An 83-year-old Invermay widow has been without a home phone for three months after constant problems in trying to reconnect to the National Broadband Network.
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Invermay resident Betty [surname withheld], has been bounced between her phone provider and the National Broadband Network Corporation since her home internet box was damaged prior to her moving in.
She questioned; “does NBN mean – no bloomin’ network”?
Each week since May Betty has called the NBN Co up to four times in an effort to see a technician connect the line to her home.
“I feel they should pay me compensation, but I would settle for having my phone connected,” she said.
The elderly resident said she was forced to learn how to use a mobile phone to keep connected to the outside world.
After weeks of persistence Betty finally secured an appointment this month to have the NBN installed.
“The arrangements were made for last week – the appointment was made last Friday afternoon for them to come,” she said.
She said the technician never arrived.
“To add insult to injury, and it really was injury in the hip pocket, they said we tried to phone you on your three numbers,” she said.
But Betty said there was no message on her mobile phone. She said one number was for her old home and the other was the number she was waiting to have connected at her home.
“I'm sick of it - I'm utterly sick of it,” she said.
An NBN spokesman said the company would fix the situation.
“The cause of the delay in connection has now been resolved and NBN has discussed next steps with Betty and her retailer today [Friday],” he said.
“We are in the process of organising a final installation appointment at a time suitable to Betty.”
Bass MHA Ross Hart said his office often received complaints about the NBN.
Mr Hart said people were tired of the “providers telling them everything is okay and NBN who refuse to take their calls”.
