Is Telstra out to Scam me? (Australia)?

Question

I'm about to move to my new apartment and was trying to get broadband hooked up at the new place. The new number is working, and i get a ringtone when I dial the number.

Unfortunately my Internet Service Provider tells me I need to get Telstra to add my number onto their database before I can get Broadband

So I call Telstra up and they tell me that they need to get a technician over before they can fix the problem, which will cost me $200. And when i tell them that the line is connected as there is a ringtone. They tell me it's impossible and that a technician has to physically be there to reconnect it!

I can't help but feel scammed and hopeless. What can I do about this situation?

Answer 1

Ring Telstra again and DEMAND to talk with a supervisor - settle for nothing less.  This is the only way I get through to them.  Even if the person on the phone says they can help you, refuse !  You are a customer and can demand someone higher up.

They stuffed me around so much once I sued them and got $4,500 out of them.

I now use iprimus.  So much better.

Getting back to the techincal charge of $200.  They will charge you that fee IF and only IF the problem is with you.  If it is telstras fault, you do not have to pay for it, they won't charge you.  They should have explained all that.

Good Luck with them.

Answer 2

I would suggest changing from Telstra.

From personal experience they have terrible customer service and I will never use them again!

They made a mistake on our bill that ended up costing us $300.

We are will Optus at the moment for homephone and broadband. And we haven't had any problems yet.

Optus is also cheaper than Telstra.

Answer 3

call telstra again talk to the person explain again if you get the same answer ask for the manager



or just call big-pond & go through them as thay get a commision if you connect they will help a lot more

Answer 4

dont go to telstra.

they are way too expensive

Answer 5

Do not listen to the people recommending Optus, they do NOT know what they are talking about.

If you believe they are scamming, see the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.

However, they may be in the right... it may be a non-Telstra service that has been hooked up.

Answer 6

maybe the previous tenants phone account has not been canceled yet and that is why you get a dial tone? :) hope it works out for you.

can you use optus instead? they seem a bit better.