Telefonica/Movistar rate increase

[jantango]

In case you haven't read the fine print on your phone bill this month, this is the announcement pertaining to your home phone and internet service.

Te informamos que los precios se incrementarán hasta un 18,9 % a partir del 15/8.

 

[jantango]

A year ago I learned about how to get a discount on my phone bill with Movistar. During 2025, my phone bill increased at least one thousand plus pesos each month. It was time for another call to 114 to ask for reduction.

I spoke with a woman who listened and never offered to give me another reduction for a year. She transferred my call to another woman who hung up on me. Great service, no?

Today I decided to give it another try since my bill payment was due today. This time I spoke with a very courteous gentleman who immediately agreed to give me the discount that I needed, but for only six months this time. When I opened the page to pay my bill online, I noticed the reduction cut the November bill in half. I got immediate service. I gladly paid the phone bill of $12.000, which is around the same amount I paid this month to Edesur, MetroGas, and AFIP.

I need a home phone to receive or call friends in the tango community who are able to live without a cellphone as I do.

 

[FrankPintor]

I'm not sure I would bother. Telefónica Internacional took the money on offer from Telecom Personal, and left Argentina, as soon as they could. The Movistar brand name might continue to exist for some time, but the physical network is being merged with Personal's and with the same goals (3G switch off, 4G merge, 5G n78 rollout).

 

[jantango]

It was time to contact Movistar after six months since the last "bonus" was credited to my home phone bill. Calling 114 doesn't connect you with someone to handle a request anymore. I had to visit one of the Movistar offices.

My first visit was with the Movistar office in Abasto Shopping Mall on the first floor. The young woman at the desk was wildly tapping on the keyboard with two fingers as if she was writing an email to a friend, not looking into my account. She came up with "you don't have a cell phone." Correct, I don't. That was her excuse as to why I was not eligible for another six-month "bonificacion" to my account. If I had a cell, I would be paying much more for phone service.

My second visit was with the Movistar office at Corrientes 701 after a concert in the area. The monitor stated that one must show a DNI for service. When my number showed up on the board, I walked to the desk and gave the woman my DNI and turno number, which she promptly tossed in my direction, as if she didn't need it. I asked for a "bonificacion" for six months. Her prompt response was "they are no longer being offered." I wanted to check what she was looking at on the computer screen, but she immediately closed the screen when I moved to look. No verification of what she claimed, so my conclusion was she was not doing her job.

As the saying goes, "If at first you don't succeed, try again."

Yesterday, I went to the Movistar office at Av. Callao 1065 near Santa Fe. All I can say is, I was finally treated with respect (that customers deserve) by the woman at the desk. I simply explained my request for another six months reduction on my bill. No problem. She processed the change in a few minutes.
I asked for something in writing which she completed and then handed me a Constancia de tramite verifying the transaction. This was the first time I received actual customer service from Movistar in person.

People tell me that the phone companies want to eliminate home phones. As long as businesses have this option of communication with clients, the phone companies will have to provide the old-fashioned way of phone service that doesn't include electromagnetic radiation.

 

[Ries]

We also had that same office of movistar on callao solve a problem 2 other locations would not do.

 

[jantango]

We also had that same office of movistar on callao solve a problem 2 other locations would not do.

How interesting. This valuable information about Movistar offices will help other customers save time by going to the a location that knows their work is to serve their customers.

Even if the office at Av. Callao 1065 near Av. Santa Fe is not the closest one to your location, it is the office that will take care of its customers in a professional manner.

 

[FrankPintor]

I don’t want to excuse poor customer service, but Personal’s takeover of Movistar possibly has the staff seeing the writing on the wall with consequences for their motivation. The whole takeover is officially under review by the regulator, Enacom, who were caught flat footed by the transaction.

I haven’t had a fixed line phone since I came to Argentina, I didn’t know they were still a thing, but I guess a phone company will give you one if you want. If the phone company can run fibre to your home, they’ll do that, they’re not fixated on electromagnetic radiation, just on whatever is cheapest. Remember, you might have a phone, and it might be working via WiFi (5.8GHz) or directly via the mobile network. And any internet service you have will have a WiFi router, unless you directly plug into the Ethernet socket on the router.

 

[jantango]

I received my Movistar bill by email yesterday. The discount was applied. Instead of owing $54.846,99, my bill is $22.197,28.

Bonificacion Fibra x 6 meses

$-27.353,33

Descuento Internet 35% x 6 meses

$-5.296,39

 

[jantango]

Someone in the building in which I have lived for 24 years decided to cut my phone/internet line on Saturday, Sept 5th at 3:00pm. Since I am the only one with Movistar in the building, I went to the office on Monday. They told me to call for service. I am still without phone and internet service today, but a neighbor connected my laptop to her internet two days ago. After three calls by another neighbor on his cell, Movistar has not responded to my request for technical service. My bill is due tomorrow, but I won't be paying it. No service, no money!

This wasn't the first time that my phone line was mysteriously disconnected. My gas and electricity were cut by a long-time renter with the key to the basement who was finally told by the owner to move out. The unit is a junk yard and the garden is full of rats. Cockroaches have invaded my kitchen once again from the junk yard below. The unit never has fumigation service.

I decided to consult AI online and received excellent advise on what to do in case anyone else faces the same problem:

That is incredibly frustrating, especially since it has happened before. Deliberate line tampering or accidental cuts by neighbors during their own installations are unfortunately common in apartment buildings.
Because this is a physical technical failure (and potentially vandalism), you need a technician to visit the building, inspect the main connection box (caja de distribución), and repair the cable.
Here is exactly how to handle this with Movistar Argentina to get a technician out as quickly as possible:

1. Call Movistar to Report Physical Damage
Since you cannot use your own line, call from your friend's phone or any working line to the dedicated Home Service & Technical Repairs number:

• Phone: 0800-222-8114 (or 114 if calling from a working Movistar landline).
• What to tell the agent: Clearly state that you have a "corte físico de cable" (physical cable cut) or "daño en el cableado del edificio" (building wiring damage).
• Why this matters:If you just say "my internet isn't working," the automated system or the agent might try to reset your modem remotely, which will fail and waste time. Explicitly stating that the cable is physically cut forces them to log a hardware failure and schedule a technician visit.

2. Request a Technical Visit via Social Media (Alternative)
If you prefer not to wait on hold, use your friend's Wi-Fi to message Movistar's support team on X (Twitter) @MovistarArg or Facebook Movistar Argentina.

• Send a DM with this info: “Hola. No tengo servicio de hogar porque sospecho que cortaron físicamente el cableado en mi edificio (ya ha pasado antes). Necesito la visita de un técnico para reparar la línea. Mi número de cliente/DNI es [Your DNI or Account Number].”

3. Protect Your Rights (Important Tips)

• Ask for a Ticket Number: Always write down the número de reclamo (claim/ticket number) before hanging up or closing the chat. You will need this to follow up.
• Request a Billing Credit: Since you have been without service for a month, you are legally entitled to a discount. Once the service is restored, contact billing and provide your ticket number to request a pro-rated credit (nota de crédito) for the exact days you were offline.
• Talk to the Building Administration: If someone is repeatedly cutting lines, notify your building's administration (administración del consorcio). The main telephone/fiber box should ideally be locked to prevent unauthorized neighbors or third-party technicians from tampering with your connection.