The premium “Telstra tax” will tick up to $1000 for customers next month when prices are hiked, a consumer advocate says.
Researcher and advocate Joel Gibson says the premium paid for Telstra stacks up to about $300 to $400 per device or service. The analysis is comparing Telstra’s offerings with the bare bones, cheapest options and does not consider Telstra’s additional hardware, coverage and servicing guarantees.
“The ‘Telstra tax’ just keeps getting bigger and bigger each year, with millions of households probably paying more than $1000 extra now for the privilege of being with Telstra,” Mr Gibson said.
“There’s nothing wrong with paying a tax if you know that you’re paying it and you know what you’re getting in exchange for it, but we suspect many are unaware they have a choice.”
Mr Gibson acknowledges Telstra had the best regional coverage.
Crunching the numbers for consumers using Telstra internet, a mobile plan and mobile phone, Mr Gibson says consumers can save $1000 per year.
A former journalist and editor, Mr Gibson is now a consumer spending advocate under the title Joel Kills Bills. He and telco comparison site Whistle Out did this latest analysis together, using Telstra’s July 1 price hike figures as a reference.
From July 1, Telstra’s standard NBN plan will be $408 more than budget provider Exetel. Recent government testing shows Exetel has faster download speeds; however, the consumer must pay for the modem.
NBN Co is also raising its wholesale prices 3 per cent this coming financial year that the telcos are passing on to the consumer.
Telstra has been contacted for comment.
Announced last month, most Telstra phone, data and internet plans are going up between $3 and $5 per month. However, the cheapest mobile and internet contracts are staying the same price. Pre-paid phone plans and 5G home internet prices are staying flat as well.
