Laptops for Teachers Scheme - Important details of change in support services provider
Laptops for Teachers and Principals Scheme Change of Support Services Provider
1 March 2012
In late 2010, the Ministry of Education released a tender for the supply of support services to the TELA Scheme. This combines the roles of the leasing company, distributor and our scheme software (such as the ordering site). After a robust and lengthy process, the contract for these services was awarded to Telecom Rentals Limited.
As a result, from 1 March 2012 Telecom Rentals Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary of Telecom New Zealand) will provide all TELA services including laptop delivery, warranty and indemnity services and leasing arrangements.
Your school can still access the ordering site at www.tela.co.nz. However, the ordering site will be unavailable between 20 February and 5 March 2012 to enable the transition between contract providers.
No major changes are being made to the scheme as a result of the change in provider. We have included important information for all TELA leases obtained before 1 March 2012 at the bottom of this letter, please take some time to read and understand this information.
In the next few days your school will be sent a Master Rental Agreement for Telecom Rentals Ltd, approved by the Ministry of Education. This will cover the terms and conditions for future TELA laptop lease schedules. This agreement must be signed by your Principal and Board of Trustees Chairperson in order for your school to be able to place future laptop orders.
Once the Master Rental Agreement has been returned to Telecom Rentals Ltd, an email will be sent to your school administrator, whose details will have been provided as part of the Master Rental Agreement. This email will contain an activation link to enable your school to log on to the website www.tela.co.nz, where you will be able to place your laptop orders.
The TELA Helpdesk number 0800 438 468 will remain the same and Helpdesk staff will be happy to assist you with any issues you might have
Important information on all TELA leases obtained before 1 March 2012
All laptops ordered before 1 March 2012 will continue to be leased through Equico Limited (Equico) until expiry.
All lease payments on these laptops will continue to be made to Equico until the lease expiry. Equico will direct debit your school quarterly in arrears, from the lease start date, for the school’s portion of the lease
All end of lease processes will continue to be handled by Equico. When your laptop nears the end of its lease, your school will receive a letter explaining how to return or keep the current laptop. If you have any questions about end of lease processes, contact Equico Limited 0800 378 426.
Your school will be required to go through the following procedures by logging on to Equico’s end of lease sitehttp://eol.equico.co.nz. Information on end of leases through Equico can also be found on the Ministry website www.minedu.govt.nz/goto/tela
The Equico portal will continue to be available for asset and contract management of Equico leases. www.ecsc.co.nz/login.aspx
With the exception of TELA, Equico continues to fund schools ICT equipment. Further information can be found on their websitewww.equico.co.nz
I appreciate your patience and support during this transition and look forward to the new opportunities for improvement these changes will bring.
Yours sincerely
Nadine Veitch
Senior Project Advisor
e-Learning
Ministry of Education
Key Points to the New Contract
No Change
- All website links will remain the same such as www.order.tela.co.nz and www.service.tela.co.nz,
- The 0800 TELA Helpdesk number will remain the same – 0800 438 468
- No change to laptop brands or models would be made as a result of the change
- Leases will remain on a 3 year lease to return arrangement
- Laptops are still covered under the Ministry’s Indemnity Scheme for accidental damage
- Equico Ltd remain the lease holder for all leases currently in existence and for orders placed prior to the 20th February
- The Ministry subsidy levels will remain the same.
Changes
- From the 1st of March 2012 new orders’ leases will be held with Telecom Rentals Ltd
- Schools will need to sign a new Master Rental Agreement with Telecom Rentals Ltd in order to place new orders
- Leases will start on the same date each month regardless of the day the order is placed for easier administration
- A new ordering and service website will be introduced
- Schools will not need to sign an Application Statement for their orders
- The laptop images will change during March / April but retain all the key software on the current images
- With leases held with Telecom Rentals, schools will have the option where a laptop needs to be replaced under Indemnity to either start a new lease or replace it under the exis ting lease. Existing leases held with Equico will not have this option, i.e. a replacement is required in all cases.
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