Apologies for the length, but need a bit of a rant....
So I've been tossing up the idea of going with Telstra Cable for a while. I have Foxtel installed and coming through cable so I already have the infrastructure in my home.
Beginning my journey, yesterday I rang Telstra and enquired whether or not I could get the NBN as the website was ambiguous. The sales rep said no, and I said great, I'll go online and signup as you get the $100 welcome credit.
I quite easily signed up online to Cable broadband, as the address checker confirmed I can get Cable.
This morning I get my confirmation e-mail, along with my installation date. Unfortunately out of every day they could've chosen to give me was the one day I couldn't be available.
I called Telstra at about 9am, got through to one department. Spent 10 minutes telling them what I needed, and 5 minutes on hold to a new department. Once I got through to the new department, was put on hold repeatedly while they checked info. Needless to say I was transferred to another department to which I had to explain yet again what I was calling for.
All I wanted to do was change my installation date. An hour later and another department I get told that I can't change my installation date because the NBN has banned new cable installations, and changing the date will somehow trigger an event in the system which isn't allowed. To which I said I can't get the NBN.
I said look, I've already got the infrastructure, my Foxtel comes through cable and I have a wall plate. Can you send me a self install kit? The guy said, that may be possible and confirmed my address. I told him if you're sending me a self install kit can you please send it to me at work? He said sure what's the address - to which I had already put on my application as a mailing address.
I was put on hold and when he came back said if we change the address of service we have to cancel the order. Eye rolls all round. To which it took me another 10 minutes to explain I'm not changing my address, I'm giving you a mailing address to which to send my self install kit.
Another hour later and I get a call back saying Telstra can't see that I have a wall plate installed and in order to go through with the order they need to send a technician out. I told them I'm not paying for a technician to come to my hour and say "Yes you have a wall plate installed." To which they replied again we can't change the date because NBN wont let us install cable.
After all this kuffufle, I was offered ADSL, to which I said I don't want ADSL, I want cable and if you can't provide me with cable to cancel my order altogether. The operator agreed to cancel my order.
Another hour later and I get a text message saying my phone line will be connected on said date and confirming my cable installation appointment.
Ugh what is going on??? This has been the most frustrating thing I have done in 2017 so far. Signing up to new service shouldn't be this hard.