Telstraclear deal - too good to be true?

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esawers

559 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#89689 7-Sep-2011 12:41

Telstra came around door knocking yesterday offering us quite a good deal

- 25gb broadband
- phone line
- first 2 months free
- free hardware
- free 'big back yard' calling
- 2 year contract with $199 break fee

all for $75/month

Currently with Snap we're paying $90 for 20gb and phone on their old plan. I called Snap to see if they could do anything to keep us as we're very happy with them and they offered 15gb for $90! (their new plan)

So it seems Telstra is an ideal option... from what I've read their helpdesk is terrible, but if you have no other problems is the internet service ok?

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4336 posts

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#518081 7-Sep-2011 12:48

you dont belong to Snap if you want the cheapest internet, you belong to Snap if you want a consistent service, a great help desk and no hassles. i have been with most major isp's and i shudder if i think about going back to any of them.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

stevenz

2802 posts

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#518087 7-Sep-2011 12:54

The internet itself is good (great for gaming as the latency is very low), but they are horrendous to deal with in my experience. Factor in the cost of having to take a day (or two) off work to wait around in the hope they'll turn up to do the install.
(EDIT: To be fair, some of the fault here may lie with their contractors, but I suspect the left hand is in another country to the right hand)

You may want to compare with Telecoms plans, particularly given that they've got no-contract options.

@KnightNZ

esawers

559 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#518089 7-Sep-2011 13:01

We've had our fair share of problems with Snap as well :) A few weeks early disconnection when we wanted to move house, a few weeks delay in getting the internet once we had moved, etc.. but overall the service is reliable and I can't fault the helpdesk!

But $75/month is cheap! Told Telstra we would call them back in a few days so still have some time to make a decision

NonprayingMantis

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#518097 7-Sep-2011 13:35

door to door? I wouldn't trust door to door salesman as far as I can throw them. Make sure you get everything in writing.

see other thread on door to door 'promises' that are BS. (not just from telstraclear, lots of other providers too, as well as other utilities providers)

JamesL

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Inactive user

#518107 7-Sep-2011 14:18

i'd never join an isp who employs door knockers to try sign me up

Bee

741 posts

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#518149 7-Sep-2011 15:43

Having been signed up with one of these door to door deals, I can confirm they are legit - you should have all the Telstra application forms if you accept, for me they took a while to get it all set up and yes their helpdesk is situated in another (multiple?) country so service was awful, thou my current ISP has similar service...

One thing to think about is the 2 year contract - with UFB and VOIP and other technologies up and coming, 2 years is a very long time to be locked in...

Doing your best is much more important than being the best.

HP

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blakamin

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#518152 7-Sep-2011 15:48

If you ever get stuck with an idiot on the helpdesk, hit them up on twitter... their service is amazing!

mattwnz

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#518164 7-Sep-2011 16:13

defnz: i'd never join an isp who employs door knockers to try sign me up

It is just as bad as cold calling ISPs, that call during dinner, probably worse. There must be quite a high success rate/ I have had telstra also call in on me several time when I wasn't at home, and they left an ad in my mailbox to say they had called. I won't use them because I want to support NZ companies, even though they do offer a fibre connection vs adsl. I guess with them door knocking you maybe covered by the door to door sales act if paying by credit.

graemeh

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#518202 7-Sep-2011 17:21

Bee: One thing to think about is the 2 year contract - with UFB and VOIP and other technologies up and coming, 2 years is a very long time to be locked in...

UFB is probably at least 2 years away for most people. You make a good point about VOIP though.

esawers

559 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 94

#518282 7-Sep-2011 21:02

thanks all

the 2 months free almost covers the break fee so as long as we stay with them 3 months we dont lose

nigelj

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#518299 7-Sep-2011 21:54

Bee: One thing to think about is the 2 year contract - with UFB and VOIP and other technologies up and coming, 2 years is a very long time to be locked in...

The question to ask, and preferably get in writing is, in the future is the contract transferable to an UFB/RBI plan, I know Telecom when I enquired told me that the contract was on the loose definition of Broadband (i.e. not tied to ADSL).

Mighty Ape

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esawers

559 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#518454 8-Sep-2011 10:58

good idea will ask them when they come back

his words the other day were 'you only have to stay with us for 2 years' so implied that any plan would be fine

fab

155 posts

Master Geek

#518483 8-Sep-2011 11:57

We've been with TC for 3 years after signing up with a door knocker and had great service - except for customer service of course.

But - I am wondering if I can get this deal..happily would sign up for 2 year contract at $75!

Skolink

1081 posts

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#518486 8-Sep-2011 12:02

esawers: Telstra came around door knocking yesterday offering us quite a good deal
- 25gb broadband
....

Is this cable or ADSL?

fab

155 posts

Master Geek

#518493 8-Sep-2011 12:12

I just went online chat with them - it's ADSL only. Looking at the plans, I've just realised I'm paying too much for my TC package. Far better deals out there. I'm paying about $150 a month with a second phone line and 20gig on cable - $75 is a much better price!

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