Whirlpool

Just got e-mail from exetel admin fees going to $3.00 per customer account each month on all accounts irrespective of whether they are paid by direct debit or by credit card, to $3.00 per customer account each month.

what next

All things like this does is make peoples choice to move to another provider easier.

Do they think they will get more $$$ than they lose? Probably.

Wow! Exetel's having a hell of a month.

Im usually the first to defend exetel....BUT JEEZ! who the hell charges 3 dollars for a credit card fee.

I got the mail just then too! What a rip, I mean really!

C/C fees, I can understand, sure. But D/D fees? 3 bucks? No way.

I'm switching to C/C, bugger 'em. They can cough up the extra bank fees now. They're not getting my 3 bucks just to take money out of my account. So not cool!

What is going on recently !!
Increase in fees, increase in plan $$$$$, decrease of ADSL1
plan choices for new customers, etc, etc.

I have only been with them for a few months but I think this is just a roit, $3 for what!!!!!!!

Things are not looking good for the future & to think I have been recommending Exetel for many friends/relatives but Now I just don't know.

Come on Exetel, enough already !!!!!!!

WHy dont they just raise all there plans by 3 dollars instead of this fee heist

im switching to c/c as well not to put a financial burden on Exetel but i may as well be getting the reward points on my card if there is no advantage of paying by dd

Considering its an automated process, done by computer it is a rort. Its not like they have people employed processing accounts manually.

Azzi writes...

WHy dont they just raise all there plans by 3 dollars instead of this fee heist

Thats effectively what they've done.

Azzi writes...

Im usually the first to defend exetel

There are others first in line before you, they'll be along soon :)

So basically its a $3 price rise across the board? Doesnt everyone pay either by CC or DD?

I still say Exetel over-extended themselves with the off-shore stuff in American dollars and now that things have turned bad they're crapping their pants.

Clark Kent writes...

So basically its a $3 price rise across the board? Doesnt everyone pay either by CC or DD?

Yep, on both counts!

I wonder why Exetel didn't just raise the price on all its plans by $5. At least that way, we won't feel as though we've been dudded. Charging $3 for purely administrative functions is a bit much.

I haven't received the email yet... but i'm sure it's on the way.

$3 for admin fees seems a little excessive, as has been said for an automated service.

Most credit card fees are only about 1-2% (from what i know).

2% of my $40 plan = 0.80cents. That's a really nice markup no matter how you look at it.

khakishorts writes...

Charging $3 for purely administrative functions is a bit much.

You are right. It is not just a card fee anymore. Unless there are other payment options to avoid this fee they should be increasing their plan fees not just adding on a misc amount. It's deceptive really. It means their advertised plan costs seem lower than they actually are. Bit like paying for an airline ticket. A real marketing ploy. Why not advertise the plans as $0 then just add on the fees i.e. profit fee, telstra fee, employment wages fee, quota fee etc..?

Time to start looking at some ISP alternatives............

yeh, just got the email. thats really stupid to increase the fee by this way as ppl will get pissed off with it

+1 to all the above that said it will be sound better to add $3 to all the plan across.

really dodgy practice indeed by showing a lower plan price but charging funny $3 admin costs for paying by D/D.......like as if anyone will keep paying by D/D anymore if there is no discount related to it.

Exetel just did a really stupid move as everyone will now move to C/C payment which will costs more to Exetel.

Hold your breath, Exetel will probably increase C/C fees soon

LLYUEN writes...

Exetel just did a really stupid move as everyone will now move to C/C payment which will costs more to Exetel.

Hold your breath, Exetel will probably increase C/C fees soon

Assuming half the customers use credit card and we ALL move to CC they will still make a bundle more.

VegieMite writes...

Time to start looking at some ISP alternatives............

Exetel are still hard to beat with their very generous offpeak data and time.

shanec writes...

Exetel are still hard to beat with their very generous offpeak data and time.

Yep still best bang for buck at all the price points I can see.

Edit: There will be no account administration charge for a standalone HSPA account.
Source: http://forum.exetel.com.au/viewtopic.php?p=225677#p225677

For those paying by Credit Card, its only a $1.90 increase, a bit easier to swallow.

brick_n_hammer writes...

For those paying by Credit Card, its only a $1.90 increase, a bit easier to swallow.

I know... sigh..

Thinking about churning my services over to TPG :D

i havnt recevied notice but my son has

i guess i have to say i am disappointed.
how much we can add accounts together is going to be of interest so that perhaps only one account fee will apply to both my naked adsl and mobile

i have done payments by DD to save on the fee but i guess i too will revert to CC

i recognise their charges are lower than any others around.
and if they wernt then many of us wouldnt be staying

i guess it will pan out
many things will change with the current ecomonic events

i am a bit sad that no one but telstra gives a discount to the little old people like me.
spin does but it is not in a way that is meaningful to me.
so does telstra and telstra waives CC account feees for pensioners as do all other utility suppliers

but i am not going there

Just incase anyone wanted to read the full email-

From: Exetel Notification

Exetel currently charges an 'administration fee' of $1.10 per monthly customer account to those customers who pay by credit card . currently customers paying by direct debit are not charged an 'account administration fee'.

This email is to give the contractually required 21 days notice(today being 7/11/2008) that from the 1/12/2008 (in 23 days time) Exetel will be increasing this 'account administration fee', on all accounts irrespective of whether they are paid by direct debit or by credit card, to $3.00 per customer account each month.

Should you consider this fee increase constitutes a significant variation in the terms and conditions of the supply of services to you by Exetel then you should make arrangements to transfer your current Exetel services to another provider prior to midnight on 19/12/2008 (in 42 days time). Should your service still be in contract there will be no contract early termination penalty if you elect to terminate your service on or before 19/12/2008.

This notice period, is in accordance with relevant Federal legislation (Telecommunications Act) & Industry Standards.

Exetel operates its business extremely efficiently by automating as much of its back end processes as is possible and by charging the absolute minimum it is able to for its services without incurring a trading loss. We have absolutely no 'fat' in either the staffing of our operation or in the pricing of any of our services and therefore have no 'reserves' to deal with adversely changing circumstances in the Australian economy and in turn how those adverse changes may affect our ability to continue to operate.

If it had been, prudently, possible to not increase this fee then we would not have done so. In our judgment, after a great deal of consideration and analysis, it is necessary for us to ensure we are able to continue to provide services at the levels we currently do in to the near and medium term future.

We also understand that no increase of price in a service is ever welcomed by any user of services. Should you decide it's in your best interests to change your Exetel service(s) to another provider we will be sorry to lose you as a customer and thank you for your custom and wish you every success with your new provider in the future.

Annette Linton, Steve Waddington, John Linton

doesn't bother me in the slightest as the service is still a bargain.

If its going to cost $3 whether its paid by DD or CC why are some of you saying your going to start paying by credit card? Unless im not reading something right here...

But yeah its a bit rich charging that much more. I agree there plans are generous but i find we hardly use the off peak data.

Same here. I just churned from AAPT where I was paying $50 for 15 Gb. I'm now going to be paying $48 for 60 Gb instead of $45. No biggie for me.

But I agree is stupid for them to assign this increase as "administration fee" instead of just hiking all plans by $5. "Administration fee"???

Lasher writes...

But I agree is stupid for them to assign this increase as "administration fee" instead of just hiking all plans by $5. "Administration fee"???

Why not tack on a fuel surcharge levy too,
Visa tax for our data to go overseas...
exchange arrival and departure levy....

;)

Reveler writes...

doesn't bother me in the slightest as the service is still a bargain.

that it is.

certainly, everyone is going to re-analyze whether what they get from exetel is worth it...

And if there's one thing that you don't want, it is your LOYAL, KEEPING ON PAYING AUTOMATICALLY customers to consider other providers.

Normally, with any business, there is a huge inertia in people not bothering to change (your bank, your electricity provider, your type of petrol that you put in your car)... but an external impetus like this just makes it that much easier.

IMHO they will end up losing more business than they gain in fee income.

Labyrinthine writes...

IMHO they will end up losing more business than they gain in fee income.

I doubt it very much, show me a cheaper 8mb plan than (now) $78/mth 24/48gb , if there are better plans I`d like to know about it.

sal12 writes...

If its going to cost $3 whether its paid by DD or CC why are some of you saying your going to start paying by credit card? Unless im not reading something right here...

i pay just about everything on a CC as opposed to DD.
everything
except for exetel

i earn fly buy points that are worth, via a NAB CC some hundreds of dollars a year in terms of credits to my card or gift vouchers (or other products that are available for choice)

so to keep on topic ....i will choose to pay by CC

65,000 customers x $3/month = $195,000/month in exetel's pocket, amirite?

Azzi writes...

Why dont they just raise all there plans by 3 dollars instead of this fee heist

Because if you have multipl services (eg HSPA, mobile, ADSL) ona single account you'll only pay it once. If you do as you suggest, it would a $9 increase, their way it is a $3 increase.

With Exetel's history, I take it on face value that they are getting screwed by the carriers, and are also trying to cement their business in these economic times. They had record dishonours this month, and anyone in business knows that the price of money and ALL banking services have increased lately. So, they are effectively charging a direct debit fee, not increasing plan prices. BTW my footy club membership direct debit costs $3.30 per month, bank or card, so exetel is actually cheaper than that.

I'm sure they wouldn't do it if they felt they didn't need to.

Also remember that much of their costs are in US$ (eg international data and probably their hardware also), so the lower Aussie $ has increased their costs significantly. I sell IT equipment, and I know what the wholesale price has done lately, so I'm sure Exetel are responding in the only way they can. Others will follow shortly, but with their fatter margins they will probably absorb the costs for a while. Exetel's thin margins don't allow any absorption.

I'm happy to pay an extra $3 a month if it keeps Exetel from shutting down. Even with the "Global Financial Crisis" surcharge, no other provider can match the price for the services I get from Exetel.

I just hope that this isn't the beginning of the end of Exetel.

oldtimewoman writes...

so does telstra and telstra waives CC account feees for pensioners as do all other utility suppliers

All?

Telstra may, but their fees are higher anyway so they can afford to. Other utilities don't. Some may, but "all" don't.

I am very happy exetel put a $3.00 fee on all accounts because l have 2 months left on my contract and was going to go to tpg as soon as the contract was up.Now l can get onto tpg 2 months early without paying $100 to exe my internet prover tel.:):):)

Triggery writes...

I'm happy to pay an extra $3 a month if it keeps Exetel from shutting down. Even with the "Global Financial Crisis" surcharge, no other provider can match the price for the services I get from Exetel.

I just hope that this isn't the beginning of the end of Exetel.

I blame the Americans. Both the ones in Wall Street/Washington, AND the three (now 2?) Amigos.

Anyway, as a double whammy, ADSL1 plans (512/128 and 1500/256) have ALSO increased by $5. Whilst they're tempered by a quota increase, for those not using their quota (like my parents) it is still an increase. Unfortunate, but I guess what hasn't gone up in price lately?

Triggery writes...

I'm happy to pay an extra $3 a month if it keeps Exetel from shutting down. Even with the "Global Financial Crisis" surcharge, no other provider can match the price for the services I get from Exetel.

I just got the email too
I get your point and agree. I suppose we could drop our plans to the next level down,for those of us who arent using our full quota to cover it a bit of the $3.00.
Will have to do the sums.
But i have had Exetel for 3 + years at work and i think about 18 mths at home and cant see me changing yet. Always been courteous to me and our company,and more than generous with dl limits.

Cheers
Tducks

I would churn to TPG in an instant if they would just provide ADSL2+ at my exchange :(

In my opinion a monthly service fee should accurately reflect the cost incurred to service each monthly account. I do not believe it costs Exetel $3 per customer, even when taking into account the several thousand or so failed payments that occur each month.

This is especially true when you consider the fact that Exetel billing is fully automated, from the first bill run up to cancelling the service and calling in the debt collectors.

If Exetel need to insulate themselves from the impending global financial turmoil (and I have little doubt that they do) then they should be upfront and increase plan prices by $3, not try and hide this increase around the back hoping new users won't see it.

I'm starting a new ISP business, you get ADSL2 unlimited downloads for only $10* per month.

• +$200 account administration fee.

What is one's advantage to paying by CC anyway?

So theres people leaving for the shaping changes (me), people leaving because their plans have been removed and now people leaving because they are adding ridiculous misc fees because they can't be honest enough to add it on top of the plan?

Exetel have really got to think smart i see a dim not-to-distant future in store...

Edit: Would be nice to see a few ISP's throw a couple of promo's about this month in hope to gather a load of new customers :D

Bloody hell aaNet is even cheaper than exetel and TPG combined, but again cant get them on my exchange GRRRR!!

Why would you care what Exetel charge, your with another provider
mm trolling?

Cheers
Tducks

tducks writes...

Why would you care what Exetel charge, your with another provider
mm trolling?

No I've been with Exetel for about 9 months , im on $40 8GB/48GB ADSL2.

Actually I made a mistake about aaNet they are still more expensive overall. I would still rather be with TPG but for the time being will stick with exetel. Hopefully enough people will leave so that the speed improves for the rest of us as that has been my biggest problem with exetel.

James69 writes...

So theres people leaving for the shaping changes (me), people leaving because their plans have been removed and now people leaving because they are adding ridiculous misc fees because they can't be honest enough to add it on top of the plan?

Once again what do you care you are with another provider sheesh

Cheers
Tducks

Umm so your point is?

im not even sure what he was talking about, i just had a look at TPG's plans (assuming hes looking at adsl2+ and they are alot better than aaNet)

I have not received the email yet.

Is it only for people out of contract?

It is not listed in the Exetel plan pricing pages, as far as I see.

sonicBlue writes...

Actually I made a mistake about aaNet they are still more expensive overall. I would still rather be with TPG but for the time being will stick with exetel.

So whats holding you back? If TPG suit you better, mabye you will have to do the sums properly before espousing the benifits of one isp over another(ie: read all t and c's)

Cheers
Tducks

VeeP writes...

Is it only for people out of contract?

No, it's for everyone.

James69 writes...

What is one's advantage to paying by CC anyway?

1. you get to pay it later (well 1 month)
2. get some credit card reward points...or cash rebate

its better (very minimal, but its still better)than paying with D/D?

tducks writes...

So whats holding you back? If TPG suit you better, mabye you will have to do the sums properly before espousing the benifits of one isp over another(ie: read all t and c's)

erm I said that I couldnt change to either of them because they werent available on my exchange, which makes me very upset!

Crist, that $3 could of gone to a bottle of coke!
Seriously people, $3 are you all that poor?

mrpierre writes...

Seriously people, $3 are you all that poor?

Yes that's why we are with exetel.

Only just churned 7 days ago, in that time, the ADSL plans have changed twice (still good value, but not as good as when I signed up), the fee/shaping option was (re) introduced (a potential fee for the unwary...D`oh) and now an increase (all bit it small) in the monthly fee. All up it would seem the `ship` is tightening the sail with inclement weather approaching.... batten the hatches lads.

I do hope there are no more changes around the corner (at least in the next week), as when ISP`s make changes its nearly always in their favour & not ours, as evidenced in the last week.

Well it would seem to me that, if there was a benefit to going to another isp from any supplier other than Exetel. That you would be able to post a complete list of what those benefits would be? All we have had so far from two posters that after looking at plans from aanet they turned out to be more expensive.
Yes i can go to your website and do the compare but seeing your here?

Cheers
Tducks

tducks writes...

That you would be able to post a complete list of what those benefits would be?

Here it is...

http://bc.whirlpool.net.au/

Have a browse for your own requirements, but don't forget to take into account the 'hidden' (from BC) $3 Exetel account fee.

Jason ? writes...

aaNet users somehow = aaNet the ISP ?

It was shutdown so quick I wasn't sure who said it, i figured it was in your section...

ANYWAY COMPARISON TABLE!!!
/forum-replies.cfm?t=1083337&p=4#r63

tducks writes...

Feel free to whim me

Yep me to, if you can match

12gig peak – 12pm to 12am

48gig off-peak – 12am to 12pm

no telephone bundling for less than $50

You could always adsl2+ the somerton exchange, then I would be very interested (I don't blame you about that, no one else can either there is no space left :o( )

If you can match the above I would be genuinely interested!

;o)

Andy. writes...

Have a browse for your own requirements, but don't forget to take into account the 'hidden' (from BC) $3 Exetel account fee.

If I can get better value then I`ll take it, but on the 8mb plans (inc the $3 extra) Exetel is better value.

CodyE writes...

ANYWAY COMPARISON TABLE!!!

That one is only valid if every customer's off peak usage is like yours. How many people do you really think that suits?

Exetel have already culled all their high usage plans. Perhaps their current financial situation doesn't sit well with their bandwidth suppliers and they need to work within what they already have...

Andy. writes...

That one is only valid if every customer's off peak usage is like yours. How many people do you really think that suits?

EVERY EXETEL USER.
It is valid because the person that has selected exetel and now needs to decide whether aanets SHORTER off peak time which gives smaller allowance the more you use it in peak is worth it.
THEY HAVE THAT OFF PEAK USAGE ELSE THEY WOULDN'T BE WITH EXETEL.
*bangs head against wall at aaNet intelligence*

Here is the table TDUCKS
/forum-replies.cfm?t=1083337&p=4#r63

tducks writes...

umm still waiting for that comparison table

It has been offered. Perhaps you missed it. WP has a nice function called Broadband Choice, that will give you a list of ISPs that meet your criteria.

Remember to add Exetel's $3 'service fee' in your calculations.

CodyE writes...

EVERY EXETEL USER.

Nice assumption, but hardly backed up by evidence. If EVERY exetel user uses their full 40+GB of off peak quota exetel would have been broke a long time ago.

THEY HAVE THAT OFF PEAK USAGE ELSE THEY WOULDN'T BE WITH EXETEL.

They may have it, but do they NEED it?

Are they paying for something that (whilst it may be nice) they'll never use?

Andy. writes...

It has been offered. Perhaps you missed it. WP has a nice function called Broadband Choice, that will give you a list of ISPs that meet your criteria

Umm yeah i clicked that link,thinking that it would take us all to a direct comparison between aanet and Exetel,but apparently not.
I do check that link now and then and am still to find anyone that can match Exetel
Hence my request to show us all the differece?

Cheers
Tducks

Andy. writes...

Remember to add Exetel's $3 'service fee' in your calculations.

you stated this before, I replied, now you state it again..why? In case you missed it (a few posts up) Exetels 8mb plans are better value. Full Stop. Off Peak is better. Full Stop. I have searched all (I think all) 8mb plans about 2/3 weeks ago and Extel was the best value by far.

If someone can show me better value...(seriously) please do.

brick_n_hammer writes...

If someone can show me better value...(seriously) please do.

Yep we are waiting?
the offer of a free churn from aanet,albeit a nice touch means nothing if you are paying more in the end.
And as i said earlier for the aanet peeps worried about the $3.00 mabye us Exetel customers can drop to a lower plan, which as far as i can see still has more quota than many plans.

Cheers
Tducks

brick_n_hammer writes...

If someone can show me better value...(seriously) please do.

Seems a simple request, I seriously would be interested as well ;o)

Nice assumption, but hardly backed up by evidence. If EVERY exetel user uses their full 40+GB of off peak quota exetel would have been broke a long time ago.
Yet aaNet offer offer a similar set up for a higher price. The difference is your penalized for using your quota is peak times and rarely reach the maximum allowance.
They may have it, but do they NEED it?
Probably not, but given it cheaper then everywhere else it's nice to now it's there...
Are they paying for something that (whilst it may be nice) they'll never use?
Probably but then again, it's the same speed at the same price as elsewhere.

Ex Mechanic writes...

Seems a simple request, I seriously would be interested as well ;o)
I think aaNet is going to vanish from this thread now that there lameness is exposed..
I too would like to see this value.

CodyE writes...

but given it cheaper then everywhere else it's nice to now it's there...

But for how long? What happened the last time an ISP raised their prices by $3 across the board?

Perhaps the reason why exetel are so 'cheap' is that they have a poor business model that is causing their suppliers some uneasiness at the moment.

After all (and according to their "non-commercial" model) if they could pay their bills they wouldn't need to raise prices.

tducks writes...

still waiting for that comparison table

Not my area of expertise. Everyone has differing needs and it needs an individual to check them him/her/it self.

Cheers,
Have a lovely day,
aaC

This is looking a lot like the way the budget airlines in Europe operate. Advertising low fares, but when you start adding up the fees & charges, not as good as you first thought.

You can see why they do it, to the everyday person looking for an internet plan:
$35* per month

• plus admin fees

looks more attractive than $38 per month.

Will Broadband Choice on this site have the prices updated? As there is no way to avoid the $3 charge regardless of payment type.

tducks writes...

And you have acsess to Exetels Bal p/l do you

I don't, but I presume that Exetel's CEO does when he made the statement that started this whole thread. He stated that "Exetel operates on a non-commercial basis in that it makes no attempt to make any significant level of profit other than sufficient not to worry our suppliers."

Obviously the suppliers are getting worried if he feels the need to bump everyone's prices by $3 to keep his creditors at bay.

Kryptic writes...

This is looking a lot like the way the budget airlines in Europe operate. Advertising low fares, but when you start adding up the fees & charges, not as good as you first thought.

It has always been this way, my advice is to read all terms and conditions, yes i know its boring but you have to

Cheers
Tducks

NEVER will i recommend Exetel to anyone ever again!!!

They have done it with me, this is just ridiculous, $3.00 for a credit card transaction.

Too many plan changes, last night i was angry, now i am furious.

NEVER will you ever get another customer from me, in fact, i'll be recommending that people do not use your service.

Absolute muppets, i don't know what is going through the heads of those in charge at this company............

JW

In fact, i am so pissed off i am going to enquire about churning to aanet on Monday.

I remember aanet once had a $3 "temporary" price rise as well, was that for admin costs or something else, did we ever find out?

;o)

peterh_oz writes...

All?

Telstra may, but their fees are higher anyway so they can afford to. Other utilities don't. Some may, but "all" don't.

by utilities i dont mean ISP.
i mean...........
gas, water, electricity, telstra phone service.

none of these utilities charge a CC usage fee to any sort of pensioner...age, disabiltiy or SP

not ever at any stage have i ever disputed the very good prices offered by exetel.
nor have i personally expressed other than satisfaction with their service

in this instance i am expressing disappointment.

i have no idea what other ISP do, apart from Spin, as i have been with exetel for the past 4 odd years.
in doing the odd bit of research here and there before i change plans and renew contracts,a i have not checked if ISP generally give that bit of leeway..........but i doubt it

Andy. writes...

Obviously the suppliers are getting worried if he feels the need to bump everyone's prices by $3 to keep his creditors at bay.

Does this sound like a company that is in danger of liquidation?

Exetel made the BRW's list of the 100 fastest growing (private or public) companies in the financial year ending June 30th 2008. To appear in the list a business needed to have achieved an average annual turnover growth in the three years to June 30th 2008 of 44.43% with a staff of less than 200 people.

http://www.exetel.com.au/news_main.php

Andy. writes...

Obviously the suppliers are getting worried if he feels the need to bump everyone's prices by $3 to keep his creditors at bay.

No problem, please supply us all with the the data on Exetels p/l while your at it please provide the evidence that Exetels suppliers are your quote(Are getting worried)
We would all like to be informed of this inside knowledge you have.

Cheers
tducks

Andy. writes...

I can only assume that JL's price increase is due to Exetel providing similar uncertainty to it's creditors.

You don't honestly believe that, do you? Admit it, you're just pissed off that he keeps referring to aaNet/Eftel as "pennie dreadful" and putting shit on the management of aaNet/Eftel every chance he gets.

As for aaNet spamming this thread with offers of free churns, that says a lot about how desperate they must be for new customers.

xnor writes...

Does this sound like a company that is in danger of liquidation?

I don't know. Do you? What does turnover without profit equal?

oldtimewoman writes...

in this instance i am expressing disappointment.

I agree, bottom line is if its too much to pay find another provider, no one is making you a customer of a given ISp,GAS, Electricty

Cheers
Tducks

tducks writes...

No problem, please supply us all with the the data on Exetels p/l while your at it please provide the evidence that Exetels suppliers are your quote(Are getting worried) We would all like to be informed of this inside knowledge you have.

The bloke is allowed to speculate! What makes you so sure his point of view is wrong?

Lukian the Wizard writes...

I found the title amusing

So did I. However, the title and the content was very much like something you would have once seen in this (Exetel) section.

Cheers.

What a friggin joke!!!

It does not cost much for any company to provide the option to pay via Direct Debit and yet they are going to apply the charge to anybody and everybody.

I could understand if my internet service was perhaps going up but this is just making up more money from processing accounts and is ludicrous when everything is done electronically and somewhat automated.

JW just make sure you read all t/c download limits and such

Cheers
Tducks

xnor writes...

You don't honestly believe that, do you?

I can only go on the information supplied by the CEO of Exetel.

In brief:

An ISP that has to increase prices by $3/mth across the board is in dire financial trouble. (JL referring to aaNet circa 2005)

Exetel run as a minimum profits company – enough to keep their suppliers happy.

Exetel increased prices across the board by $3/mth.

ergo. Exetel's suppliers aren't happy with the current situation.

Its not Rocket Surgery.

Sure glad i applied for my churn on tuesday.

@ ForumAdmin writes... http://forum.exetel.com.au/viewtopic.php?p=225555#p225555
This increase has/will have nothing to do with the costs of processing credit cards or direct debits – it is based on the significantly increased risks of running the business plus the additional costs of collecting money plus the additional losses from payment defaults and the charges made to Exetel for contracts that are canceled early.

At the extra costs, the ForumAdmin said him/herself that the the fee's have nothing to do with the bill processing costs, its to decrease the risk of liquidation. Appreciate the honesty there but why couldn't they have come outright to say this and add the cost to the plans. I hate dishonesty, and i would refuse to be in a contract with a company who simply can't tell me the truth about why i am paying for something. Problem is the majority of Exetel's users are going to still be wondering what the hell this is for as most of them won't be here on these forums reading this. My 2 cents.

It is simple enough to understand that they incur costs processing credit card transactions and that needs to be passed on.
But... I am one of those who has been paying by direct debit which, to my knowledge (could be wrong), does not incur any additional fees and none have been charged to my account by Exetel. I had considered changing to credit card payments last month but decided against it. That choice is now being reconsidered. All of this comes on top of a plan and speed upgrade...

This is very disappointing.

EDIT: There was also the tone of the notification which made me step back and say WTF. I have seen these sorts of notifications from Exetel but this one was not in their usual tone. It was quite adversarial, with a big dose of "we can do as we please, suck it up or bugger off".

Cheers

Andy. writes...

An ISP that has to increase prices by $3/mth across the board is in dire financial trouble. (JL referring to aaNet circa 2005)

Lol, amazing how things come back to haunt people.

Exetel run as a minimum profits company – enough to keep their suppliers happy.

Exetel have always done that, what has changed?

Perhaps JL should have pulled his head out of his arse when he thought of adding some operations over in India or wherever it was now.

xnor writes...

Exetel have always done that, what has changed?

Financial Crisis..

James69 writes...

Appreciate the honesty there but why couldn't they have come outright to say this and add the cost to the plans.

If they did that they would appear less attractive on search sites like WP, and potentially not gain new customers. This way new customers won't know about the extra $3 fee unless they read their T&Cs, which most of us know rarely happens.

sdlk writes...

But... I am one of those who has been paying by direct debit which, to my knowledge (could be wrong), does not incur any additional fees

Agreed me too,but until you do the sums we dont know.
As far as not knowing wether you have been charged for being on direct debit, well really you should have read the terms and conditions( for your info direct debit didnt incurr a charge)

Cheers
Tducks

xnor writes...

Exetel have always done that, what has changed?

the dollar?

xnor writes...

Exetel have always done that, what has changed?

Isn't it obvious? Suppliers are no longer happy.

If Exetel really wanted to reduce costs and avoid creditors they could bring their plans (particularly off-peak allowance) back to what most people consider reasonable.

Of course this complete removes any competitive advantage they have so the next best thing is to surcharge all existing customers.

James69 writes...

At the extra costs, the ForumAdmin said him/herself that the the fee's have nothing to do with the bill processing costs

But the costs you mention do relate to billing the customer AND they are trying to allow for one $3 per customer so even if you have 5 services it is still just $3.
Hence a general plan increase would cost more and the $3 is just to cover the costs you mentioned.

To the people who are direct debiting... they SUBTLY want you to use a credit card... So they get there money... regardless if your broke. I bet that all/most of the bad payments were direct debits this month (as opposed to out of date credit cards)

Andy. writes...

If they did that they would appear less attractive on search sites like WP, and potentially not gain new customers. This way new customers won't know about the extra $3 fee unless they read their T&Cs, which most of us know rarely happens.

thats some grade A bullshit right there. I hope the whirlpool admins append the new charges on exetels whirlpool listing.

tducks writes...

Agreed me too,but until you do the sums we dont know.
As far as not knowing wether you have been charged for being on direct debit, well really you should have read the terms and conditions( for your info direct debit didnt incurr a charge)

I was referring to Exetel being charged by the bank for the transaction. I know that I have not been charged.

xnor writes...

As for aaNet spamming this thread with offers of free churns, that says a lot about how desperate they must be for new customers.

De Ja Vu... didnt Exetel do this to aaNet only a few years ago when aaNet raised their prices across the board. I'm 100% sure Exetel did do this to aaNet.

They are merely returning the favours.

Thanks for the early xmas present Exetel.

Is there a repeat of Osborne computers ?

Cheerio,
Dense

Dense \/\/arrior writes...

Is there a repeat of Osborne computers ?

BRW 100 Fastest Company, Deloitte Top 50...nah dont think so

CodyE writes...

To the people who are direct debiting... they SUBTLY want you to use a credit card... So they get there (sic) money... regardless if your (sic) broke.

It would be interesting to see how many customers are using a debit card. :)

CodyE writes...

To the people who are direct debiting... they SUBTLY want you to use a credit card... So they get there money... regardless if your broke. I bet that all/most of the bad payments were direct debits this month (as opposed to out of date credit cards)

Cody, not all of us live hand to mouth out of our accounts.

Well while everyone else is throwing aaNet plans across the table, anyone on exetel's adsl who was unable to get adsl2+ due to being on telstra exchanges, have a look at this deal ive signed up to:

Pacnet Express ADSL2+ 20Mbit/1Mbit 20GB onpeak 75GB offpeak, shaping to 128kbps with no excess charges, $99.95 a month + $29.95 phone line rental in a bundle. Uploads are free however, if you download+upload more than 30GB in a month and more than 50% of it is upload Pacnets wholesalers (Telstra) have a requirement that you MIGHT have your service terminated. This is simply Telstra's get out of jail free card incase they ever need to chop you off for some reason, (extreme cases and highly unlikely as described by a Pacnet sales + accounts rep)

Edit: oh and offpeak is 8pm to 8am and all weekend. Free churn on 6 month contract

tducks writes...

I agree, bottom line is if its too much to pay find another provider, no one is making you a customer of a given ISp,GAS, Electricty

Cheers
Tducks

eeeeerrrrrrrrrrrr

did i say i was moving from any of my suppliers.... of anything.??

i think it is ok still to express disappointment in this case

i happen to manage my money on all utilities and communication systems rather well and get as optomised a service as is possible for this homes particular circumstances.
that requires some decent maths and sewer rat cunning some days :-)

when the need to change presents itself and the numbers dont compute for me any longer.........then i move.
applies to my bank, my supermarket and anyone else i do business with

i am staying with exetel.
i see no point/benefit to me personally of changing, even tho the huge off peak download has hardly been touched in 4 years

James69 writes...

have a look at this deal ive signed up to:

As you have found, there are a number of suppliers and plans available that compete with Exetel, once you take their untenable plans into account.

Andy. writes...

Isn't it obvious? Suppliers are no longer happy.

You keep saying this, can you please supply the evidence of this
Ok ill spell it out