Tom Reynolds

As part of my work as the media manager for the Australian Rally Championship, host of Holden Racing Team TV and tech guest on ABC Sydney, I needed a mobile data solution. After asking about, I decided the Sierra 301 on a prepaid plan would be best as I would bill clients on work weekends and then when the key was not in use, I would not pay. Simple.

So I went to the Chadstone Telstra shop and bought it- with 6 gig as it was coming into F1 and Rally rounds back to back. There were concerns (noted below)- such as the paperwork I had to sign (dealer Kurt S: “That’s the form for all new accounts- pre and post paid”) and the fact that the prepaid software I was using did not show me usage and remaining usage. But it all worked just fine. Coverage wonderful, speeds ludicrous and it was frankly the perfect purchase.

The inability to see my data usage was annoying. The button that was suppose to show me said usage was not working (aka “greyed out”) and that worried me as I did not want to run out when streaming an event or sending out a presser etc. I reached out:

My first tweet for help!

Then I got a bill. That was weird after all, I had paid a lot for the product plus the extra 6 gig. A simple mistake surely?

So I rang Telstra, then  Tweeted some more and it’s never been sorted out. The bills were being zero balanced, but I wanted it fixed.

No action still

After some months waiting for the situation to be put right, I have now lost my rag with Telstra. I just got off the phone with a woman who I told “take ownership of this” after she, like many more before her, wanted to palm me off once again. She asked me my story again and wanted to send me off to pre paid data. Then she said “You need to go to the shop.”

Chadstone T-Store is 45 minutes away and I am not going anywhere to fix their mistake! How is getting me to fix their error an incentive for Telstra and Telstra staff to try? Without consequences for failure there can only be inaction.

I had already sent them an email as follows:

There was a fundamental error with the way this was provisioned from the start.

I bought a pre paid USB data service. I paid for 6 gig in advance. I received a bill out of the blue and was told that an error had been made by some and told that it was no an error by others. Here’s the issue – The software I have to run it (screenshot attached) is for prepaid services.

The interface for my USB 3G stick

• You can ONLY buy this product (Sierra 301) as a prepaid device. See: http://www.telstra.com.au/bigpond-internet/prepaid-wireless/get-started/index.htm There it is- I have attached back and front pics for you.
• I keep getting bills for post paid when I did not sign up for post paid.

When I bought it at the Chadstone Telstra shop the sales guy made me fill out a form. I noted: “This is for post paid” and he said “it’s the same form, we just need your details.” There was NO indication what data post paid plan I was on on my “contract” as I did not sign a contract. I am prepaid.

You had a deal at the time to get 6 gig prepaid at reduced rate  but it was something like $60 for 6 gig introductory. I paid $150 for the prepaid USB + $60. $210 or thereabouts.

The only reservation I had at the time was that he made me use a different SIM (I still have the old one) to the one that came with the stick.

It would appear that an honest error was made, or a deliberate deceit to make me go to post paid when I clearly asked for pre paid. I could not access (through the software) my current usage- to work out how much I had used/had left. This was not sorted to my satisfaction at all. The software does not show what I have used- the button for that is not functional/greyed out.

Scott from your dept is across this, but has been unable to sort it out.  He has zero balanced my account previously in recognition of this issue, but no long term fix has been found. I am not calling prepaid, post paid or anyone to sort this. It’s not my mistake.

What I want

• To be on prepaid as I requested originally and multiple times since.
• 6 gig provisioned onto the account with 90 days expiry as originally requested and as a show of goodwill.
• To get on with it.
• If this requires me to visit a store, get a new SIM or jump through more hoops I will do it. (note: I will not do that anymore- they have messed me around too much AND cut me off)

What I don’t want:

• Another bill
• Another bill reminder
• Another month to go by with no action from Telstra
• Any interruption to my service-(note: it has been cut off and I am off to Rally SA in two days) I am in Darwin this weekend for the V8s and we use the USB key to stream live coverage. If you cannot fix this with a flick of the switch, then we need to work out a time to do it as I work nearly every weekend streaming live coverage from motorsport events.
• Any fee associated with fixing your error.

Regards
Tom

Today the service was cut off. I am so over Telstra at the moment.

Here’s the Twitter Direct Message stream (bottom up!)

Check out how long it has taken.

This isn’t social media failure, its just failure.

I am going to talk about Telstra tonight on the ABC in the context of the NBN. Telstra are set to switch off their copper network and throw their lot in with the NBN roll out. Renai LeMay says this will “seal Telstra’s doom” as the deal will:

…transform the fundamental nature of Telstra’s business, changing it from an engineering company which primarily builds and operates telecommunications networks into a retail service provider focused on delivering the best customer service and value-add products in Australia’s telco sector.

As he points out- this is not what Telstra does.

In the end all Telstra will be able to do is offer bundles: NBN based products, Next G products and IPTV/Cable TV all rolled up into one exorbitant price. They will then need to back that with good customer service.

And based on my experience, their wireless broadband after sales service is not going to save them. Perhaps they are doomed‽

They made a big deal of it at the time, but ever since Xbox added Facebook and Twitter to the features, it’s really fallen away.

I think Microsoft/Xbox didn’t think much beyond “Hey let’s put a Facebook and Twitter client on the Xbox 360″ and hoped it would work gangbusters.

I think that the Facebook client is actually the least important aspect of the setup.  I bet Microsoft’s analytics show that the FB client is used for browsing FB updates, pics and so on, but rarely if ever used to update or comment. If you don’t have the chatpad it’s a very frustrating experience- worse than an old non QWERTY phone.

Where I see opportunity with Facebook and Xbox  is not the way the client was implement- it’s actually very good in look and features, but rather the lack of a true Facebook Connect feature.

You can already tweet your Xbox activity, but I think that is not only lame but also likely to cost you followers.

What I want to see from Microsoft is a Facebook implementation with some smarts behind it. Why not set my status as “Playing XYZ on Xbox” when I start playing? Why not examine my Xbox playing habits and suggest games, tournaments, playing times (when my friends are online) and new Xbox live friends to me?

What about a landing page on the Xbox (after I sign in) with some FB/Twitter widgets? What about integration with a Microsoft Exchange (or an improved Hotmail) account with calendar and tasks etc?

Despite Facebook’s current woes with privacy, I’m in little doubt that it’s user base will remain strong and where we (the users) think there is a tangible benefit, we will give “private information”- such as when we playXbox  and what games we like.

I received this in the mail after call from Ford regarding a parking fine I received while driving a test vehicle in JUNE 2009.

Things I am not going to pay.

Now, I know the car park in question. It is the park for the Woolworths. I am in no doubt that I parked there, HOWEVER I also know their retarded way of managing the parking there. You MUST get a ticket no matter what- and you don’t have to pay for less than an hour (or thereabouts). When we park there, we do this everytime.

Now, in the event that we didn’t get a ticket from the dispenser, then I would have ruefully collected the “fine” and paid it as I was in a test car and, like speeding fines, it is bloody embarrassing having the car company contacting you to inform you of the fine. As a professional car reviewer/journalist my reputation and brand are all important; there’s no way I would not pay the $88 as issued.

So there are three scenarios possible here:

1. I did not get a car parking ticket and they issued me with a fine- not on the spot, but rather via the arse about take-the-rego-pass-it-on way they seem to have done it. So when I returned to the car, there was no fine at all.
2. I did not get a ticket and they issued me with a fine that I then threw in the bin as I don’t give the remotest crap about my reputation.
3. I did everything right, they issued me with a dishonest and dodgy fine as a revenue raiser because they have a history of doing such things?

Add in that it has taken them “only” 10 months to get back to me, well I have no choice but to file this under things I will never, ever pay and they can totally get stuffed. I love the fact they threaten me with a collections agency- collecting a monetary amount for a breach of contract NOT an actual fine.

As this is a civil matter, the balance of probabilities applies- and they are probably as dodgy as all hell.

If you have been “fined” by these dodgy arseholes, try this fact sheet and this advice from consumer affairs. In the meantime I will be ignoring the notice, but emailing Consumer Affairs and Woolworths.

RACHEL AND I ARE HAVING TRIPLETS. A follow up scan showed the other two babies were obscured.

I AM RUNNING AWAY. Rachel is talking about buying a Honda Odyssey and moving to a bigger house- in the country.

(Happy birthday Jake)

UPDATE: While it is Jake’s birthday, the rest of this post is but an April’s fools day prank.

I wrote, shot, directed and edited the following:

To say the engineers were good sports about it, would be to understate it. They really took this and ran with it. Thanks guys!

Rachel is 12 weeks pregnant with our second baby!! I am beside myself with excitement. In fact I’m beside myself, beside myself.

I am so clucky it’s actually a bit pathetic.

We (that is to say I) have agreed to not find out what sex this one is. Rachel, being an only child, simply must a/ get her own way and b/ find out what her present is before the days it’s due to be opened. We’d like a girl, but I am convinced (and equally stoked) that it will be a boy…

Speaking of due- this one is due on the 4th of October, some 26 odd months behind Harry!

Here’s the three of us with member number four not quite in view:

Rachel's Birthday 2010.

I’m just about over YouTube. I uploaded this complete with a mashup and they immediately warned me that I was in breach of something or other. I am sure the soundtrack will be removed soon.
Wouldn’t it be better to have an ad for the song in question with a link through to iTunes to buy it? That’s a business model. Honestly, the sooner the record companies all go broke, the better. They absolutely deserve it.

Anyway. Robbie Maddison at Albert Park, jumping over the main sign:

DO check it out in HD here.

And this little vid. I felw down to Burnie, Tasmania in a lil Saab turboprop 30 seater. I pulled ou the new Panasonic FT1- a hand held point and shoot that has a movie mode- and shoots in HD. The results are pretty pleasing:

Also worth checking out in HD

Here’s ANZ’s new (and quite funny) fraud protection ad:

And he’s how The Onion did it a few months back:

Astronauts Suffer Agonizing, High-Pitched Death After Helium Leak

Who did it better?

A reminder that the ThomasrDotOrg media training workshop is just a week away.

This is your last chance to join what will be the most useful off bike training you will do all year. While the workshop is in principle a media training event covering Radio, TV, Print and Web, we will also cover sponsorship, public behaviour and fan interaction and more. This workshop will complete you as a rider, team member or team principle.

We are pleased to announce two additional trainers who have joined the lineup:

Dieter Kahsnitz is a star of multi media. Owner of 50 Kaliber Films, by day he makes corporate videos, TV Commercials and the like. On weekends, at night and during his lunch hour he’s the host of “The C-Word” video podcast and award winning community TV show. He manages BSB racer Josh Brookes, hosts MotoGP events and knows how to make every media post a winner. Dieter will be conducting interviews with all attendees, who will then be provided with a DVD of the footage for any purpose.

Marscelle Tully has written more press releases than there have been races in the world. While that may not make sense, Marscelle talks sense. She will show you how to structure a press release if you’re going DIY. If you have a PR staff member/helper/trained monkey, Marscelle will take you through how you can make their life easier (ie tolerable) and how to make the most of the written word.

Already we have announced:

Tom Reynolds is the principal of ThomasrDotOrg Media Services and will lead the media workshop training day. Tom has worked in marketing, PR, advertising, web technology and the media for over ten years. He has worked for (or continues to ply his trade with): Australian Superbike Championship, Australian Rally Championship, Radio 3AW , Radio SEN, ABC Sydney, Holden Race Team, Grand Prix Corporation as well as hosting many events and media calls.

Jay Mueller. Radio MMM Melbourne Breakfast Senior Producer.
Long time producer of top rating breakfast show on 3AW, last year Jay made the jump to MMM to take the senior producer role on Eddie McGuire’s new brekky show “The Hot Breakfast“. Jay will be going through what he finds works on radio. He will explain how to prepare for your interview with people who know nothing about you or your sport. He will also address how to get yourself on radio and what producers (the gate keepers!) are looking for when they decide to put someone to air.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#/event.php?eid=254690579194&ref=mf
Map: http://bit.ly/aeqkZM

Total cost $135 includes digital copies of your portrait shoot plus a short HD video interview with **you**.
Bookings essential and numbers will be limited email: training AT thomasr.org to secure your spot!

I’m really pleased to announce that from this Thursday the 18th February at 8:20pm I will be on ABC 702 (NSW) with Mr Robbie Buck discussing trends in tech, web and related.

This is set to be a weekly segment, but naturally they want to see how it goes before locking in a more permanent spot.

I’m very pleased with this new gig as it represents a small, but important shift in my career- from motoring to technology. Tech is one of my passions, but it’s broadcasting that is my abiding passion.

This segment has come about thanks to @Stilgherrian who lined me up an initial spot a week or so ago to simply have a chat with Robbie about Social Media.

It would appear that first quasi segment went rather well.