The Telstra Saga Concludes(ish)

Well… well well well…

We complained to Telstra about Don's mobile.  eventually (after going back and forth to the Telstra shop 50km away) Telstra cancelled Don's contract, and re-signed him with another phone.  it arrived, we sent the phone back, and they actually got the charges right on it…

We noticed a couple of erroneous charges on the bills, including ISDN charges for two months since we were switched over to ADSL (which is actually incompatible with ISDN). 

Anyway, we put in a complaint to the TIO, seeking compensation for the 50 odd hours we've been on the phone to telstra, and the 400km we've driven because of their stuff-ups, and after they said "we can't do anything for you because there's no loss of business." We called Telstra again, and after calling them 3 or 4 times, and another 60 min of being on hold, they eventually gave us some credit.  Actually, a lot of credit. Unless you consider it in a per-hour way, where I'd earn more at McDonalds. 

So we're changing ISPs, and we're waiting to make sure that the credits are applied correctly before we bugger off to Soul for our landline.  Since Telstra have the best mobile coverage here in Tas, (by a huge way, Optus coverage is about 20km away, and is patchy even in Launceston itself)  we're staying with them for our mobiles…. but that's it.

So yes, that's what's going on.

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yay working!

I got offered a somwhat more permanent position at the SoC helpdesk!  Instead of wrapping up that role at Easter, I've been asked to continue in an ongoing manner!

Next semester, assuming they still want me around then, I'm going to do no tutoring, because even though it's easy stuff, I'm not particularly enjoying it, and it's supposed to take me 3 hours/week total for each 1 hour/week of delvery (ie paid) time.  So yes. next semester, no tutoring, more helpdesk.

Wheeee! A job I'm enjoying, and where they seem to actually want me!

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honours research…

So, I have my topic, and it's v. cool, and I'm happy.

Except:  I then started trying to actually find papers relevant.  it seems that every link that I click on that's promising, the Uni does not have full-text access to already.  I'm trying to figure out how I can get these things, perhaps I might be able to call on my faithful voxerhood to check their uni library databases for me!

If you wouldn't mind, please let me know!

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tutorial fun!

Well, I have some work tutoring for Computer Networks, (4 hours a week, 2x 2hr classes) and while in the first class I felt like an idiot when I said at the end of the lesson "I'm Dylan, by the way, I forgot to say that at the start" I otherwise felt like I did a recent job(edit: And a decent job, too)!  I just need to familiarise myself a little better with the tute material next time!

yay!

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From Hell’s heart, I stab at thee! (aka bye-bye Telstra)

A Wise Woman once said to me that there are times when the english language really lets you down.  I understand what she means.  (Thankyou C's mum.)

There comes a point where no word can describe the amount of frustration, anger, and annoyance that you feel.  I call that point: Telstra.

People say they hate things all the time, when they really mean they just dislike them.  hate is the opposite of love, it's equal in its enthusiasm, just opposite in its direction.

I used to hate Telstra, or say that I did, at least, I really just wanted them to get it right. Now, I don't, now I'm passionate about exposing their incredible fuckups to the world.  I wish that I had never had the misfortune of dealing with them in the first place. Long story short, Don's mobile is malfunctioning.  I took it in to the local Telstra Shop on Monday, and they said "you have to call the manufacturer, and they'll send a satchel for you to use."  Here in Tasmania at least, Harvey Norman was forced to accept (and continue to accept) iPods for warranty repair, since Return to manufacturer is not considered a valid warranty system. I called Don and let him know, and he called the manufacturer who told us to return it to the place of purchase, and then he called telstra, whose call centre left a note on the account to say that the Telstra shop should accept the phone back since it's a warranty claim.

I returned to the telstra shop today.  They refused to take the mobile phone as a warranty claim.  I handed Don over to the manager to see if he could sort it out (Don's a bit more forceful than I).  No.  So he called Telstra, who said that yes, the Telstra Shop in Brisbane St, Launceston, is legally required to accept the phone for warranty purposes.  Telstra have sent the Telstra Store in question an email saying that they need to call us to arrange the warranty stuff before 4 tomorrow.  Now… call me cynical, but I'm not expecting a phone call.  The call centre guy has even said that given the circumstances, he would not be surprised if Telstra allowed Don to cancel the contract free of charge.

If the Telstra Shop don't do soemthing proper about it, We're taking them to Fair Trading, the ACCC, The Telecommunications Ombudsman, and putting in a recommendation to Telstra that they be stripped of the franchise name since they're ignoring any statements that Telstra staff are making on our accounts.(and considering getting in touch with Today Tonight/A Current Affair)

If nothing else, avoid the Brisbane St, Launceston branch of the Telstra Shop like the plague.

We're shifting our Broadband, and our landline, and possibly Don's mobile across to another provider or two.

Fuck You, Telstra.

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A Tale of Woe!

I gave a large set of my contact details to an International Student so we could "study together" (at her request).  Not only has she never studied Computer Security before, (the unit is Advanced Computer Security), but she doesn't even understand the assessment requirements!    What the HELL have I done?

The End.

oh… and she's just MSN'd me with "It makes me sense"

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