businesses treat customers.
For TE Data, it was business as usual.
Same forced enrollments. Same punishing cancellation policies. Same disrespect for customers who just want a fair deal.
They didn’t learn. They didn’t change. They just kept going.
What We Learned
Some lessons from this experience:
✅ Research Before Signing
Read every policy. Ask about cancellation. Get it in writing before you start.
✅ Know Your Rights
Consumer protection exists. Use it.
✅ Don’t Give Up
They want you to quit. Don’t. Fight for what’s right.
✅ Share Your Experience
Other people need to know. Your story protects others.
The Companies
For the record:
- Telecom Egypt – Parent company (Ticker: ETEL.CA; TEEG.LN)
- TE Data – Subsidiary, the ISP in question
The Point
This article is from 2011. Things may have changed since then. Or they may not have.
The bigger point isn’t about one company. It’s about what happens when companies forget that their customers are the reason they exist in the first place.
Treat people badly, and eventually, it catches up. Reputation has a long memory. 🎯
I’ve been with TE Data now and also Link. Because Egypt Telecom will not fix my lines and keeps wanting bribes, I left DSL all together and am only 3G. The speed is not always as great, but I don’t have to degrade myself by dealing with Egypt Telecom.