Long Jetty Chiropractic Centre struggles as NBN cuts phone line
A LONG Jetty chiropractor is fuming after his phone line was cut by NBN over a month ago.
Central Coast
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A LONG JETTY chiropractor is struggling to keep his doors open, after NBN cut his phone line more than five weeks ago.
Long Jetty Chiropractic Centre owner Julian Foster is operating his business without the use of a landline, EFTPOS or HICAPS, resulting in a loss of new and existing patients.
“It’s the patients that are suffering,” Mr Foster said.
“Many people don’t have $50 in their pocket and they rely on credit cards and private health insurance cover. They are going without chiropractic and are unnecessarily in pain because they are not getting the treatment they require.”
Mr Foster said he applied for NBN at the beginning of the year and was met with “relative levels of indifference with multiple technicians coming out”, before NBN cut the line.
“We woke up five weeks ago and there was no dial tone. We are using a diverted mobile,” he said.
“I’ve got many patients bringing cash, through their understanding, which is why we are keeping the doors open but they then have to claim it themselves. It’s that little bit of inconvenience that I don’t like to push on people.”
The business, which has been operating for 13 years, is located in a dual-occupancy building with tenants on the upper floor who have access to the internet.
“NBN have thought ‘this place has the internet so we can cut the line’ without realising there was an existing line in our businesses name,” he said. “They didn’t think to check.”
Mr Foster said the relationship between NBN and internet service providers is “fundamentally flawed”.
“It’s like being a child in the middle of arguing parents,” he said.
“I know a lot of people in the community and I’m not the only one having problems.”
He said he had a little help from Telstra Complaints, however it took four weeks for it to acknowledge there was a problem and provide advice on portable options.
“The sheer length of time to resolve the issue, and cost, is crazy,” he said.
“It has driven people away and will continue to do so. Every day is dollars. Without the support and understanding of patients, we would be in dire straits.”
An NBN spokesman said, “NBN is unaware of any works that could have affected Mr Foster’s line. An appointment for installation at the chiropractic business is in place for the 19th of this month.”