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Free Calls/Texts to France for Telstra Customers & France/Lebanon for Optus Customers

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Free Calls/Texts to France for Telstra Customers & France/Lebanon for Optus Customers
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tightarse on 14/11/2015 - 16:46 exchange.telstra.com.au (442 clicks)
Last edited 15/11/2015 - 15:02 by 1 other user

Telstra

Our thoughts go out to the people of France who have been caught up in the Paris attacks.

To help our customers check on friends and relatives affected, we’re offering free standard voice calls and texts made from personal post paid mobiles and fixed lines to France from 5am AEST on 14 November until 5am AEST on 21 November.

For personal pre-paid customers, we’re offering a refund of the costs of your standard voice calls and SMS to France from 5am AEST on 14 November until 5am AEST on 21 November (refunds will be applied by 27 November).

Please keep in mind that disruption to services in France may impact calls getting through.

Optus

Update 15/11/15 (thanks to OzTenpin)

Our thoughts go out to everyone affected by the terrible events that have taken place in Paris and Beirut.

Optus post-paid mobile and fixed customers will receive free standard voice calls to France and Lebanon from 12:01am AEDST Saturday 14th of November until the end of the month. This includes calls to mobile and landline numbers. Calls made to France or Lebanon during this time will not be charged on your next bill.

Pre-paid mobile customers will receive zero-rated standard voice calls made to France from 07:00am AEDST Sunday 15th of November until the end of the month.

Pre-paid mobile customers will receive zero-rated standard voice calls made to Lebanon from 07:00am AEDST Monday 16th of November until the end of the month.

The high volume on the telecommunications network around Paris and Beirut may impact calls getting through. You may experience busy tones, recorded voice announcements or the call might go straight to voicemail when calling.

Any customers who wish to discuss their individual circumstances can call our Customer Services team on 133 937

14/11/15

Optus customers who want to contact family and friends following the terrible events in Paris will be able to make free calls to France.

Optus post-paid mobile and fixed customers will receive free standard voice calls to France from 12:01am AEDST Saturday 14th of November until the end of the month. Calls made to France during this time will not be charged on your next bill.

Pre-paid mobile customers will receive zero-rated standard voice calls made to France from 07:00am AEDST Sunday 15th of November until the end of the month.

The high volume on the telecommunications network around Paris may impact calls getting through. You may experience busy tones, recorded voice announcements or the call might go straight to voicemail when calling.

Any customers who wish to discuss their individual circumstances can call our Customer Services team on 133 937

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closed Comments

  • Gehirn on 14/11/2015 - 16:55
    +24

    A bit weird to label these as deals. Who would be considering the costs in these circumstances?

    • easternculture on 14/11/2015 - 16:57
      +5

      Agree, in a time of crisis I don't consider these as deals. More suited as a forum topic.

      • Gehirn on 14/11/2015 - 16:59
        +2

        Maybe there should be some sort of announcement system posted to the top of each page.

      • tessel on 14/11/2015 - 17:26
        +19

        Despite your negs I kind of agree. This is nothing more than a business making the most of an opportunity. If you had family/friends in France would you really care about the cost of a call? I'm sure I'll get negged to hell but this is business tactics and nothing more.

        • easternculture on 14/11/2015 - 17:27

          Despite your negs I kind of agree.

          as i always say, haters gotta hate.

        • arcticmonkey on 14/11/2015 - 18:08

          @easternculture:

          If only they would just Shake It Off.

        • tessel on 14/11/2015 - 18:22
          +1

          @skgenius:
          And welcome to the Internet.

        • meatgasm on 14/11/2015 - 19:09
          +11

          So what if its a business gesture? You can be facetious and claim that they're capitalizing on the publicity generated by this horrible event, but what's the cost?

          Is anybody really hurt by telstra offering free calls and text?

        • GameChanger on 14/11/2015 - 21:27
          +1

          @meatgasm: Just a marketing stunt.

        • hamerix on 14/11/2015 - 21:53
          +10

          @meatgasm: how about telstra offer the same for Lebanon and Iraq, 43 and 18 people died in those countries respectively for terrorist attacks in the last 3 days. to me this is a business strategy nothing more.

        • meatgasm on 14/11/2015 - 21:53
          +1

          @GameChanger: Thats all well and good, but is anybody really hurt by it?

          Apart from maybe the extra technicians they may need to hire to handle any extra load this may temporarily cause ?

        • GameChanger on 14/11/2015 - 21:58
          +8

          @hamerix: Because the Western world doesn't care about those terroist attacks. Anyone who thinks Telstra are doing it out of the goodness of their heart, have stones in their head.

        • GameChanger on 14/11/2015 - 21:59
          +1

          @meatgasm: They won't need a single extra person, their network will handle the 'extra load' easily.

        • meatgasm on 14/11/2015 - 22:01

          @hamerix: Hey, I dont know what telstra "should" or "shouldnt" do as far as free calls in response to terrorist attacks.

          Sure, this may be a cold business/marketing strategy, but has it really harmed anybody?

          @GameChanger: Oh yeah, Telstra's copper network is just great, in real tip-top shape.

          I dont know how much the "extra load" will be, which is why I worded that part so conservatively.

        • meatgasm on 14/11/2015 - 22:02
          +1

          -added to other reply-

        • malouphix on 14/11/2015 - 22:42
          -1

          @easternculture: Don't hate the players, hate the game.

        • easternculture on 14/11/2015 - 22:51
          -2

          @skgenius:

          Sorry I just felt like pressing the neg button

          at least your honest

        • Diji1 on 14/11/2015 - 22:56

          @GameChanger: What extra load? No one can get through to France because of the emergency.

        • GameChanger on 14/11/2015 - 23:01
          +1

          @Diji1: So? Teltra on this end can't do anything about it nor need extra people to hire. Like I said its a marketing stunt, and if you had someone there you wouldn't care about the cost of a phone call.

        • daver on 15/11/2015 - 00:14
          -1

          Between hangouts, Skype and these Telcos .. I think we all know which had bona fide un- charged countries- only not linked to a 'pause on profit' during a event, crisis.
          Oddly, likely the more resilient for that factor too. >Canada; US; it is but a start for #online_google.

          *3c 0c France, 0c Canada, 0c US

        • Xizor on 15/11/2015 - 00:55
          +1

          I think you need to consider the amount of calls and duration of calls that some people may need to make. Of course, almost everyone would do it anyway, but the last thing a person needs in these circumstances is being stung with who knows what kind of debt. Good on them very responsible practice.

        • daver on 15/11/2015 - 02:05

          @Xizor:
          If only online p2p over wireless was not that sole method available to be in contact with the other end. The accrual of debt would not come up when short-circuited to voicemail- non-planned for circumstances - charged or rebated ("after the fact").
          "No one can get through to France because of the emergency."

        • tessel on 15/11/2015 - 06:18

          @hamerix:
          Thank you for this excellent example. It saddens me that people are asking "why" or "what's wrong" with Telstra and others doing this.

        • Xizor on 15/11/2015 - 08:45

          @daver: I am not sure what you're woffling on about :) /sleepy brain

      • save my dollarydoos on 14/11/2015 - 19:01
        +2

        See you are getting negged for your opinion how things work is a bit unfair.

        That being side. It's a nice gesture and think it's appropriate that it gets maximum exposure

    • Garagesale on 14/11/2015 - 16:59
      +12

      might be if you are on the phone for 5 hours to grieving relatives and get a $2000 phone bill.

      • tessel on 14/11/2015 - 18:33
        +4

        $2k? Please. You are looking at around $120 or $240 with Telstra and their rates depending if you called a landline or mobile. Considering most telcos have better rates than Telstra, for many people, especially those who call relatives overseas often, they would be paying much less than this. Stop scare mongering.

        • [Deactivated] on 14/11/2015 - 18:44
          +1

          Hmm.. Yeah, sounds about right.

          Although, not sure how it would be implemented on Telstra Prepaid but 5 hours on that would be around $900.

        • Garagesale on 14/11/2015 - 21:32
          +2

          if you are on global roaming and are overseas then calls to france could cost you a fortune.

      • bargainslut on 21/11/2015 - 03:43

        $2000 for a phone call, please give me a breakdown sunshine cause I think your talking nonsense.

    • nonpop on 14/11/2015 - 17:00
      +10

      May be for people on 'tight budgets' it means they can be more liberal in their communications, especially if putting food on the table is already a challenge or they are a few dollars from making rent

      • nzthunderboy on 15/11/2015 - 16:25
        -2

        Let's put it this way, these free calling offers works both ways. Some benefit from this opportunity being not able to spend anything in a situation like this and some just take advantage. Telcos promote such to show they "care" for their customers.

        And by the way can anyone tell why free calling to LEBANON???.

        • alz on 16/11/2015 - 09:27

          I don't know if you heard but probably not because you are all consumed with the Paris attack but a double suicide bombing took place in a busy market place in the Lebanese capital of Beirut that killed over 40 people. This happened on Friday morning. Attack was carried out by the so called terrorists that call themselves Islamic State who have nothing to do with Islam and muslims.

    • [Deactivated] on 14/11/2015 - 17:12
      +1

      Agree, this isn't a deal. Every time a major tragedy happens, the telcos provide free services to the country it happens. Expect to see a bunch of these deals with free calls to France. At least group them all together into one deal.

      • mfsc300 on 14/11/2015 - 17:19
        +7

        Who cares if it's labelled as a deal or not?

    • juki on 14/11/2015 - 21:00
      +3

      its good to advertise them, i would have never knew about it otherwise, phone providers aren't usually in my internet bookmarks…

      so even if they are technically not a deal, they are convenient for someone with many french friends.

    • jv on 20/11/2015 - 00:19

      A bit weird to label these as deals.

      They're not deals, just free publicity for these companies…
      I think that it's appalling that they're trying to take advantage of these circumstances to make themselves appear that they have a social conscience… All they care about is the bottom line…

      A land line call to France, is counted as a local call on many VOIP services so it costs pretty much nothing…

    • easternculture on 14/11/2015 - 16:59
      +4

      actually the governments will be monitoring for suspicious calls

      • Charity on 15/11/2015 - 12:49

        Bingo. This sounds like the real reason behind the deal. Monitor all calls, then see if suspicious. Guilty until proven guilty.

    • easternculture on 14/11/2015 - 17:22

      just remember ozbargain is all about the number of votes

    • [Deactivated] on 14/11/2015 - 17:26
      +8

      It should be clear from the description it has been posted with good intentions.

  • mfsc300 on 14/11/2015 - 17:24
    +42

    Who cares if it's labelled as a deal or not?

    If it helps even one person contact someone they may be concerned about than that's all that really matters.

    Be grateful that someone has taken the time to post it.

    Forget about who has the most up-votes for once.

    • jv on 20/11/2015 - 00:22
      -1

      If it helps even one person contact someone they may be concerned about

      You're kidding right?

      How much does it cost on a phone card or VOIP ??? 1 cent per minute ???

      You honestly think people have been refraining from calling someone they are concerned about because they don't what to spend 10 cents ???

      This is just a stunt for free publicity by the Telcos…

  • burningrage on 14/11/2015 - 17:27
    +23

    I didnt see this post as a deal. I saw it as a notice. Its useful to know. Some people who dont follow news but Ozbargain might be alerted to the tragedy through this website.

    So I think Ozb should be praised for letting us know about this. Its comfort for Ozbargainers who may have relatives in France.

  • baz3189 on 14/11/2015 - 17:34
    +12

    Who cares if it's not a deal, it should be on the front page for all to see.

  • braddsey on 14/11/2015 - 18:03
    +3

    Abhorrent what has happened in Paris.

    That aside - interesting to compare negativity against Telstra in this listing vs' the positive vibe in comments for the same service being offered by Google hangouts (https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/219797).

    Some people are so anti corporate Australia that they can't see compassion for what it is…

    • [Deactivated] on 14/11/2015 - 18:10
      +1

      I think the negativity here isn't against Telstra, it's an argument that we shouldn't be promoting this as a bargain to be exploited. Which is how some people might (rightly or wrongly) interpret this "deal". i.e. How many ozbargainers have close friends and family in Paris but have put off making a call until seeing this deal?

      Edit - sorry I completely missed the comparison you were making. Ignore me…!

      • Garagesale on 14/11/2015 - 21:35

        you assume all ozbargainers r expoliters.
        bound to be some who would see the deal and say oh thats nice of telstra and reminds me i should call carmen in paris to check shes ok.

  • try2bhelpful on 14/11/2015 - 18:29
    +6

    I applaud any company that responds to a disaster in this way and the people that bring it to people's attention. My thoughts of sympathy are with the victims and their families.

    • jv on 20/11/2015 - 00:24
      +1

      I applaud any company that responds to a disaster in this way

      You applaud companies that try and take advantage of it ??? wow….

      • try2bhelpful on 20/11/2015 - 08:02

        The calls and texts are free; I don't see that as taking advantage. Uber making the cars more expensive when people were trying to get out of town during the siege was taking advantage.

  • Aydin on 14/11/2015 - 18:38
    +17

    Wow !! I must've missed the free Telstra calls to Lebanon (over 40 dead in bomb blast) and Turkey (over 100 dead in bomb blast) recently… or am I naive to think Telstra cares about people in these countries ?

    • meatgasm on 14/11/2015 - 19:13

      I don't really feel that Telstra (as a corporation, dunno how the individuals feel) really "Cares" about the people in France. Sure, they're generating positive publicity for the company, but are the free calls really hurting anybody?

      Saying that people died in other events in other areas doesn't de-legitimize what happened in Paris.

      • ausmechkeyboards on 14/11/2015 - 19:33
        +5

        Saying that people died in other events in other areas doesn't de-legitimize what happened in Paris.

        But making an event of what happened in Paris, while almost completely overlooking what happened elsewhere, de-legitimizes what happened elsewhere. I'm also willing to bet there are more Lebanese Australians and tourists (both Lebanese in Australia and Australians in Lebanon) than French by a large margin.

        That said, Telstra is just exploiting the situation like everyone else, and it has no obligation to do anything for anyone. If their marketing department decides this is worth it, then it's worth it, and has every right to not 'care' about anything else.

        • meatgasm on 14/11/2015 - 22:15

          Telstra is just exploiting the situation like everyone else, and it has no obligation to do anything for anyone.

          I agree, so why bring up Lebanon or Turkey in the first place?

          To highlight the disproportion in the response between the Paris incidents compared to what happened in Lebanon/Iraq/Turkey?

          it has no obligation to do anything for anyone

          Telstra has certain obligations, but I'm not sure if they include "free communication to nations afflicted by terrorist events" or "judging whether an incident is a notable terrorist incident or not" .

  • [Deactivated] on 14/11/2015 - 18:43
    +1

    Might save $3 a minute on Telstra Prepaid.

    For personal pre-paid customers, we’re offering a refund of the costs of your standard voice calls and SMS to France from 5am AEST on 14 November until 5am AEST on 21 November (refunds will be applied by 27 November).
    found at:
    http://exchange.telstra.com.au/2015/11/14/telstra-offers-fre…

    $2.99 per minute found on this link:
    http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/prepaid-mobiles/offe…

  • nonpop on 14/11/2015 - 20:47

    I wonder about the person in France on a Telstra mobile that is roaming … Expensive to receive calls let alone make them … Plus any data roaming ( image turning on data roaming during the crisis and your phone starts to update corporate emails, personal emails, apps, Facebook etc.). I wonder how the telcos treat that type of bill shock.

  • Terra Australis on 14/11/2015 - 20:48
    -3

    Let me just go and sign up to Telstra/Optus so I can make free calls to France for a limited time only…

  • kiriakoz on 14/11/2015 - 21:43
    +4

    Were there free calls to Egypt last month when over 200 died?

    Maybe there were.

  • Tal_Shiar on 15/11/2015 - 00:23
    +1

    too many comments removed for inappropriate, trolling or foul language comments… i'm amazed at the indifference of some of you people…

    • try2bhelpful on 15/11/2015 - 00:33
      +2

      It is astounding isn't it. I'm sure the same people would be bitching that Telstra is ripping grieving people off if they hadn't brought in the free calls. You just can't satisfy some people.

      • jonathonsunshine on 15/11/2015 - 00:57

        Ha-ha, yeah, market dictates that they should probs have Uber style surge pricing ATM.

    • gimli on 15/11/2015 - 09:31

      ? Bin laden is dead mate

      • StewBalls on 15/11/2015 - 17:27

        No, that was Elvis…Seal Team Six got him with a fried PB & B at close range.

  • Tnetennba on 15/11/2015 - 04:27
    -1

    Gee, whiz! So much hostility in this thread. How about we just accept it for what it is. I'd never have known about it if it wasn't posted, so it's good that it was at least posted, who really cares if it's "worthy" of being posted as a deal, votes don't actually mean anything!.

  • akastyl13 on 15/11/2015 - 09:33
    +4

    Why so much hate in this topic ? Live with it seriously, Telstra is doing this because if the unexpected terrorism and it is great.
    This is the only way for a broadband provider to show his support to France and French people in Australia.
    What did you expect ? Telstra to change everyone's voice-mail tune with the French anthem?!
    Why are you being so hateful because they didn't do the same for this country or that country when same happened ?

    This deal will be extremely useful for all backpackers around Australia that have friends and family they want to check on. Yes, most of the backpackers use Telstra due to its network coverage even with the cheapest plan they can get. -No, I'm not promoting Telstra.

    Where were you with your negative comments when Uber did free rides out of the Sydney CBD when the terrorist attack happened ? You didn't say anything about uber not doing it in different countries, right ?

    I know ozb won't change the world, but I think we could take a break of sarcasm and negativity even on the Internet.

    • fairyfloss on 15/11/2015 - 11:03
      +1

      ^———-Props.

  • userid007 on 15/11/2015 - 11:25
    -2

    Thanks TA. I am sure this info on front page will help someone. For those other haters who are questioning telstra's intention, cost- Mate: stop hating everything in this world and start loving. It is a generous gesture from a corporation which may help some one.

  • [Deactivated] on 15/11/2015 - 11:49
    +3

    no deal here. should be a forum topic.

    • veritas_mendax on 15/11/2015 - 16:03
      +1

      Yeah, this is what we should be focusing on.

      • [Deactivated] on 20/11/2015 - 09:02
        +1

        You can focus on whatever you want. This is not a deal. Post it in the forum.

  • OzTenpin on 15/11/2015 - 13:41
    +3

    From Optus..

    Update: Due to events in Beirut, Optus Postpaid mobile and Fixed customers will also be able to make free calls to Lebanon in addition to France.
    All details can be found here: http://yesopt.us/france

  • easternculture on 15/11/2015 - 14:42
    -2

    Amaysim too .. ive posted it in the forums https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/219880

    • pyramid on 15/11/2015 - 14:45

      Good on you mate.

      • easternculture on 15/11/2015 - 15:01

        forgot to mention its for all Amaysim customers both pre and post paid

  • kanter on 15/11/2015 - 15:06
    -1

    Thanks OP, thanks Telstra, will give my parents and grand parents a call instead of waiting for them to get together for a Skype chat

  • [Deactivated] on 15/11/2015 - 21:50
    +2

    Agree with tessel and others, phone companies jumping on the opportunity for cheap publicity.
    Everyone can pay voip or full rates to anywhere in the world, when a friend or family member is in possible hardship.
    Maybe this is too harsh, but it stinks of head not heart.

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