Re: Telstra OneNumber going... going..

Hello all - I am new to this forum but have been an 0500 customer since
its inception.

I have a few general questions for those in the know and some
observations regarding the cancellation of the 0500 service...

1. Does anybody have any idea how many actual users there are of this
service (someone earlier posted 30,000). If Telstra takes into account
the fact that ALL users of the 0500 service have been required to
maintain at least one Telstra landline, and my case I have opted to
keep my entire phone service and mobiles with them, what if ALL 0500
customers abandoned Telstra completely??? Without the 0500 service I
have no reason to stay with them at all. If 30,000 customers are paying
$29 per month for a landline rental plus $5 for their 0500 number the
annual revenue is over $12M. If those customers have more services with
Telstra then lost revenue could exceed $50M!!! Maybe THAT is a number
worth their consideration.

2. Is there anything in our telecommunications legislation regarding
provision of service which might require Telstra to continue the
service or offer a real alternative?

3. When the Onenumber service was launched it was marketed as Onenumber
for life. Does this also require Telstra to offer some way of
transitioning the 0500 phone numbers to a new system?

4. We have built our entire business model around the 0500 system -
mobile offices and staff with an easy, user friendly way for clients to
contact us anywhere. Not to mention the fact that we use a relatively
small amount of stationery and that which we have already printed with
our 0500 numbers will last us a couple of years at least. There are
often stories of businesses seeking compensation from Telstra for
stuff-ups with 1300 numbers (usually clumsy allocation of numbers
resulting in hundreds of unwanted calls). Surely there is a good
argument for substantial compensation to be awarded to businesses which
will be severely affected by the cancellation of the 0500 service
(regardless of the 12 month advance warning). Again, 30,000 people are
hard to ignore.

I am keen to hear others' views on these topics and whether there is
any likeliness of an action group forming to petition Telstra to come
up with an real alternative or continue the system.


--
solmanic

After querying Telstra directly they claim that there are only about 500
active 0500 services. They seemed a bit vague so I would still be
interested if anybody has more detailed knowledge.


--
solmanic

I have now spoken with another person in Telstra who says there are 2700
numbers still allocated (but not all those are being actively used). I
have also been informed that it has not been a requirement to maintain
ANY other Telstra services to keep your 0500 number for "some time" so
there are many people who are just renting the numbers alone.

Consequently I have lodged a formal complaint on the following grounds
and I would urge all concerned to do the same:

1. There is no alternative service currently on offer that is an
adequate substitute for the 0500 service.

2. 0500 numbers were marketed as "one number for life" and despite
legislation which enables Telstra to discontinue a service with 14
months advance notice, this is contrary to the original offer made by
Telstra.

3. People keep business cards and stationery from professionals for an
indefinite period so no transition period is long enough to ensure that
my business does not lose revenue as a result of losing our 0500
numbers.

Whilst it has been explained to me that there are "technical reasons"
why the 0500 service is doomed and I don't expect anything can be done
about it, I do hope Telstra fully recognises the disadvantage we are at
and offers suitable conpensation. Item 2 alone is grounds for legal
action.


--
solmanic

solmanic <solmanic.2oe6eh@no-mx.phorums.com.au> wrote

> Hello all - I am new to this forum

It isnt a forum, its a newsgroup.

> but have been an 0500 customer since its inception.

> I have a few general questions for those in the know and some
> observations regarding the cancellation of the 0500 service...

> 1. Does anybody have any idea how many actual users
> there are of this service (someone earlier posted 30,000).

Just a number plucked out of his arse.

> If Telstra takes into account the fact that ALL users of the 0500 service
> have been required to maintain at least one Telstra landline, and my case
> I have opted to keep my entire phone service and mobiles with them,
> what if ALL 0500 customers abandoned Telstra completely???

Taint gunna happen.

> Without the 0500 service I have no reason to stay with them at all.

They still get the wholesale charge which isnt that
much different even if you go to some other reseller.

> If 30,000 customers are paying $29 per month for a landline rental
> plus $5 for their 0500 number the annual revenue is over $12M.

Thats a stupid number plucked out of your arse.

> If those customers have more services with
> Telstra then lost revenue could exceed $50M!!!

Another stupid number plucked out of your arse.

> Maybe THAT is a number worth their consideration.

It obviously isnt or they wouldnt be pulling the plug on those numbers.

> 2. Is there anything in our telecommunications legislation
> regarding provision of service which might require Telstra
> to continue the service or offer a real alternative?

Nope.

> 3. When the Onenumber service was launched
> it was marketed as Onenumber for life.

No it wasnt in that sense.

> Does this also require Telstra to offer some way of
> transitioning the 0500 phone numbers to a new system?

Nope.

> 4. We have built our entire business model around the 0500 system -
> mobile offices and staff with an easy, user friendly way for clients
> to contact us anywhere. Not to mention the fact that we use a
> relatively small amount of stationery and that which we have already
> printed with our 0500 numbers will last us a couple of years at least.

More fool you.

> There are often stories of businesses seeking compensation
> from Telstra for stuff-ups with 1300 numbers (usually clumsy
> allocation of numbers resulting in hundreds of unwanted calls).

This isnt a stuffup, its a deliberate policy choice.

> Surely there is a good argument for substantial compensation
> to be awarded to businesses which will be severely affected
> by the cancellation of the 0500 service

You clearly dont qualify, its just a trivial amount of stationary invovled.

> (regardless of the 12 month advance warning).

Plenty of time for even you to get your act into gear on the stationary.

> Again, 30,000 people are hard to ignore.

Thats a stupid number plucked out of your arse.

> I am keen to hear others' views on these topics

That you get to like it or lump it.

> and whether there is any likeliness of an action group forming to petition
> Telstra to come up with an real alternative or continue the system.

Taint gunna happen and telstra will ignore it even if it does.

solmanic <solmanic.2og3du@no-mx.phorums.com.au> wrote

> I have now spoken with another person in Telstra who says there are
> 2700 numbers still allocated (but not all those are being actively used).

So its no surprise that they have binned the system.

> I have also been informed that it has not been a requirement to maintain
> ANY other Telstra services to keep your 0500 number for "some time"
> so there are many people who are just renting the numbers alone.

Presumably plenty have just forgotten about it given its so cheap.

> Consequently I have lodged a formal complaint

Do the decent thing and set fire to yourself in 'protest'

That might get some action if you arrange for the TV crews to film it.

Burgess will likely show up and pour kero on the flames.

> on the following grounds and I would urge all concerned to do the same:

I urge you to go and fuck yourself, just before you set fire to yourself.

> 1. There is no alternative service currently on offer
> that is an adequate substitute for the 0500 service.

Like that or lump it.

> 2. 0500 numbers were marketed as "one number for life"

Pig ignorant lie.

> and despite legislation which enables Telstra to discontinue a service with 14
> months advance notice, this is contrary to the original offer made by Telstra.

Pig ignorant lie.

> 3. People keep business cards and stationery from professionals for an
> indefinite period so no transition period is long enough to ensure that my
> business does not lose revenue as a result of losing our 0500 numbers.

You should have had enough of a clue to have the landline number on the card too.

> Whilst it has been explained to me that there are "technical reasons" why the 0500
> service is doomed and I don't expect anything can be done about it, I do hope
> Telstra fully recognises the disadvantage we are at and offers suitable conpensation.

Taint gunna happen.

> Item 2 alone is grounds for legal action.

Only in your pathetic little drug crazed pig ignorant fantasyland.