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July 20, 2006
Telstra: We're here to fleece you
Is anyone else irritated by Telstra's latest exercise in profit-seeking social engineering? If you ring 12455 for directory inquiries - which ought to be a free service, in our opinion, in return for the untold millions they make out of monopolising directory listings, including the Yellow Pages - you're no longer given the number automatically.
Instead the canned voice tells you that you may be asked to have the call connected, and something along the lines of "further charges will apply". Then , instead of giving you the damned number, the operator asks "May I connect you?" My answer - and I hope yours too - is "No, you may not." You've already paid through the nose to get the number. Why should you be kept waiting for it, on the chance that you'll pay even more to have them dial the bloody number? How many polite Australians are prepared to decline, we wonder? Honestly. They are a cynical pack of exploitative bastards, aren't they?
Posted by cw at July 20, 2006 09:14 PM
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Comments
I always thought that there was a free directory service number - and it was just that Telstra chooses not to promote it anymore. Does anyone know what free numbers there are as alternatives to any premium/not-so-free services offered by Telco's?
Posted by: Dave at July 20, 2006 10:55 PM
The free number is 1223.
Telstra is obligated to provide it, and they do, but they don't advertise it.
Posted by: Newman at July 21, 2006 04:34 AM
1223 is the way to go. You get to speak to an operator. But you only get the number - no direct connection.
Posted by: extulit at July 21, 2006 08:33 AM
Try using 1223.
Your call still gets filtered through one of those automated voice recognition systems before you get to a humanoid operator but you're given the number and that's it. Old skool for baby boomers.
Hmmm. I wonder why Telstra don't give this number much publicity, if any?
Posted by: Ablaze ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://bleedingedge.com.au/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
at July 21, 2006 08:48 AM
Ablaze, Telstra is simply obligated to provide it. They don't have to promote it. I usually avoid the computer by saying something deliberately stupid: "George W Bush has three legs" or something suitable asinine.
Every now and then it cracks the operator up: they hear what you say before they respond.
Posted by: Newman at July 21, 2006 01:34 PM