Can Optus force their NBN plan?

newbiesh on 27/03/2019 - 12:24
Last edited 27/03/2019 - 15:56 by 1 other user

So I signed up a contract with Optus cable few months ago $60 for 24 months. Been happy with it, I don't use much internet at home and the speed is great.

Today I received a letter saying NBN is ready in my address and if I don't make switch from April my cable won't work.

Today I called, they said there is additional fee $10 extra monthly for NBN plan and I have to pay $70 or will my cable won't work from next month.
I planned my budget for $60 monthly for 2 years and told them that, they said since am loyal customer I get special discount only if I sign up to their phone plan as well.

Can someone help me how to approach this? I don't want faster internet and I don't want to pay additional fee than my contract and I don't want extra SIM plan.

Thanks.

Internet Broadband nbn

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Comments

  • 87percent on 27/03/2019 - 12:30
    +3

    "i don't want faster internet" said no one ever…

    • newbiesh on 27/03/2019 - 12:36

      The cable is fast enough for my needs. Very fast.

      • bargone on 27/03/2019 - 13:48
        +1

        Mmm cable is generally faster

        • Mrbean007 on 28/03/2019 - 08:30

          Not necessarily I was with Optus cable 100/1 averaging around 95 now with Optus NBN hfc 100/40 getting speeds of 95/39.

          • Beanvee on 28/03/2019 - 12:24

            @Mrbean007: On Telstra cable I was getting 120/5 and now get 95/35 on NBN

            • Mrbean007 on 28/03/2019 - 14:29

              @Beanvee: Telstra cable has always been better that,s why you pay more for it only difference I noticed with cable was getting ping at 2 on NBN around 10. :/

              Good thing was only had to pay a extra $5 for the nbn plan making it $95 from $90. :)

      • Zachary on 27/03/2019 - 15:25

        aw man, wish i had cable….

        • Chris Topher on 28/03/2019 - 13:05

          Me too. Fixed wireless NBN is heavily overpriced 2nd rate rubbish.

          ~100 different NBN providers + population of about 329 + 1 grossly oversold transmission point = crap

          I bailed from Optus without penalty due to them "Not being able to provide the service" Now with a smaller company, no contract.

  • MeesusEff on 27/03/2019 - 12:34

    Did they offer to release you from your contract if you choose not to go with their NBN @ $10 extra? Theres nothing you can really do about the cable turning off I would think but I would be more pissed about the fact that they couldnt match your existing contract rate

    • newbiesh on 27/03/2019 - 12:37

      Yea they didn't match the contract rate unless I sign up with a phone plan.
      But on the letter I received it mentioned for the same price of your cable plan etc.
      So not really sure.

      • MeesusEff on 27/03/2019 - 12:50
        +1

        "Yea they didn't match the contract rate unless I sign up with a phone plan.
        But on the letter I received it mentioned for the same price of your cable plan etc."

        Bit confusing, but I would argue for them to let you off the contract, and you find your own provider for NBN which you will have to change to eventually. You should be able to find one under $60 if you go for the 12mb plans

  • djkelly69 on 27/03/2019 - 12:41
    +5

    I don't want faster internet

    Don't stress, you probably won't be getting it!

    • bargone on 27/03/2019 - 13:49

      :")

  • [Deactivated] on 27/03/2019 - 12:45
    +4

    This happened to me the other month. Just cancel your cable service and move to a similar priced NBN service with someone else if Optus won't do a deal for you.

    They are decommissioning the Cable Network so you are going to end up on NBN at some point, it has been planned for a long time and they should have mentioned this when you signed up. As much as I dislike Optus it isn't really their fault, unfortunately you signed up to a service which was end of life.

    • Chris Topher on 28/03/2019 - 13:07

      If they are cancelling your contract you can go to any NBN provider. Tell them that and see if they can do a better non-phone plan.

  • scrimshaw on 27/03/2019 - 12:52

    optus are just using their high pressure sales tactic to get you to stay and renew your contract with NBN services. You don't have to go with Optus, and they are actually not the best performers either when it comes to NBN speeds. Plenty of better alternatives to choose from, like ABB.

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/tag/nbn

  • Cheeper on 27/03/2019 - 12:53

    When NBN becomes availabe in an area they remove other networks as it is expensive to run dual networks and someone would have to pay if they did,
    You say you use little data at home? How much do you need? There are some great deals with mobile BB these days and it is reliable and fast. Worth considering for some..

    • Diji1 on 27/03/2019 - 13:19
      +1

      When NBN becomes availabe in an area they remove other networks as it is expensive to run dual networks

      Cost has nothing to do with it.

      If the Government actually wanted the cheapest internet for everybody NBN Co would be selling direct to consumers.

      Instead by using private sector retailers it duplicates functions across however many ISPs there are, so that every ISP's CEO, board, middle management, workers, legals costs, marketing and so on is paid for by consumers - instead of just one. And remember, every additional ISP splits up the customer base leaving a smaller number of customers to bear these costs compared to one monopoly.

      And then it has all the costs that only the private sector has: lead acquisition, industry groups to lobby Government to allow the ripoffs to continue, TIO complaints.

      The private sector is pathetic at everything except one thing: extracting money to pay for the inefficient mess that they create.

      • Cheeper on 27/03/2019 - 17:09

        "Cost has nothing to do with it."
        So in your opinion it is not more expensive to have and maintain more than one wired phone network?
        Thats nice… LOL

  • JMxoxo on 27/03/2019 - 13:09

    I have had cable for ages and now it is getting disconnected at the start of June due to NBN, very frustrating.

    Will look around at the deals NBN tag posted above too.
    Does anyone have any real world speed tests of any providers and what NBN service it is? IE FTTN FTTC

    • 87percent on 27/03/2019 - 13:39
      +1

      if you're on cable now, you will most likely get NBN HFC.. which after FTTP is the best. But as an FYI, and it won't mean squat, My neighbour is on NBN HFC (was on Telstra and getting 115/5 consistently), and now is getting 85/30 (with Telstra again)

      • JMxoxo on 27/03/2019 - 14:29
        +1

        Id prefer the latter speeds personally with that upload gain!
        Cheers for your reply and yes it is FTTP/FTTC

      • dcep on 27/03/2019 - 17:52

        i remember nbn hfc which was once ready, shit itself on handling congestion hence they pulled it off for a year to come up with fttc but still not everyone gets it as some poor souls gonna stuck with 'upgraded' nbn hfc

      • Beanvee on 28/03/2019 - 12:27

        He should consider getting off Telstra. I was getting similar speeds also on Telstra cable, and when I asked about NBN they said the highest tier they could give me was NBN 80.
        But then when I asked other ISP's they all said NBN 100, and now I'm on AussieBB getting 95/35.

        • fatsephy on 28/03/2019 - 14:58

          There's no such tier as NBN80.. it's NBN100.. they just like to throw around the 80mbps number because they know they can't guarantee 100mbps.

          • Beanvee on 28/03/2019 - 15:02

            @fatsephy: Even worse, trying to pass off inadequacy as official NBN tiers

  • FloatingPoint on 27/03/2019 - 13:12
    +5

    If they cannot match the existing price they HAVE TO let you off the contract without penalty. That's the point of a contract.

    • newbiesh on 28/03/2019 - 14:49

      I called them they said I need to pay cancellation contract fee. Wtf.

      • FloatingPoint on 01/04/2019 - 15:39

        That doesn't make sense. Make a complain to TIO and put it down clearly. make sure you mention things like 'Optus force you on to pay $10 extra and refuse to end the contract without penalty.'
        https://www.tio.com.au/making-a-complaint

        • newbiesh on 01/04/2019 - 16:16

          Yes I called TIO and they agreed this is unfair and have given 10 days to Optus to follow up.

          • FloatingPoint on 01/04/2019 - 16:36

            @newbiesh: That's great news. Most likely Optus will cancel the contract with you and you just go to find your new NBN provider.

  • hm on 27/03/2019 - 13:35
    +3

    If a company is unable to provide the contracted service that makes the contract null and void

    Cancel your contract under this provision and go with another provider

    • newbiesh on 28/03/2019 - 14:49

      I tried they said I have to pay penalty.

      • hm on 28/03/2019 - 14:54

        Usual scare tactics, ring again, speak to someone else, after which point make a complaint to telecommunications ombudsman

        https://www.tio.com.au/

        • newbiesh on 28/03/2019 - 15:00

          Will do that.

          • hm on 28/03/2019 - 15:04

            @newbiesh: Once your current service is no longer available then your provider is no longer able to hold you to a contract for a service they cannot deliver

  • Amaris on 27/03/2019 - 15:26
    +2

    Are Optus trying their dirty tricks again? Don't they have to offer the service for 18months after NBN is ready?

    https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/optus-to-pay-15-millio…

    • newbiesh on 27/03/2019 - 15:42
      +1

      Wow thanks for the link! Glad this has been highlighted in the past. It is insane.

      Not associated

    • Cheeper on 27/03/2019 - 17:12

      How long has NBN been available to the ops address?

      • newbiesh on 27/03/2019 - 19:04

        About a month

    • apsilon on 28/03/2019 - 08:19

      Thanks, I thought I recalled you had 18 months to switch from the time it became available to you. It only became available at my place about a month ago and I haven't even considered switching yet as I'm happy with current speeds. I was planning on looking into it later in the year when I'm on leave.

      • newbiesh on 28/03/2019 - 13:17

        But they keep spamming me and warning if I don't make switch I get disconnected

      • pgdownload on 28/03/2019 - 21:24

        Optus cable has the only exemption. They can shut down there service any time they want. They've decided it is 3 months after NBN arrives in the area.

        All cable customers essentially have there contract cancelled. They are free to sign up with Optus or any other RSP for the NBN.

        • apsilon on 29/03/2019 - 06:06

          Ah interesting, I haven't received anything from them concerning disconnect but I guess I should start looking to move.

  • brian77 on 28/03/2019 - 12:21

    I recently had to transition to Telstra HFC NBN from Telstra cable. They were accommodating and agreed to continue the $80/month pricing until the end of our 24-month contract. Give Optus a call and if they don’t agree to $60/month as stipulated in your contract, you should be able to walk away and find a different provider without penalty. I reckon they’ll cave in and give it to you at that price, but we’ll see. Let us know!

  • pgdownload on 28/03/2019 - 21:27

    What the op doesn't understand here is he now has a choice. What he can't choose is when Optus terminate his service. He has the months. This is quite legal and in the contract everyone signs with Optus.

    But now he is free to sign up any RSP to provide the NBN. It will likely be about $10 more expensive as that's the NBN. So listen to the Optus deal, but it's just one of many to consider.

    • newbiesh on 28/03/2019 - 23:02

      No.
      I think you work for optus?
      Optus not allowing me to cancel contract fee free yet they want me pay extra for services I don't want to and threaten me that my service for which I have contract for will be ended.

    • Amaris on 29/03/2019 - 20:14

      If Optus has an agreement with OP to provide a service then it should at the contracted price. If it wants to deactivate the HFC service, then they can within some guidelines. However, if they can’t provide the service they are in a contract with OP then Optus should release them without penalty. Simple as that.

      • newbiesh on 30/03/2019 - 19:44

        Yes.
        Simple but am having hard time to get them cancel my contract or match the price they keep saying I will be getting better service with nbn so it's more expensive and if want to leave I have to pay cancellation fee

  • katsuya on 30/03/2019 - 12:26

    Optus is the one cancelling the contract as they can no longer offering you the cable service. Optus is trying the hold on the customers by lying to customers.

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