Traders in the dark on telco

Geraldton customers have been left in the dark and are thousands of dollars out of pocket after their phone and internet provider, Conec2, changed ownership.

Customers were left without service two weeks ago and complained they could not get any information from telco about the disconnection.

Geraldton Ritebuy Secondhand and Champion Bay Trophies owner Greg Jefferies said he was shocked to discover on the telecommunications ombudsman’s website that the company had gone into administration.

“Every time I tried to ring them it went to their message bank — I think it was gutless that they weren’t answering their phones and talking to their customers,” he said.

“I didn’t like that, and the fact that even the administrators couldn’t give us answers either, it’s so disappointing.

“I’m disgusted in their ethics and lack of concern for customers.”

Consumer Protection senior regional officer Danni Bloomfield said the company had changed hands on May 9.

Adams Store Rangeway owner Jenny Grosse said her business felt a huge pinch.

“It’s bad enough that our phone line is out, but our eftpos machine, which was running through the same company, has also been out. Our customers see the ‘cash only’ sign and leave,” she said.

“More than 50 per cent of our business is done by phone orders.”

She said despite being insured, the financial loss her business had incurred over the past fortnight was not claimable.

Geraldton Towbars and Bullbars owner David Freeman, said he had been trying to change phone providers for the past week.

“When the phone lines went down, I tried calling the company and got pawned from person to person without any answers,” he said.

“I have been told I have to wait up to six months for the NBN cable to be laid because it’s in my area.

“I know someone who was in the same area as me and was able to change providers last week.

“What’s the point of having a network when it’s across the street but you can’t have it?”

But a Telstra spokesperson said the waiting queue for customers wanting to make the change would not be that long.

“We are assisting all customers. All orders received locally are in our systems and we are working to provide a service as quickly as we can,” he said.

Wicked Prints owner Cyril Elward said he was most disappointed he had not been contacted about the loss of connection.

“I’m just disappointed they didn’t contact and inform me there would be a loss of phone lines — with some notice I would have been able to organise something better,” he said.

Kip McGrath Education Centre owner Warwick Glenister said the recorded message now left on his phone due to disconnection had clients believing his business had gone under.

“Being a business owner it has just been outrageous,” he said.

“People can’t pay me, I can’t communicate with people, and I haven’t had any new customers where I would usually receive four or five per week.

“The worst part about this whole mess is the message that is left on my business’ phone: “this telephone has been disconnected”, which sounds like this business has been shut down.

“Now I need to advertise that I’m still in business, but I don’t have a phone and don’t know when I will — I’m in limbo.”

The Guardian made numerous attempts to contact Conec2 and its administrator Jirsch Sutherland, but was unsuccessful.