Phone firms feud over offer

By PAUL BRISLEN

TelstraClear has rejected Telecom's explanation of the way it is marketing new rates.

It says Telecom has abused its position by contacting TelstraClear customers to offer them the rates.

Telecom says it sent letters outlining new line rental and national call prices only to customers who had made a toll call with it in the past four months.


But TelstraClear alleges several of its staff have been sent the letters despite not having made a toll call with Telecom for years.

TelstraClear spokesman Steve Jackson said the company had two concerns - that Telecom had been looking at confidential customer data and that it would automatically move customers to the new plan if they did not specifically ask not to be moved.

The letters refer to Telecom assessing customer-calling patterns over a four-month period, and suggests they would make a saving under the new plan.

It also says Telecom will move the customers automatically to the new plans on September 27, "unless you tell us otherwise".

Mr Jackson said this was known as "slamming" and he had complained to the Commerce Commission about it.

But Telecom spokesman John Goulter is sure the letters went only to customers who had used Telecom for tolls in that four-month period.

"It could be they've moved from one provider to another in that period, or perhaps they've made a call without dialling a prefix but we're certain they've made a call through Telecom."

Mr Goulter said Telecom looked only at its own calling records, not those of competitors, and would not move anyone automatically away from another provider to Telecom.

TelstraClear and Auckland company WorldxChange say they have received calls from customers concerned they would be automatically moved to Telecom.

The Commerce Commission said it had received a complaint about the Telecom offer and was assessing what to do about it.