‘Disaster’ NBN rollout strangling small businesses
A number of businesses in a coastal town say they are being strangled after they NBN rollout put them in a communications black hole.
Milton Leslight, who owns Beaches and Bushes Real Estate in Bateman's Bay on the New South Wales south coast, said his advertised 1800 number had been out of action for four months.
He estimated the technical nightmare had cost him up to $150,000 worth of business - in comparison to the $450 in compensation he said he had been offered by Telstra.
Several businesses in Bateman's Bay say they have suffered with the introduction of the NBN. A Current Affair
"I was somewhat breathless when I read that," he said.
Emma Corbett and Joanna Imre have owned local institution Sam's Pizza in the same town for almost a decade.
They said for nine weeks they were forced to operate without a phone line due to a connection glitch caused by the NBN and Telstra.
The NBN rollout has been labelled a disaster. A Current Affair
"We had no number, it was completely off the grid," Ms Corbett said.
"The Sam's number did not exist."
At the local fishing shop, Anthony Stockman said he was also struggling with lines to his businesses being cut.
Real estate business owner Milton Leslight estimated he had lost up to $150,000 of business. A Current Affair
All three businesses were offered little or no compensation for their loss, and Telstra imposed additional charges on two of them.
Sam's Pizza received a $2000 bill for having to divert its usual number to a mobile.
And Mr Leslight's real estate business was charged for 12 phone lines, despite only having the capacity for six.
Anthony Stockman said the lines to his fishing shop were being cut. A Current Affair
RMIT University telecommunications specialist Mark Gregory said the NBN roll-out had been a disaster.
"What we're seeing is a laissez-faire approach by the government and this is not really helping consumers at all," he said.
"It's time for the government to step up and put in place a compensation scheme for consumers and businesses."
The NBN rollout has been labelled a disaster. A Current Affair
In a statement, Telstra apologised to Ms Corbett and Ms Imre, and said it supported the ruling made by the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman in relation to Mr Leslight.
An NBN Co spokesperson said they were pleased the customers’ issues were being resolved or were in the process of being resolved.
“To help businesses prepare for the switch to the NBN we have created a business readiness checklist on the NBN website,” the spokesperson said.
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