🚀 go-pugleaf

Ramon Re (ramonre@sydney.DIALix.oz.au) wrote:
: When Optus first came out, I was relieved that there was another company 
: to compete with the monopoly now known as Telstra. Up until then the 
: service provided by "Telstra" (pre-lyptic use of the name) was 
: disastrous. People had to wait ages for phones or equipment, or even 
: repairs, in many areas. I know, I used to work for them.
: 
: So I marked the card "Optus" and sat back and waited for them to connect 
: me so I could use them long distance without having to dial the prefix. 
: I'm still waiting. Every month or so I rang them again, and the answer 
: was still the same "Good heavens, sir! You're STILL not connected? I'll 
: get onto it straight away! You'll be connected in no time, now. I'll see 
: to it myself!"
: 
: Sometimes they would send out another form for me to fill out, which I 
: always did, but it didn't make any difference - I'm still not connected. 
: A few months ago I finally gave up, and quit trying. I was standing up 
: for a principle - because Telstra on their own had been a terrible 
: service, the presence of Optus got them working again, and I wanted to 
: support Optus for that reason. (I don't really mind the overhead cables - 
: they're an eyesore, but it's cheaper and therefore keeps prices down).
: 
: It made me think though - if Optus can't even connect up a potential 
: customer (I always pay my bills on time, have an excellent credit rating, 
: and have no debts), then how do they fix things when they get complaints. 
: Do they treat them with nice words and fine promises but no action, like 
: they treated me?
: 
: Anyone out there with any opinions about them?
: 

Yes. I do. And to be honest it's all positive.
Their customer service people are much nicer than Telstra's, and much
more helpful. They are on the whole generally cheaper, although the
difference is much less than it was the earlier stages.

Telstra has lifted it's game a lot, but is still a bit of a dinosaur
with public service style customer service at times.

As for the overhead cabling... well to be honest in many areas there's
so much overhead cabling it's hard to notice the new ones added by
Optus. Generally Australia has too much of it though, and it makes our
suburban landscape look uglier.

On the other hand I think it will offer a lot and the extra bandwidth
that becomes available will contribute to a lowering of costs for all
users (it's a supply and demand thing). The best thing that could happen
is for Federal government to legislate so that Telstra and Optus shares
ducts where ducts are available. At the same time it would be nice if
the power cables went underground too! maybe that is in the "too hard
basket".

Jonathan Lloyd
(satisfied Optus customer)


: Ramon