OPTUS EXTENDS ASSISTANCE PACKAGE TO VICTORIAN AND NORTHERN NSW FLOOD AFFECTED CUSTOMERS

Optus has extended its Flood Assistance Package to flood affected customers in Victoria and Northern NSW.

The key features of Optus’ Flood Assistance Package include support for customers that experience financial hardship as a result of the floods.

Measures included in the package are:

• Extended payment period: Customers experiencing financial hardship as a result of the floods can arrange special extended payment timeframes for their Optus bill by contacting the Optus Financial Services team. In addition, in cases of extreme hardship as a result of property destruction due to the floods, Optus will consider waiving a customer’s bill on a case by case basis.
• Fees waiver: Customers that incur fees for late payments, service suspension or early service termination as a result of the floods can request to have their penalty fee waived. No reconnection fees will apply for customers that wish to reconnect their services within 12 months.
• Free fixed-to-mobile and fixed-to-fixed call diversion: Optus engineers continue to work hard during this period to minimise impact on the Optus network in flood affected areas. Should customers experience a disruption to their Optus fixed home phone service, Optus offers free call diversion to any mobile or fixed number of their choice.

Consumer customers that are eligible for the assistance package can contact Optus Customer Care on 133 937, while SMB customers can contact 133 343.

Maha Krishnapillai, Optus Director of Victoria said, “We have been monitoring the flooding situation in Victoria closely and while there has been minimal impact to the Optus network to date, Optus wants to ensure that our customers are receiving the support they need during this difficult period.

“As a provider of mobile coverage to ninety nine per cent of the Victorian population, Optus has deployed additional resources to the flood affected areas including a number generators to ensure services are maintained in case of any loss of power.

At 11am today, Optus’ only disruption to coverage in the flood affected areas is at Culgoa due to water damage. Optus engineers are on-site to investigate options on restoring coverage to this area,” Mr Krishnapillai said.

Media contact:
Joshua Drayton
Optus Corporate Affairs
Tel: (02) 8082 7850