If you’ve transfered your telephone or internet service away from Telstra (Australia’s telephone monopoly) recently, then you may have received a call from Telstra’s telemarketers asking why you switched.
Mr. telemarketer asked me a few friendly questions
Sir, if you don’t mind me asking, how often do you use your phone? What about internet?
I politely answered honestly before the real marketing questions started.
And how much do you pay for that?
It couldn’t be any more obvious, he wants to make a counter offer to win me back as a customer. Again, I answered honestly, but it was clear that he couldn’t match the deal I had. In fact, any Australian with the slightest clue about telephone and internet services would know that going just about anywhere but telstra will get you a better price for the same or even better services. Mr. Telemarketer hesitated for a moment and said in desperation:
I can offer you a discount on your internet service if you come back [...]
Notice that he didn’t say we can offer you a better deal, just a discount on telstra’s original overpriced service. Nice try but no thanks Mr. telemarketer. I promtly said that I was under a contract with my current provider and would not be able to break that contract without penalty. Mr. telemarketer resorts to dishonest missinformation.
There is no contract, sir [...]
Notice that he didn’t say that there is no contract with my current provider (how would he know?), and he is implying that there is no contract with telstra if I rejoin, but he is hoping that I won’t notice the difference. Now I’m little offended. Mr. telemarketer thinks I’m stupid, so I decided to convince him that I know exactly what’s going on by explaining my situation with him and that I would be breaking contract if I rejoined (not that I would) Telstra. He replied
You won’t be breaking contract, if you rejoin, we can offer you [a bunch of useless 'deals' that didn't seem very appealing]
Now he’s just flat out lying. At this point I’m annoyed. After bluntly explaining to him that I do not wish to be with Telstra, I hung up.
It’s outrageous that Australia’s biggest internet and telephone provider could sink this low.
Mr. Telemarketer, I’m sorry I couldn’t waste your time further. It would have been my pleasure. Please consider changing careers, you will prevent a lot of suffering to customers who fall for your tricks. Oh and I hate you, you are the scum of the earth.
UPDATE: below is a list of forum topics on the “Whirlpool forums” about Telstras unethical telemarketing, some of which dates back to 2004.
Attack of the telemarketing drones -2004
Dodgy Bigpond telemarketing – 2004
Telstra Dishonest Telemarketing – 2006
If you have more stories like this, I’d like to hear from you. Please leave a comment.
