NEWS DESK
Phone cut chops into business Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au A MORNINGTON hairdresser of more than 30 years fears troubles with her NBN connection could jeopardise her business. Nonie Harvey, of Hair on Barkly, said her landline had been disconnected since 10 January after problems with her NBN connection. Repeated calls to service provider Optus always include what she termed “the usual run-around” as she is passed around departments – with no result. “It has now been five weeks since I was supposed to have the all-fabulous, fast, and very affordable NBN system installed into my business,” Ms Harvey said. But, so far, all she has received is frustration. “Who is at fault here?” asked Ms Harvey, an OPTUS customer for more than 20 years. “When I call them the support menu says, ‘Press 2 for business help with your NBN set-up’,” she said. “I then jump on the mouse wheel, while being on hold sometimes for 20 minutes or more, only to be told I have to speak to yet another person. So I stay on hold again. On and on it goes until I get transferred to another person who asks me the same questions. “After 75 minutes and seven different people, eventually I am told it is an NBN issue and I am put on hold again. The next chap then instructs me on how to install the modem over the phone – a procedure I have followed
more than 15 times. “Then that person makes an appointment for the NBN technician to come to my business and do the install set-up. This is the third time they have made such an appointment. And guess what? No-one came. “We now have three modems, and the guys yesterday said our phone is the problem. It’s not our phone.” Ms Harvey said she noticed a “huge change in our business traffic” as callers are told her number has been disconnected. “Our old and loyal clients have, thankfully, made an effort to find out why and come in to see us,” she said. “But we have spent a lot of money on advertising [listing the landline number] and for potential new customers to hear that message it is devastating.” Ms Harvey put a public notice in The News earlier this month to make customers aware she is open for business. “The phone is the lifeline of a hairdressing salon,” she said. NBN spokesperson Russell Kelly said the company “apologises for the interruption and is working hard to restore service”. “We have been working with the retailer to get the business reconnected as soon as possible,” he said. “Initially a fault was found in the wiring in the street and this was repaired. “A new appointment is now being arranged for an NBN technician to attend the site to conduct further tests and restore the service.”
Offline and on the brink: Nonie Harvey is frustrated at a lack of service from her phone company and NBN provider. Picture: Yanni
Larry finds a house
Kayak mystery A CRANBOURNE man fell from his kayak into Western Port off Balnarring on Saturday night after catching a shark. Brett Palmer, 34, had been near his brother Luke, who was fishing from a boat, when he hooked the shark and was tipped into the water as the shark struggled to break free. Luke Palmer hauled him from the water and the pair left the kayak floating in the water after hauling the shark on board the boat The unattended kayak sparked a search for its owner after being found by a passing boat on Sunday morning. Police found Brett Palmer safe in his home and he returned to Hastings to reclaim his kayak.
Animal ‘clear-out’ THE RSPCA will reduce prices for adoptions of animals as part of a “clear the shelter” program from Friday to Sunday.
Visitors to the Peninsula Animal shelter, 1030 Robinsons Road, Pearcedale, will be charged a $29 adoption fee for dogs, cats, guinea pigs and rabbits. “This promotion is all about finding homes for the animals in our care, and providing an incentive to those looking for a new pet to consider adoption,” RSPCA Victoria CEO Dr Liz Walker said. “We monitor adoption promotions carefully and have found that the price someone pays to acquire an animal has no
impact on return rates and no negative impact on the animal’s welfare. All available research confirms this. “RSPCA Victoria does not put a number on how long an animal is in our care, with some animals available for adoption being with us for almost a year.” Adoption animals are desexed, microchipped and vaccinated, with health and behaviour checked. Visit: rspcavic.org/adoption The Pearcedale centre’s number is 5978 9000.
Continued from Page 1 Larry, 70, says his age means he will be moved higher on the list, which will also suit his new landlord’s family situation later on. Also interested in Larry’s plight was the Council to Homeless Persons, which says the state government should finance social housing projects through stamp duty revenues. “The number of people being evicted into homelessness has more than doubled over five years as rents rise,” CEO Jenny Smith said. Figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare show that, last financial year, 43,751 people presented at Victorian homelessness services due to eviction, she said. The Council to Homeless Persons says the increase from 17,930 just five years ago, is due to rising rents. Ms Smith said homelessness was also being driven by population growth, federal government housing taxation settings, and an absence of a national affordable housing plan. “Australia increasingly views housing as a commodity rather than the shelter we all need.” Stephen Taylor
New generation TOP-UP hearing aids now FREE* Eligible pensioners and veterans are entitled to FREE hearing aids through the government’s hearing services scheme*, or they can pay extra (TOP-UP) for hearing aids with additional or more advanced features. As an EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL OFFER, Hidden Hearing is providing eligible pensioners and veterans with certain TOP-UP hearing aids incorporating the
latest generation technology (valued at $3,000) FREE OF CHARGE until the END OF MARCH.
CALL NOW to book your FREE hearing assessment and start hearing better again.
The choice is yours, either a discreet deep canal aid or a miniature receiver in canal aid. In both cases the aids will be small and discreet, and programmed to your specific hearing levels and unique personal needs.
1800 717 717
www.hiddenhearing.com.au
HIDDEN,, UH EARING "A hearing loss is more noticeable than a hearing aid"
*Conditions and eligibility requirements apply under the Commonwealth Hearing Services Voucher System. Offer ends March 31st, 2018.
Western Port News 20 February 2018
PAGE 13