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The
pair declared war on Telstra on their $2.20 fee
for paying bills in cash at Telstra Shops, Australia
Post or by money order or cheque via mail.
Ron
Robinson, treasurer of the Emu Park RSL sub-branch,
said it was a requirement for audit purposes that
they have two signatories on their banking accounts,
so they paid their bills by cheque.
By
simply paying their telephone accounts they were
now to be hit with a $6.60 fee every month to
pay three different Telstra bills.
Welfare
officer Jon Willson said members of the RSL sub-branch
all agreed to fight for their rights after discussing
the new fee at a committee meeting.
President
Barry Vains said while he acknowledged that Telstra
exempted veterans in receipt of war service pensioners
and pensioners, they were appalled that the fee
was applied to charities such as pensioner bodies
and RSL sub - branches, as he had been advised.
“The
monies we raise through raffles and other means
all goes back into welfare services for our sub-branch
members, many of whom fought in time of war to
protect this country,” Barry said.
“We
see the actions of Telstra as contrary to the
Anzac spirit and an issue that many of our forefathers
would not have copped and would have been prepared
to take up arms against.”
The
Morning Bulletin contacted Telstra yesterday and
was told clients were given an option to pay the
bill by B-pay, to avoid the fee.
However,
a call late yesterday from another Telstra representative
raised the white flag for the RSL sub-branch.
“All
not-for-profit organisations that can only pay
by cheque will be exempt on request,” the
spokesman said.
“We're
looking into why this did not happen on this occasion
and will be reminding our staff.
“On
top of this, we will always take individual circumstances
into account and we encourage any of our customers
in this situation to contact us.”
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