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Forum Index : Off topic archive. : Pro rata and other tricks of telcos

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domwild
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Joined: 16/12/2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 873
Posted: 10:06pm 10 Jul 2011
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Hi,

Interesting tricks the telcos play on us unsuspecting consumers, but perfectly legal as the stuff is buried in the fine print BUT is not explained if you sign up via the phone:

1. Assuming a telco offers you $50 worth of free calls per month. Beware! This means $50/30 days worth per day. Users who thought they could use up most of the $50 in a few initial days of frenzied calling have received huge bills afterwards.

2. Assuming free calls per month. Telco will not display the dollar amount in the month (you are in) which you still can use up; they credit the calls only at the end of the billing month, meaning you never exactly know how much credit you still have as they still total up all the "free" calls.

Interesting discussion of that on Whirlpool, a coms website.
Taxation as a means of achieving prosperity is like a man standing inside a bucket trying to lift himself up.

Winston Churchill
 
VK4AYQ
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Joined: 02/12/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2539
Posted: 11:27pm 10 Jul 2011
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Hi Dom

The whole Telco industry is full of tricksters and shysters that prey on the public in many ways, the old saying that if it sounds to good to be true it probably is.

Let the Buyer Beware.

Bob
Foolin Around
 
Gizmo

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Joined: 05/06/2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 5116
Posted: 12:07am 11 Jul 2011
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After my recent dealings with Telstra, I totaly agree. Driven by call center employee's under pressure to make sales or loose their jobs, and company directors that see the world as a big $ sign.

Glenn
The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now.
JAQ
 
VK4AYQ
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Joined: 02/12/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2539
Posted: 01:36am 11 Jul 2011
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Hi Glenn

Not just telstra they all have a go.

Singapore owned Optus has been hit with a massive fine of $5.26 million for misleading consumers about the speed of their broadband network.
Singapore owned Optus has been hit with a massive fine of $5.26 million for misleading consumers about the speed of their broadband network.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission took Telsta's arch enemy to court when Optus tried to take on Telstra's BigPond network in a broadband speed fight.

The ACCC deemed their advertising to be misleading and the Federal Court has agread with them.

Formally known as Singtel Optus, The ACCC took action against the Singapore owned Company in the Federal Court over an advertising campaign for broadband internet plans launched on Anzac Day in 2011.

Today Justice Nye Perram sitting in the Federal Court ruled that there was an "essential vice" in the advertisements, because they misled people about the download allowance they could get under the plans.

"They suggested that a consumer would obtain a broadband usage allowance of 120GB or 150GB [depending on the particular plan] consisting of two usages allowances - one peak, one off-peak," Justice Nye Perram said in his judgment.

"In fact, however, this was only true if the consumer was careful to ensure that all of his or her off-peak allowance was exhausted before the peak allowance was fully utilised."

Last year Optus was hit with a $180,000 fine by the ACCC for misleading mobile plans in which the so-called maximum was in fact a minimum price.


"This decision sends the clear message that misleading consumers is not a legitimate business strategy. Optus is not a small business, but a large company that engaged in misleading and tricky conduct," said ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel.

Bob
Foolin Around
 
RossW
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Joined: 25/02/2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 495
Posted: 02:16am 11 Jul 2011
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  VK4AYQ said  
Not just telstra they all have a go.


Don't tar and feather us ALL.
Some of us small guys are different.

I've been an ISP since early 1995, and still in the game. Thats WAY before either optarse or tel$ux got in on it.
 
VK4AYQ
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Joined: 02/12/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2539
Posted: 02:49am 11 Jul 2011
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Hi Ross

Sorry for not qualifying the statement, it is the big money hungry corporations that are the worst, as with small business if you do not give a good service you will not be there long at all, it would be far better in my opinion if more little guys got in on the act, but I am sure that Telstra et al would find a way to squeeze small business out legal or not.

All the best

Bob
Foolin Around
 
Gizmo

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Joined: 05/06/2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 5116
Posted: 02:50am 11 Jul 2011
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Yeah I'll back a small ISP anyday. I've dealt with the big guys and the service is terrible. The best service I've had was from a small ISP in Mackay, he's got me out of trouble lots of times.

Glenn
The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now.
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