🚀 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

ramonre@sydney.DIALix.oz.au (Ramon Re) writes:

[...]

>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?

I am extremely satisfied with the level of customer service I get from
Optus. They are always courteous and helpful and often they call back to
check on the problem.  I have never had trouble getting connected. 
On the other hand I hate Telstra. If I had a choice I wouldn't even get
my local calls from them. I would even pay more and be treated like a
customer.

I agree with the other comment made that these days the amount of
savings you get by being with Optus is not much.

Back to Ramon's problem, you said you worked for Telstra. As far as 
I know Telstra employees can not switch to Optus. Maybe Telstra is 
blocking the switch over. I wouldn't be surprised if they still 
have you on their list as employee.

Regards,

-- 
___________________________________________________________________________
Tooraj Enayati     Melbourne  Australia     tooraj@daneel.rdt.monash.edu.au
Life is too short, our mission to dire, pass knowledge on before you expire.

ramonre@sydney.DIALix.oz.au (Ramon Re) 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, we're very pleased, our overseas calls are much cheaper than they
used to be. Long may they continue in business. Their people are so
much more helpful and friendly than the other lot!

We also had the problem you discuss about not being changed over to
Optus. It turned out that it was a problem with the other lot
(Telstra) be remiss, we just had to keep plugging at Optus to check.
Then as soon as the change had been made Telstra sent a special offer
to change back!!!

Mayling
==================
Mayling Hargreaves
Sydney, Australia
harburg@ozemail.com.au

In article <4l7jso$31f$1@sydney.DIALix.oz.au>, ramonre@sydney.DIALix.oz.au
(Ramon Re) wrote:

Anyone out there with any opinions about them?




Too bad you had such bad luck, Ramon. I have had nothing but good service
from them, and encourage you to keep trying. As you say, competition had
got to be good.  J. Castillo
> 
> Ramon

In article <4lemj6$q0v@harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au>, tooraj@daneel.rdt.monash.edu.au (Tooraj Enayati) writes:
> 
> Back to Ramon's problem, you said you worked for Telstra. As far as 
> I know Telstra employees can not switch to Optus. Maybe Telstra is 
> blocking the switch over. I wouldn't be surprised if they still 
> have you on their list as employee.
> 

Since when can any employer tell you how to spend your money in the
consumer market.  It's your money, what an absurd suggestion anybody
can tell you where to spend it.

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In article <4l7jso$31f$1@sydney.DIALix.oz.au>, ramonre@sydney.DIALix.oz.au
(Ramon Re) 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!"

i may be a bit prejudiced on thsi as i actually work for optus but i have
no probhlem with their customer service. I have also had delays in getting
my phone switched over but it's been telstra's fault every time. 


Also before the debate about the overhead cables starts up i'd like to
make it clear, Optus Vision is a seperate company to Optus we are allied
and Optus is a major shareholder but we have little to do with the
overhead cable furore. The problem derives from a cour case telstra won
saying that Optus Vision was not a telecommunications carrier and thus was
not subject to the same advantages as the two carriers have, in particular
the Austel ruling on sharing of cable ducts. If optus Vision was to put
ALL their cables underground it would increas the cost by a factor of 10
roughly, telstra already has control of what is really a national resource
( their existing underground cable network) and thus requiring Optus
vision to put cables underground doesn't exactly entice fair competition.
The cable they run is fibre which emits no emf like power lines do, the
only other cable they are running is a small power cable. It really to my
eyse isn't anywhere near the visual obstruction that the existiong
overhead cable lines are.

hope this helps

Dave Everingham (eggman@healey.com.au) wrote:
[odd comments about "not responsible" deleted]
: the Austel ruling on sharing of cable ducts. If optus Vision was to put
: ALL their cables underground it would increas the cost by a factor of 10
: roughly, telstra already has control of what is really a national resource
: ( their existing underground cable network) and thus requiring Optus
: vision to put cables underground doesn't exactly entice fair competition.
						^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
By what reasoning do you figure this out? Telecom incurred the "x10" cost in
burying the cables.
I might also point out that it is not necessarily a bad thing having a single
national cable resource. We don't build parallel road, rail, sewer, water
systems on the grounds that "competition" would allow us to pick a cheaper/
better seweage processor for instance. Someone has to pick up the tab of the
3 billion Optus are spending on infrastructure, and that someone is us.

BTW: anyone ever notice in those Optus adds showing the fibre cable laying
sequences that they were *Telecom* machines?

I also don't notice Optus rushing in to provide a cross-subsidy to rural
Australia (ie not Syd-Melb-Bris in Telco terms) to the tune of the
$600 million yearly that Telstra does.  How about some "fairness" here?

I would still like to know what Australia needs pay-TV for, anyway. I get
4.5 channels of rubbish from the free-to-air stations now. What am I going
to do with 24.5 channels of rubbish? I lived in the USA for 9 months, where
we had 42 channels on the local cable company, and only 3 of them had 
quality material on them. All IMHO of course.

--
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All opinions in this posting are mine, etc etc....
---
David Booth	Phone: +61 8 301-5523	Fax : +61 8 364-4836
Inet : davidb@southcorp.com.au
       Southcorp Holdings (Australia)	A.C.N. 007 722 643
       76 Penfolds Rd.,
       Magill, SA, 5072, AUSTRALIA.

Dave Everingham wrote:


 
> Also before the debate about the overhead cables starts up i'd like to
> make it clear, Optus Vision is a seperate company to Optus we are allied
> and Optus is a major shareholder but we have little to do with the
> overhead cable furore. The problem derives from a cour case telstra won
> saying that Optus Vision was not a telecommunications carrier and thus was
> not subject to the same advantages as the two carriers have, in particular
> the Austel ruling on sharing of cable ducts. If optus Vision was to put
> ALL their cables underground it would increas the cost by a factor of 10
> roughly, telstra already has control of what is really a national resource
> ( their existing underground cable network) and thus requiring Optus
> vision to put cables underground doesn't exactly entice fair competition.
> The cable they run is fibre which emits no emf like power lines do, the
> only other cable they are running is a small power cable. It really to my
> eyse isn't anywhere near the visual obstruction that the existiong
> overhead cable lines are.
> 


David Please....Little to do with it....

Optus is a major shareholder and has a great deal to do with Optus Vision
policy in regards to everything from billing to overhead cables.

You have a coordinated billing...In the future when I call Optus Vision I'll 
be able to ask questions in regards to my Optus long distance phone bill...separate
company?....No I don't think so....If that's the case, why is it considered an
internal transfer when an employee moves from North Sydney (Optus) to Chatswood
(Optus Vision)...

YOU provide much of the funding....YOU paid for the Rugby League battle to
get the rights for Optus Vision....

YOU came up with the idea to run the cables overhead with your buddies at Continental...

Don't lie to us David...It's an ugly thing...You're just trying to put a spin on 
the damage Optus Vision is inflicting on your reputation...It's too late...Brand
name recognition remember...

Go on...Deny any of what I've said....You can't....It's all true...If you think you can,
give your arguements and some proof...I've got mine...Go ahead David lie to us again...

MrJones <misty@magna.com.au> wrote:

[...]

>YOU came up with the idea to run the cables overhead with your buddies at Continental...

>Don't lie to us David...It's an ugly thing...You're just trying to put a spin on 
>the damage Optus Vision is inflicting on your reputation...It's too late...Brand
>name recognition remember...

>Go on...Deny any of what I've said....You can't....It's all true...If you think you can,
>give your arguements and some proof...I've got mine...Go ahead David lie to us again...

What a viper!

Bill

just to reply to the subject line..

of course optus exists! just look at their spinoff:

http://www.optusvision.com.au

convinced now ? ;-)

-jason
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