Apart from a couple of landline telephone connections in pre-competition days, I’ve managed to avoid being a Telstra customer for most of my adult life. I consider myself fortunate that I’ve had very little chance to take part in the national sport of Telstra bashing, but I don’t need to be a customer to wonder why on earth anyone would choose Telstra over its competitors if a choice is available. Unfortunately, my current 3G mobile coverage-scarce living circumstances have forced me to purchase a Telstra mobile broadband service and my Telstra experience has begun.

Firstly, Telstra’s mobile broadband is ludicrously expensive compared to its competitors. Like, stupidly so. My current residence is within the advertised 3G zones of several providers but is relatively remote and located in a valley, cutting off all signals but Telstra’s. Rotten luck.

Secondly, to activate the service I had to call a Telstra 125 phone number that was not available from my non-Telstra mobile phone. Brilliant. Thanks, Telstra.

Thirdly, four hours after I called the 125 number from a Telstra landline the account activation, promised within two hours, hadn’t occur. I called the number back, waited for 20 or so minutes because Telstra was “experiencing a higher number of calls than usual”, and explained the problem to the operator. “Could you check to see the progress of the activation?” I asked.

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