[LINK] Telstra doubles line rental charges for non-Telstra using schools

[brd at iimetro.com.au]

Quoting Kim Holburn <kim at holburn.net>:

> I just heard this on the ABC news.  Can't find it on-line yet.
>
> Schools that don't use Telstra are going to be charged double for  
> their line rentals.
>

Telstra the new school bully
By Bruce McDougall
Daily Telegraph
September 14, 2006 12:00
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,20408936-5001024,00.html

SCHOOLS have gone to war with Telstra, accusing the telecommunications 
giant of
price "gouging" on their phone bills.

Primary principals claimed yesterday that Telstra (tls.ASX:Quote,News) had
decided to punish them for keeping their business with other providers, 
such as
Optus.

Schools in NSW have been advised that the cost of their line rental - 
charged by
Telstra - will almost double to $35 a month unless they bring all phone 
business
back to the carrier.

Those affected include poorer schools in suburbs such as Raby and Minto, where
the increases threaten much-needed funds for educating students.

School phone bills, including multiple landlines and mobiles, run into 
thousands
of dollars annually.

The Daily Telegraph has learned that Telstra is phoning hundreds of NSW 
schools
offering a special deal on calls and rental in a bid to lure them back.

However, schools that decide to stay with an alternative carrier will be
penalised through the higher line rental charge, controlled by Telstra.

Their calls are charged to Optus or their chosen carrier, but the schools
receive a separate bill from Telstra for line rental.It is this charge that
Telstra is increasing - from $19 to $35 - for schools that fail to put their
telephone business with Telstra exclusively.

In recent years at least 150 cash-strapped schools have switched from 
Telstra to
Optus or another carrier to save money on phone charges.

The funds have been ploughed back into projects, equipment, facilities and
books.

Spokesman for the Public Schools Principals Forum Brian Chudleigh said 
yesterday
that Telstra was "ripping off" the schools by increasing line rental.

"This is a massive hike for schools, but many are not yet even aware of 
it," he
said.

"Telstra is threatening us by saying it owns the phone lines and will jack up
the rental if we stay with Optus."

Mr Chudleigh, principal of Robert Townson Public School at Raby, said schools
had estimated they could save up to 35 per cent by "shopping around".

In 2004, under Telstra, his school's monthly bill for one phone line 
was $91. In
August this year, with calls charged to Optus, it was $59.

Sarah Redfern Public at Minto said it has had to return to Telstra to qualify
for the $19 per month discounted line rental.

-- 
Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Sydney Australia
brd at iimetro.com.au


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