Telstra Rescues Flood-ridden Residents

Telecommunications giant Telstra is coming to the rescue for hundreds of North Coast homes and offices isolated by severe floods and storms over the past week, with a relief package for those using its services.

Small business and residential customers whose phone-lines have been affected by the disaster will receive free call diversion from their fixed line to another fixed or mobile line, according to Telstra.

In addition, customers who contact Telstra and report phone-line damage due to recent weather will continue to pay fixed line rates on local and STD calls made from their mobile phones.

To access the free call diversion or to report loss of their Telstra fixed service, customers should contact 13 22 03.

These offers will continue until the network damage in the area has been repaired and applies to one designated Telstra mobile per household or business.

Customers whose homes have been severely damaged by the floods will also be offered cancellation of a Telstra fixed phone service at existing premises with free number reservation to be provided for three months; free connection of a Telstra fixed phone service at one residence or business within a twelve-month period beginning from the date of the disaster; and Telstra mobile customers who do not have a fixed line will receive a one off credit to the value of $50, limited to one mobile phone per household or business.

Telstra Country Wide Area General Manager for the North Coast region, Sue Passmore, said Telstra technicians are working to restore services as soon as possible.

She said that the number of customers experiencing problems with their fixed phone lines had significantly increased as a result of the storms in the region.

“Telstra is bringing additional technicians into the area and they are working overtime to restore customers’ services as quickly and safely as possible,” she said.

“We do have a significant increase in the number of customers who have problems with their fixed phone line because of the floods, and while we are maximising the use of people in our Australian call centres, there may be some delays when calling 13 22 03 to report a fault.

“We ask for people to be patient during this time, and assure our customers we are doing everything we can to get them back online as quickly as possible.”