Screwed by Telstra?

[2foot6]

I'm an ex employee of Telstra ,and I'm surprised people think they are being ripped off and that Telstra is greedy.I know they are. Well looks like nothing has changed since I left.I guess it's the same with the banks and other corporate giants,whilst there are share holders to be made happy,customers are only a means of getting money,never mind service or morals.One would think at some stage these people will wake up,but if they ever do,it will probably be too late.Peter

[Dot]

Sounds like they are also in the same league as the CParks = NO choice

[River Rat]

"Telstra" is an inanimate object that exists only on various registers and legal documents. Whilst it is an entity in its own right it cannot DO anything.
It is the board, directors and management who make decisions that directly effect the millions of people who are part of its commercial umbrella.

For too long these fat cats have been able to anonymously destroy lives and companies.
Their names are freely available on the company register and website.
One must ask, why are the media so reluctant to name the people who make these decisions?

So, just WHO is the person who made these decisions? Is there any reason they cannot be held publicly accountable?
Normally they just hide behind their expensive PR spin doctors.
Would be nice to see THEM squirm for a change.

RR

[Izabarack]

So, just WHO is the person who made these decisions?

Which decisions are you referring to? Telstra seems to be doing pretty well since the Mexican tosser left. With less government imposed restrictions, Telstra could do even better. At least the money would stay in Australia.

Iza

[Izabarack]

Optus use Telstra towers?

Yes, Bruce they do. The initial arrangements by government to help Optus into the market, legislated that Optus be given all sorts of access to Telstra infrastructure. Many of the initial installations of Optus equipment required Telstra to move their own equipment and move antennas to provide physical space to the Optus equipment. There are lots and lots of Telstra owned and built towers around the place that carry Telstra and Optus equipment and antennas. Note too, that the slimey deal government made with Optus does not permit reciprocal arrangements; Telstra are not allowed to mount their antennas or equipment on Optus infrastructure.

Are you REALLY sure about that?

Yes, Bruce, I am. I spend a lot of time with a fishing buddy who is a senior Project Manager with Telstra's Network Design and Construction division. He often points out the Optus antennas on Telstra owned and built towers. In most cases, the story is complete with personal anecdotes of some of the problems caused by Optus muscling in on the space. One personal experience was of Telstra having to build more height on their tower because Optus demanded a particular orientation to save themselves some money. My friend is currently managing the installation of some Optus equipment in and on a Telstra owned and built tower on the Sunshine coast, so Iam REALLY, REALLY sure at that.

Optus were refused access to the Telstra tower in Kingston SE, SA .........

Under the legislation, the only time Telstra can refuse access is when the installation of the Optus equipment would exceed the capacity of the tower to hold the equipment. Do you know why and how Optus were refused access to the Telstra tower.

.......... and so they got charged excessive fees to install their transmitter on top of our water tower.

What's excessive, Bruce? I see nothing wrong with requiring a commercial enterprise to pay for their own installations; I do see a lot wrong with government handing tax payers money to a commercial operation and removing our telecommunications network from public ownership.

Iza

[Izabarack]

Time to have a grizzle!
Telstra in my opinion are quite simply, unprincipled GREEDY BASTARDS!

Sure it is, if you have your facts right. Telstra's contract with ispONE (not oneISP) was cancelled because ispONE was not paying its bills. The flow on has caused problems for Kogan mobile customers because they bought access from ispONE. The inside story seems to be that ispONE was selling access on the gamble that users would not use all of their allowance and ispONE would not have to pay for all the access they contracted to provide. Just a stupid business model. When Kogan users started using all the allowance they paid for, ispONE was in the position of having to pay more for the access, their contract with Telstra, than was coming in from Kogan customers. Essentially, they were selling access for less than it was costing them to provide. Kinda like where airlines overbook flights on the assumption that a few won't make it on time and there will be enough seats for the passengers in the check in line. It appears ispONE were betting that Kogan customers would only use somewhat less than half of their allowance and that would be the buffer for ispONE to stay in business.

In the end, rather than Telstra being "quite simply, unprincipled GREEDY BASTARDS!", the company has taken action against a customer that was not paying its bills. No body has been screwed by Telstra and the disaffected should make an effort to get angry at the real greedy bastards if they feel the need to have a rant.

Iza

[dapope]

We have 6 or 7 different telstra services, and i have to say, the service has not let us down yet. I dont mind paying for reliability. As far as kogan goes, he would have done better to setup his own isp for his phones. Its the old story about getting what you pay for. They are both businesses, and one is carrying on like he has been hard done by, instead of owning he made a bad call
This actually flagged on whirlpool a few months ago, heavy users were getting dumped by ispone for excessive use, i think kogans tried to go into bat for them, and some were reinstated.

[ozfueler]

Thank you Isa for your comments, as you point out get all the facts before you have a grizzle. I can not accept your hearsay evidence as " fact" neither would a court of law.

True, Kogan bought from ispONE because Telstra would not sell directly to them, when the problems arose Telstra flatly refused to sell directly to Kogan, unlike Aldi ( Medion who have hardware contracts with Telstra) who does purchase direct from Telstra, WHY ?

I stand by my comments, in my opinion TELSTRA ARE GREEDY BASTARDS .

They used an economic situation to force 100,000 happy subscribers to lose their freedom of choice, they could have sold directly to Kogan like they do with Medion, but instead they are forcing them back to be once again FLEECED.

[Izabarack]

I can not accept your hearsay evidence as " fact" neither would a court of law.

No "evidence" was provided so I don't see any opportunity for a court of law to ever be involved. However, the information I did provide is readily available in the main stream media and there is lots more in the industry papers. The weekly business reports on TV, just this morning, discussed a lot of this.

True, Kogan bought from ispONE because Telstra would not sell directly to them,.....

My information is that Kogan could not get access, direct from Telstra, for the prices ispONE could give it to them for. Kogan seem to have been a bit smarter than those at ispONE and realised a risk in the business plan early. Buying access through ispONE put all the risk on ispONE, a good move as it turns out.

...... when the problems arose Telstra flatly refused to sell directly to Kogan, .....

Did they? How do you know this?

WHY ?

If Kogan did approach Telstra and offer to buy access in a direct contract, then Kogan probably wanted the same kind of prices ispONE was supplying access to Kogan. As that business model had just fallen in a heap, Telstra would have been way smart to refuse to provide access at those prices.

I stand by my comments, in my opinion TELSTRA ARE GREEDY BASTARDS.

Comments are fine, but in the absence of any research or knowledge of the situation, the opinion is not supported.

They used an economic situation to force 100,000 happy subscribers to lose their freedom of choice, .....

No they didn't. I suppose you would get upset if the electric company turned off supply if you failed to pay the bill?

.....they could have sold directly to Kogan like they do with Medion, .....

They probably could have. What price were Kogan offering to pay? What price do they pay to Medion? Under what conditions?

....but instead they are forcing them back to be once again FLEECED.

Who is being fleeced? If you have any evidence of this then there are plenty of avenues for you to bring such terrible deeds to the notice of authority.

As said earlier, fine to have a rant now and again but it always pays to check the facts first.

Iza

[BruceS]

I guess my main beef with Telstra & Bigpond are more minor and personal.
I was directly involved in negotiation with Telstra Wholesale way back before wireless internet was being used. (except by Telstra Tech's)
We still only had dialup Internet in our town.
I was in partnership with ****** and our intention was to supply Internet via long range WiFi to the town area by feeding the WiFi Access Point with 50 telephone lines. (yes, it's laughable now isn't it?)
I tried negotiating access to their tower ......... nope!
I eventually gained access to the very high Ambulance tower.
Anyway, just let me say "I do know how they operate".
It cost us a gigantic heap of cash to bring in the 50 lines, install the switch gear etc etc and guess what??
Took 10 days for Kingston to get ADSL activated at the exchange!!! (inside info?)
Anyone want 75 metres of 5/8" coax & antenna? etc etc

Another beef is why are Telstra/Bigpond the ONLY Internet providers that lock down their modems so that they can't be used on any other ISP?
I don't wish this to degenerate into a slanging match. They suit some people & others they don't.
I refuse to assist any of their customers any more. Especially Email problems!!