NuffNang

Monday, October 10, 2011

Mobile Phones, Telcos, Customer Loyalty and Failing Hardware

I have been an Optus Customer since the good old days of analogue.

I have had very few problems, the odd billing issue, but never a hardware failure, never have I broken contract, never have I lost a phone, never have I asked for favours.

I have ALWAYS had 2 year contract and within 6 months of the contract expiring I ALWAYS get a new phone with a NEW 2 year contract.

For the last 2-3 months my phone has been playing up, calls drop out, the phone restarts for no reason what-so-ever and within the last week the phone won’t tether to my laptop…….. which is a real issue as I use this feature often for work.

Today I dropped past an Optus Store (Franchise) and asked if there was anything they could do for me. They said no – you break contract it will cost $404 to get a new handset. I said surely 15 years counts for something and they said there is nothing we can do, you have to call Optus customer service.

 So I call Optus customer service and after a 20 min phone call, I am advised that Optus will drop the $404 penalty to $250 and I can get a new handset. I started push I mean I’ve been a loyal customer for 15 years, doesn’t that count FOR SOMETHING?

I was then advised that I could receive a ‘loan’ handset until the end of contract. I immediately asked what sort of handset….. Various brands and models were rattled off, but when I started asking would it seamlessly sync all my details without 3rd party software or would the handset tether wirelessly to my laptop….. The answer was unknown.

I said seriously – I’ve been a customer of Optus for 15 years and you can’t just get me a new contract and handset and forget about the old? I was advised that the call taker had gone to her ‘limit’. Keeping in mind it’s now 20 minutes into a service call, that even though I’m with Optus I have to pay for…..

I started to realise I was talking to a brick wall.

15 years means nothing, customer loyalty means nothing and even when I used the “I’ll go to another provider” line, they seriously didn’t seem to care.

I’ve got 2 months left (before I get an early release) on my contract before I’m issued with a new handset… I’m going to sit the remainder of the 5 months of THIS contract out and seriously consider switching to Telstra (Other providers are no good where I live) And now that Telstra has ‘memo’ (a one to one answering service) just like Optus’s ‘Surepage’ There is nothing holding me back.

I’ve essentially been given ‘The Finger” and told my money, my loyalty and 15 years of service means nothing.

So might as well behave as though that is the case.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

My Favourite Photos of the Week

Taken by me for your enjoyment


Genoa Way Side Stop, this used to be the Fruit Fly Inspection Point between the border of NSW and Victoria. 19th April 2011


Carved Characters on the Geelong Foreshore. 25th April 2011



Fresh Water Cray, taken near Apollo Bay 20th March 2011


Close up on a daisy, Pambula, NSW 21st April 2011


Please DO NOT copy any photos on this blog - without my express written permission


Sunday, October 2, 2011

My Favourite Photos of the week

Taken by me for your enjoyment


Pelicans - Tathra 20th April 2011


Pelicans - Tathra, NSW 20th April 2011


Pelicans - Tathra - 20th April 2011


Pelicans - Tathra 20th April 2011

Please DO NOT copy any photos on this blog - without my express written permission









Sunday, September 25, 2011

My Favourite Photos of the week

Taken by me for your enjoyment


Shell Pambula beach, NSW 21st April 2011


Shell - Pambula Beach, NSW 21st April, 2011


Native rat - Skenes Creek, Vic (Great Ocean Road) 9th July 2011


Sunrise over Pambula, NSW 20th April 2011

Please DO NOT copy any photos on this blog - without my express written permission



Sunday, September 18, 2011

My Favourite Photos of the week

Taken by me for your enjoyment


Olive in the Mist 25th April 2011


Peck-a-boo Lizard on Cape Schank 20th March 2011



Lakes Entrance - Sunrise over the foreshore 19th April 2011



Koala - Cape Schank, hiding from the camera 20th March 2011

Please DO NOT copy any photos on this blog - without my express written permission



Sunday, September 11, 2011

My Favourite Photos of the week

Taken by me for your enjoyment

Pelicans at Tathra, NSW doing the feed me dance! - 20th April 2011


Pelicans - Feed me! 20th April 2011

Pelicans - Sand bars make the perfect landing strip 20th April 2011


Pelican in flight over the bridge at Lakes Entrance at dawn - 19th April 2011

Please DO NOT copy any photos on this blog - without my express written permission



Sunday, September 4, 2011

My Favourite Photos of the Week

Taken by me for your enjoyment.


Pelican in flight, over the great lakes of Lakes Entrance and 90 Mile Beach, Australian. This photo has been cropped. Taken 19th April 2011



Black Swans at Lakes Entrance. Taken 19th April 2011



Black Swans at Lakes Entrance. Taken 19th April 2011



Who's got the music? I'm ready to dance! Black Swans at Lakes Entrance. Taken 19th April 2011


Please DO NOT copy any photos on this blog - without my express written permission