Telstra says minimal damage from Victorian bushfires so far, assistance package available

Telstra has announced it has suffered a minimal amount of damage to its key infrastructure so far as a result of the Victorian bushfires, as it announced an assistance package for fixed line and broadband customers in bushfire-affected areas.

The assistance packages are available to small businesses and consumers in Riddells Creek, Wallan, Goldie, Bolinda, Clarkefield, Darraweit Guim, Pyalong, Willowmavin, High Camp, Forbes, Bylands, Tantaraboo, Chintin, Springfield and Monegeeta.

In Gippsland, they are also available to affected customers in Morwell, Moe, Jack River, Won Wron, Mack’s Creek, Rokeby, Driffield, Bonang and Goongerah.

For fixed line customers, the carrier is offering free use of Telstra public payphones in affected areas, free call diversion for up to six months, and where calls are diverted to a mobile, those calls will be billed at fixed line rates.

The carrier is also offering once-off credits of up to $500 to affected customers to cover the reconnection of a fixed line service at a temporary or original permanent residence, number reservation and additional call charges.

For its broadband customers, the carrier is waving disconnection and early termination fees, as well as the waiving of connection charges on connecting services at an alternate address.

“We understand this is a terrible time for anyone who has been affected by these fires and hopefully this package will help people as they work through this incident,” Telstra Country Wide regional sales and service director Richard Fink says.

The carrier is encouraging its customers in affected areas to call 132 203 and press 1 to apply for an assistance package or register a fault.