Loyal telco customer shocked by 'insane' dated rates

2CLight chief executive Simon Dyer. Photo / Amanda Cropp

Internet provider TelstraClear kept a long-term customer on a plan with rates nearly 10 times higher than those offered to new customers.

For several years, the 2CLight company of Christchurch has been on a TelstraClear internet plan that charges about $20 for every gigabyte used over the monthly usage limit.

The telco's newer customers pay about $2 for every extra gigabyte used.

2CLight chief executive Simon Dyer has written to TelstraClear boss Allan Freeth, demanding a refund of $2470 - the amount he calculated as the difference between the rates in the past year.

"I am horrified that I have been allowed to continue paying an insane price for internet use above our plan's cap for such a long time," he wrote.

Mr Dyer phoned TelstraClear and was told his bill for April would be halved if he signed up for a new 24-month contract.

He refused after calculating the $1600 bill would have been reduced to about $100 if he had been with Slingshot.

TelstraClear South Island regional manager Andrew Fennell said the offer to halve Mr Dyer's recent invoice demonstrated the company's appreciation of his continuing business.

"It's not possible to contact everyone individually every time there is a new package that may save them money."