Pays to check your Telstra bill carefully

Jim Goose · 10-01-2011, 02:20 PM

Dunno what happened to the thread about bills??
Anyhoo...

Just got my mobile phone bill and checked it over as I have had minor issues in the past.

I found I was billed twice for the same call!

What had happened was that I had called message bank 101 to retrieve a message and used the "call back" feature (This allowes you to ring the person through message bank automatically so you dont need to disconnect the call and then dial the number, handy if you have no pen!)

Unfortunately the call to message bank 101 did not disconnect when it dialled the mobile number, so i was billed twice for a 16min phone call at the same time!
The mobile number it dialed was listed on a different page on the invoice and the calls to the 101 service elsewhere...

Pays to look at your bill sometimes....

AndrewR_AUII · 10-01-2011, 02:24 PM

And if you are on prepaid, you won't even know.
Now will you know about any 'subscription' fees for things like ringtones services etc - because you didn't read the fine print.

Pays to be aware.

MYVYSS · 10-01-2011, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

Dunno what happened to the thread about bills??
Anyhoo...

Just got my mobile phone bill and checked it over as I have had minor issues in the past.

I found I was billed twice for the same call!

What had happened was that I had called message bank 101 to retrieve a message and used the "call back" feature (This allowes you to ring the person through message bank automatically so you dont need to disconnect the call and then dial the number, handy if you have no pen!)

Unfortunately the call to message bank 101 did not disconnect when it dialled the mobile number, so i was billed twice for a 16min phone call at the same time!
The mobile number it dialed was listed on a different page on the invoice and the calls to the 101 service elsewhere...

Pays to look at your bill sometimes....

I havent had a correct phone bill since April last year when I upgraded to a newer phone, I had had enough about September/October last year when I lodged an official complaint with the TIO (basically even though I pay for a cap and a data plan, I was always charged the premium rate for all data), I have two phone on my account and since November once the complaint was raised and fixed "NOT" I have asked for a 100% credit of both my bills for the month, which has happened from Telstra since. So basically ever month I get my bill, ring a special 1800 number and basically tell them..NOPE its wrong again credit me please, I figure ringing Telstra for 30-45 minutes a month means I dont have to pay a cent for two mobiles both on cap plans is pretty good value.

Jim Goose · 10-01-2011, 02:34 PM

Yes have several friends with Telstra land line and mobile phones who's bills have gone crazy since early last year, not to mention phones disconnected without warning!
5 people I knew all had their home phones disconnected within 5 weeks (they had bundled service with internet), their bills hadnt arrived and no warnings given.

Another friend live out in a small town and her phone line still isnt buried after 2 yrs, its just hanging over her fence!

Small rural suburb at Majors Creek here has had no phone or mobile coverage for 2 weeks (50 people live in that area)

Another person complained that a inspection pit has been open for 12months with exposed phone wires! (its barricaded)

As fat and lazy as it was under government control, its now worse then ever since it was floated and sold off....

XWGT · 10-01-2011, 03:21 PM

Was with Optus for 2 years...........out of 24 bills I had at least 22 corrected.....at my time and expense on the phone to them of course

So as with Telstra........every bill gets checked.......carefully. 3 months in with Telstra already been credited over $350....

I actually think now the minuite you ring up they just give you an instant credit to save the hassle lol

**Polyal** · 10-01-2011, 03:27 PM

Yeah they are shocking...and for those of you who are stuck with them as an ISP I got an extra 50GB per month by just asking as another company offered the same deal....

It is simply the worst company I think I have ever dealt with...anyone else and it would be bent over by the ACCC but it, like Holden, seems to be a golden child for some reason. And if there whole structure etc doesn't stink of a monopoly when you get to the nitty gritty then I dont know what is.

GreenR · 10-01-2011, 03:28 PM

Haha oh the problems my family have had with Telstra billing. On multiple occasions sent bigger bills from a different phone number. But shows up as our phone number still. We knew it wasn't ours due to the dates of phone calls in which we were away, and international calls to a few countries.

Mickxr8 · 10-01-2011, 11:04 PM

Not sure if I should drag this ol chestnut up.. But I LOVE Telstra bashing

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11271965

Simple6 · 11-01-2011, 09:22 PM

Mmmmm I work for Telstra in one of the shops so I cop the brunt of a lot of what you mention.

On the flip side to what you guys have trouble with in your billing - I've seen customers sign up to a bundle and get charged half the price it should be month after month. Then they complain (because they're worried about being back charged) and the complaints department left a note saying they were not allowed to be back charged! So they enjoy a very cheap home phone/broadband deal - I wish I new how that worked - I'd offer it to everyone!

**GasoLane** · 12-01-2011, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fowlerj

Mmmmm I work for Telstra in one of the shops

Oh good. Would you like your T hub back?...

well the hub's not so bad, but the handsets are rubbish!

Spudz27 · 11-01-2011, 09:28 PM

When we first set up the Bigpond (I know I bagged them to everyone but they have a monopoly on ADSL2 in regional areas) the phone was switched first and then when the net was connected it was to be combined into a $128pm phone/net plan (actually is good value) any way my first bill was for $398, I was like "WTF" rang them and got told it was never combined so I was charged for seperate services. Anyway it was noted on the system it was meant to be combined. Even though I never paid the bill the credited me most of the $398 and I basically paid nothing for the first 2 months.

Pedro · 11-01-2011, 11:16 PM

I changed my phone to VOIP a few years ago.
My monthly bills:-
line rental $20.00
mynetfone bill $14.95 (includes 100 free calls per month to anywhere in Australia or the world NO FLAGFALL, UNTIMED).

AndrewR_AUII · 12-01-2011, 10:34 AM

Done the same as Pedro... Naked ADSL with VOIP.

$50/month for the lot, including $50 call credit. I can also set up expenditure limits, number barring etc.
The only issue is that at the moment I only get 640k speed as one of the conductors on the line is open circuit... both me and my Telco have been waiting for about 6 weeks for Tel$tra to fix it (out of the Telcos hands). Telco (Adam internet) have given me credit so far...