Optus' 200GB bonus data outage compensation criticised: 'We won't use it'
- Replies 31
Last Wednesday, over 10 million Optus customers across Australia were left without mobile or home internet access in an unprecedented outage that impacted the telco's entire network.
Now, Optus is offering those affected customers a one-time reimbursement of 200GB of bonus data.
Customers impacted by the outage will receive 200GB of bonus data. From Monday, 13 November, eligible postpaid customers, including small businesses and consumers, can access the extra data. The offer can be activated until the end of the year.
For eligible prepaid customers, unlimited data on weekends is available until the end of the year. To learn more and add the offer to your plans, visit optus.com.au from Monday onwards.
However, not everyone is thrilled with this data compensation.
For example, Rachel from Sydney, who missed a crucial call from a hospital due to the outage, wasn't too pleased, as it cost her a chance to say a final farewell to her mother.
'You can't get those final moments back,' she said, arguing that no compensation from Optus can make up for missing the chance to say goodbye to her mother in those final moments.
'We can never, ever get that time back with our mum.'
Michael, a Sydney funeral celebrant impacted by the outage, also agreed that the compensation wasn't enough. He said, 'This compensation is no compensation.'
'You pay for a plan with a suitable amount of data in it, so you never go over it, so offering an extra 200GB costs (Optus) nothing, and we won't use it.'
Experts also say the compensation simply doesn't cut it.
Tech expert Trevor Long pointed out that the offer falls short due to the way people use their phones nowadays. 'If only data had that kind of value. It doesn't,' he said.
He mentioned that the average mobile user in Australia typically uses around 15 gigabytes of data, so 200GB doesn't provide much-added value.
Long also argued that Optus seemed to forget about small businesses and the impact of the outage on those working from home.
'They have essentially overlooked the businesses that aren't big enough to be on their business radar.'
So, what would be a more appropriate compensation?
Long suggested that a more suitable compensation from Optus could involve adding credit directly to users' mobile accounts. He also recommended keeping receipts during this period, as industry regulators and the ombudsman might investigate the compensation issue further.
Another thing to watch out for is scammers using the outage frustration to trick Optus customers with a new phishing scam.
Officials are advising all Optus users to be cautious of a text message claiming compensation for the disruption. This deceptive text message pretends to be from Optus and addresses recipients as existing customers.
Read more about it here.
Members, what are your thoughts on this? Do you believe the data compensation is adequate? If not, what would you consider fair compensation? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Now, Optus is offering those affected customers a one-time reimbursement of 200GB of bonus data.
Customers impacted by the outage will receive 200GB of bonus data. From Monday, 13 November, eligible postpaid customers, including small businesses and consumers, can access the extra data. The offer can be activated until the end of the year.
For eligible prepaid customers, unlimited data on weekends is available until the end of the year. To learn more and add the offer to your plans, visit optus.com.au from Monday onwards.
In response to the outage, Optus has offered affected customers 200GB of extra data. Credit: Pexels.
However, not everyone is thrilled with this data compensation.
For example, Rachel from Sydney, who missed a crucial call from a hospital due to the outage, wasn't too pleased, as it cost her a chance to say a final farewell to her mother.
'You can't get those final moments back,' she said, arguing that no compensation from Optus can make up for missing the chance to say goodbye to her mother in those final moments.
'We can never, ever get that time back with our mum.'
Michael, a Sydney funeral celebrant impacted by the outage, also agreed that the compensation wasn't enough. He said, 'This compensation is no compensation.'
'You pay for a plan with a suitable amount of data in it, so you never go over it, so offering an extra 200GB costs (Optus) nothing, and we won't use it.'
Experts also say the compensation simply doesn't cut it.
Tech expert Trevor Long pointed out that the offer falls short due to the way people use their phones nowadays. 'If only data had that kind of value. It doesn't,' he said.
He mentioned that the average mobile user in Australia typically uses around 15 gigabytes of data, so 200GB doesn't provide much-added value.
Long also argued that Optus seemed to forget about small businesses and the impact of the outage on those working from home.
'They have essentially overlooked the businesses that aren't big enough to be on their business radar.'
So, what would be a more appropriate compensation?
Long suggested that a more suitable compensation from Optus could involve adding credit directly to users' mobile accounts. He also recommended keeping receipts during this period, as industry regulators and the ombudsman might investigate the compensation issue further.
Another thing to watch out for is scammers using the outage frustration to trick Optus customers with a new phishing scam.
Officials are advising all Optus users to be cautious of a text message claiming compensation for the disruption. This deceptive text message pretends to be from Optus and addresses recipients as existing customers.
Read more about it here.
Members, what are your thoughts on this? Do you believe the data compensation is adequate? If not, what would you consider fair compensation? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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