I decided to cancel my landline phone to save money - given the additional costs related to having cancer - and just keep my mobile. Rang my provider today - yes, The Big T. I have landline, internet and mobile with them. Told the wee girl why I wanted to cancel landline. No word of "Sorry to hear that." She launched into lengthy and complicated questions about what I use my internet for, how much I use the landline, etc. Then told me that if I cancel the landline (it and the internet currently cost me $89 a month), I'll have to pay $150 a month to have "stand-alone" internet. I said "That's ridiculous." She said "Yes." Then launched into a sales pitch: "I can offer you a new package with landline and internet and a free tablet for $94 a month." I explained yet again that I don't want the landline. She said, "Well you don't have to use it." She then launched again into an explanation of how great the tablet would be "for when you're out and about," I said, "I don't go out and about. I'm having chemotherapy. Perhaps you missed what I said at the start: I have cancer. You're not helping. You're complicating everything. Don't change my package. Just leave it the same for now." And I hung up. Now I've lodged a complaint. If they don't respond I'll lodge a complaint with the Telecommunications Ombudsman.

Telecoms in this country is the greatest disgrace I've ever seen, with this mishmash of technologies - when we could have had fibre everywhere at less cost than the joke of an NBN is turning out to be. It's unbelievable in a so-called "smart" country such as ours. Even in France, where they're incapable of communicating anything until the aged carrier-pigeon has had his mid-morning coffee, and then only within local kick-a-football range, it only took me twelve days to get landline, broadband and TV working (all through internet). Certainly, this is a big country with big distances and individual challenges, but it just takes the will to recognise that telecoms are important to people's lives, and the plan for fibre WAS there. But we can spend billions on other things.

@kmakm Unfortunately, I'm stuck with Telstra. I live in a so-called "Smart Community". Ha! When the estate was built eight years ago, T put in all the infrastructure. Everything underground: electricity and high-velocity fibre-optic cable running phone, internet and TV. Monopoly until all homes built. Not allowed to have unsightly TV antennae on roofs. When the NBN came along, we were told nothing would change. Then that changed. We were forced to have NBN hubs put in: slower and costs more. One big hitch: they forgot to consider TV. NBN only runs landline and internet. I contacted federal member - four times before I got a result after threatening to go to the 7:30 Report. I asked for a letter signed jointly by management of NBN and Telstra saying what was going to happen. Suddenly they realised the implications for TV. They provided the letter, saying we had to accept NBN and that they were "seeking a solution" to the TV issue. Nothing since. That was at least two years ago. I know one person who changed to Optus and one who changed to iinet who've had problems with TV and Telstra refuses to help because they no longer have a Telstra account. I don't want the same thing to happen to me. My TV keeps me sane. If I don't get a response through the Telecoms Ombudsman, I'll go to 7:30 Report.

@PatsyN That message is disgusting.I've finally got a response from Telstra after lodging an escalated complaint. Not as cheap as I would have liked, but less than I was paying before for internet and landline. Got an apology for the fact that "the consultant did not resolve your issue the first time" - but clearly there was no sympathy. Very cold manner. Still haven't received paperwork for new contract, though.

Our area is serviced by ADSL. Recently had a letter inviting us to a session on NBN. Checked our address against NBN availability; we are not on the radar. An article on our area has suggested 10 years away. Yay perhaps most of the problems will be sorted by then.

No I'm happy with that. As it currently isn't broken so it doesn't need fixing

No compassion from telecoms provider

BlackWidow
Member
7 years ago
From what I hear of the NBN in this big regional city I, like iserbrown, am glad my home is in the old area. I have good old snail pace access and understand it is faster than the new-beaut lines in the new homes or for those who chose to swap quickly on the promises. Always contact the provider first, then no quick result contact the TIO (often the threat alone works as it costs the company a lot if the TIO gets involved). Anne
Romla
Member
7 years ago
Our experience led us to believe it’s not about logic just $.
Flaneuse
Member
7 years ago
@Sister Amazing how hard joined-up thinking and common sense can be for some peope, isn't it?
Sister
Member
7 years ago
Our phone cable was in a roll on top of the grass verge across the road for years. Everytime the phone went out, we'd contact Telstra and they would make us go through a lot of rigmarole before they'd log the job, and everytime it would be because something had gone through that cable - car, kangaroo, council slasher, fire. Even the local techie officially requested it to be buried (after he had to pick a decomposing kangaroo off it). It took years before someone finally recognised that it cost more to send someone out to fix it each time, than it did to just fix it properly.
PatsyN
Member
7 years ago
@Romla - I've talked her into moving up here - haven't told her about the internet problem, lol.
PatsyN
Member
7 years ago
@iserbrown I keyed in my address and it says I'm connected FTTN (fibre to the node). What fibre? No one has been here to lay cables in over 20 years. I said this to them already and they said that there were little Green Boxes (I kid you not) that were scattered around Suffolk Park. I'm still looking for one.
Romla
Member
7 years ago
@PatsyN wish I’d kept the photos I bombarded them with but I think your sister might have success thru the TIO like we did for the same reasons. It was tricky when Telstra/NBN split establishing who was responsible and understand we were the first intervention of this kind TIO had tackled but step one must be to try ( and keep good records even of phone conversations) through your provider first then TIO might take it up like they did with us. Take heaps of photos of shoddy wiring too and forward it as evidence.
iserbrown
Member
7 years ago
https://www.telstra.com.au/broadband/nbn/nbn-rollout
PatsyN
Member
7 years ago
@Flaneuse - You've gotta laugh...
Flaneuse
Member
7 years ago
My daughter and family live in the Lower Blue Mountains west of Sydney and their internet is disgusting. They don't have a timeline yet for NBN.