Will Telstra Come to The Party?

[Carry Pine]

Today 12/2/10, (not bragging) I was involved in a rescue in a pool. It involved split second decision making and I ended up in the pool fully clothed and saved a kid. After it all I realised one hearing aid was still attached and working but the other was on the bottom of the pool. I got that one working a little later.

But the Next G phone (a cheap one- no blackberries here)) was in the pocket! And it's stuffed. Tried drying it out but isn't working. I'm going to ask Telstra for a replacement but I'm not going to beg forever. I'm going to give it a week from today.

I am 14 months into a 24 month contract and I am prepared to do the publicity thing like a letter in the press thanking Telstra but:

Will they come to the party and give me a replacement phone?

Yes or No ?

Graham

[Enfield Guy]

Just go and buy another one. Save yourself the heartache. They wont help you.

[China]

They won't replace it, if you have contents insurance it may be covered

[woodcutta]

I was going to write a long response - unfortunately I dont have time
The pigs are just coming in to land.

woodcutta

[Bob38S]

I applaud your split second decision making - well done - you have given that kid and family a gift that is beyond value.

I wish you "lots a luck" with Telstra - if they were smart they could do themselves a powerful, customer friendly positive image but that would require someone who would sacrifice a few $$ for positive advertising they could not buy - sorry - it's not going to happen.

In the corporate world of high and higher executive salaries you have to pay, pay, pay and then just to be different you pay some more.

I would really love to be wrong - but I don't think so.

[Cliff Rogers]

Good one ya.

I'm glad the hearing aids survived.

Don't hold ya breath with bloodyTelstra.... they chased a dead man's wife for a $500 account that he ran up by mistake using mobile internet on the wrong plan while he was in hospital dying of cancer...

The Cancer Foundation took the bill & paid it for her.

[John Saxton]

Well done CP I hope that you do get the phone issue settled but please excuse my cynicism particularly where Telstra is concerned.

Go back some years in a different era whereby it might have been replaced, but then there were humans involved with some degree of humanity.

I do hope something Karmic and good will come out of your good deed.

Cheers

[jmk89]

[I_wanna_Shed]

Good on ya Graham! What a great action you performed there!

Although, on the Telstra front I wouldn't bet anythign on it - but then again they may come back and surprise you.

[Big Shed]

Whilst I am not a Telstra "lover", in fact I would probably go without a phone if Telstra was the last telco on earth, I really don't see why they are copping a "caning" here.

First of all they haven't even had a chance to respond to CP's request, but more importantly, why should Telstra replace a phone damaged in this fashion?

If anyone should be replacing this damaged phone, and without being asked, it is the parents of the child you so heroically saved.

I can honestly say if that had been my child or grandchild, I would rush out out and buy you the bestest phone I could get my hands on.

[jchappo]

[Mr Brush]

If it was only water (as opposed to coffee, soft drink, etc.) phones can often be dried out without leaving any residue inside to cause problems.

The battery, however, will almost certainly be stuffed. Depends on the battery technology of course - some of the newer types have built-in short circuit protection.

If you can find someone with the same phone, it would at least be worth borrowing their battery to try on your phone before giving up on it.

A big from me too on your actions at the pool. When compared to a life (and a young one at that), all these other issues pale into insignificance.

[Dills58]

Well done CP, one would like to think your actions would drag some sort of human decency out of Telstra but unfortunately we as customers are only numbers. (small fish in a big pond). As Enfield Guy suggests, get yourself a cheapy till your plan is up then decide if Telstra still deserves your business.
Dills.

[nihilism]

If it was only water (as opposed to coffee, soft drink, etc.) phones can often be dried out without leaving any residue inside to cause problems.

The battery, however, will almost certainly be stuffed. Depends on the battery technology of course - some of the newer types have built-in short circuit protection.

If you can find someone with the same phone, it would at least be worth borrowing their battery to try on your phone before giving up on it.

A big from me too on your actions at the pool. When compared to a life (and a young one at that), all these other issues pale into insignificance.

They can, however there are two other factors that come in to play, the first being the amount of clorine and other salts in the water which will leave a conductive and coorrosive residue behind. The second being the fact that it was probably on at the time it was drowned which may have caused some circiuts to have been damaged due to short circiuts.

The best way to "dry" such a device is to soak it in methelated sprits and then alow it to dry natually before attempting to turn it on.

[Charleville]

more importantly, why should Telstra replace a phone damaged in this fashion?

I agree. What has the matter got to do with them?

When we prang a car to avoid hitting a child, do we go to the State Transport authority and ask for a new one?

You might as well go to Nokia or Motorola or whoever was the manufacturer of your phone and ask them for a new one. Why Telstra? Telstra is just the carrier, no different to a builder of roads in relation to cars.

You might as well go to Optus and tell them your story and see if they will give you a new phone just to win your business but I see no reason for an "entitlement" philosophy in relation to Telstra.



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