Revamp of mobile plans

TELSTRA has swung the axe through its mobile phone plans in mass changes that will save customers money.

The telco giant yesterday revealed it would be farewelling additional data fees for users who exceed their monthly limits.

It is the beginning of more changes to come under the telco giant’s “T22 strategy” to deliver simpler and more flexible products by 2022.

Under the changes, the telco’s “Peace of Mind Data” can be included in some new plans that start at $59 a month. In other plans, it can be added at a cost of $10 a month.

Customers can also opt to pay $10 per 1GB for extra data.

Telstra’s group executive of consumer and small business, Vicki Brady, said the “Peace of Mind Data” plan “will allow customers to use data without worry”.

After the included monthly data allowance is exceeded customers’ data speeds will be capped at 1.5Mbps.

M Brady said this will still allow them to successfully stream video content.

Other changes include: A $199 Ultimate plan allowing users to chew as much data as they like at the fastest speeds. REVAMP of stores nation- wide to reduce customer waiting times.

Telstra recently came under fire for promoting “unlimited” data plans because speeds slowed once a certain amount of data was chewed by the customers.

Telstra also revealed it would slashing the number of core plans from 1800 to just 20.

And customers will be rewarded if they sign up to multiple deals with the telco.

Under the new advancements of technology to be rolled out in stores nationally Telstra predicts customer queries will fall by around a third within two years.

This week the Australian Consumer Action Network revealed the nation’s two biggest telcos — Telstra and Optus — were less popular than their rivals, many of whom offer cheaper deals.

Ms Brady said they are working hard to improve their handling of customer queries and complaints.

“We have a huge focus on customer experience, whether it’s coming instore or whether it’s calling up or our digital environment for customers to engage with us,’’ she said.

“We pay a lot of attention to complaints to our customers and we have been working incredibly hard to address those concerns.”