Oh dear: Optus didn’t learn from Telstra’s mistake

Renai LeMay
12 March 2010, 12:28 PM


If there’s one thing that APC finds amusing, it’s when history repeats itself. As it so often does in Australia’s fickle telecommunications industry.


‘Oh dear’ is a new section on APC devoted to, shall we say, the lighter side of some of the more infamous occurrences in Australia’s technology sector.

If there’s one thing that APC finds amusing, it’s when history repeats itself. As it so often does in Australia’s fickle telecommunications industry.

Take this one example. Who could forget the kerfuffle Telstra caused when it instigated a $2.20 fee for paying phone bills in person or by mail?

Well, Optus, it appears.

Just four months after new Telstra chief David Thodey scrapped the extremely unpopular fee, Optus has more than doubled its own.

“From 1 May 2010, the fee for bill payments made via Australia Post will increase from $0.55 to $1.30. To avoid this fee, use an electronic payment option, such as Direct Debit or BPAY® to pay from a cheque or savings account,” the telco’s web site states.

News of Optus’ faulty memory came via the Drive program on Sydney’s 2UE radio station today, where presenters Murray Wilton and Murray Olds had a rather concerning conversation with ACANN chief Allan Asher. Wilton apparently said he thinks Optus may have just “jacked up their fee for themselves”.

Oh dear. If there's one thing people really hate, it's having to pay extra to pay a bill. We think $1.30 is probably the “wrong number” for many people.

Delimiter


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Pauly (New user):

Morons, i never understand why they dont just put call prices up by 5c then offer a DISCOUNT to direct debit payments.
Couple that with them and Voda now charging calls by the minute and not 30 seconds and it makes their prices not so cheap in the long run

12 March 2010, 12:41 PM (3 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

The PikeMaster (New user):

LOL They Never learn

12 March 2010, 4:03 PM (3 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Scott Drummond - Optus (New user):

The fee which Renai refers to in this article covers the administration costs incurred by Optus for payment transactions made via Australia Post’s POSTbillpay service.

These administration fees are charged to Optus by Australia Post. In no way are we profiting from charging our customers to use POSTbillpay®.

As we’ve stated on our website, Optus customers have many options for paying their bill without incurring any charges. These include direct debit (savings and cheque accounts), payment by mail (cheque or money order), payments made in person at participating Optus World stores, and BPAY (savings and cheque accounts), which remains the most popular payment option for our customers.

Scott Drummond
Online Community Manager, Optus

12 March 2010, 5:54 PM (3 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Raindog (New user):

Quoting Scott Drummond - Optus:
These administration fees are charged to Optus by Australia Post. In no way are we profiting from charging our customers to use POSTbillpay®.

It's the cost of doing business Scott, how do you think my invoice to Optus would be received if I'd added a little something for the cost of my motorway tolls?

Sure in the end the customer pays but you run the risk of losing customers by being so mean post contract after not having factored in those PO costs.

Sure I can pay by other methods, I already do, but how do you think my aged parents are going to react? Much as I hate to say it you'll lose their business and they'll be straight back Telstra and a Post Office comfort zone?

What is it about Telcos that you just cannot give anyone a straight price?
No surcharges, no payment fees, no crackpot included free calls, and hard to fathom discounts, just a straightforward bill with some easily understood rates and item costs. Is that so hard?

Tell you what, why not suggest it at next weeks Optus strategy meeting. I know it's an out there concept, but hey satisfying customer needs may well end up winning over some customers at contract renewal time.

Crazy eh. The stuff they never told you when doing those MBAs.

Cheers!



12 March 2010, 7:56 PM (3 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

TechHead (New user):

Nice one Raindog! I am an Optus customer who has wondered why it all has to be so complicated. I find it tiring trying to interpret my Optus bill. I have to take the figures on faith because they are so jumbled up I cant work them out! I imagine Mr Grey-haired Optus patting me on the head and saying "it's okay, just trust us!" Lucky for Optus that Telstra offends me more with their shifty, inflated prices. In fairness I will say though that the network service and signal generally is good.

13 March 2010, 12:29 AM (3 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

AlexF (New user):

Bet someone got a nice promotion dreaming up this revenue raiser. This level of creativity befits an MBA for sure.

15 March 2010, 1:52 PM (3 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

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