‘Stop harassing me’: NBN’s ‘blatant’ registered post push

NBN’s invasive way to make you switch is urgent reminders via registered post. You either have to sign for the unsolicited mail, or trek to the post office.

CRITICS are calling it extreme marketing, but the NBN Co says it’s just meeting its obligations and ensuring nobody is left without phone or internet.

As the NBN’s rollout gathers pace, residents of a 560-unit residential complex in Sydney’s Redfern are mystified by a barrage of letters sent by registered post containing “an urgent reminder to switch to the NBN network”.

The letters from NBN Co’s business arm had to be signed for, or collected with personal identification from the local post office — despite the fact each was addressed to “The Manager” of each address — a move some have seen as both intrusive and inconvenient.

The letters warned the NBN network would replace most existing landline networks for phone and internet services from October 13, and suggested people make the switch “as soon as you can” of “risk disruption to your business” by contacting a phone or internet provider.

That drew the ire of some residents — not just because they were unhappy about being sent what they termed “unsolicited marketing material” by registered post, but also that they had to make a trip to the post office to get it.

Page one of the registered mail letter addressed to “the manager” of private residences. Picture: Supplied

They had also already received a number of similar letters via normal post.

They complained too that while many people will have no choice but to use the NBN network when it switches on, their apartment complex already has Fibre To The Building (FTTB), so they can still have internet access, even without converting to NBN.

While the registered post letter notes that “existing fibre networks and some specific business services ... may not be affected”, angry recipients say the continued barrage of letters — culminating in the “official-looking” registered post delivery, is an annoying sign NBN isn’t taking “no”, or “no response” for an answer.

WTF @NBN_Australia - why the heck are you now sending marketing crap via registered post? STOP HARRASSING ME !!!!

— Richard Davies (@richinsydney) June 29, 2017

Direct mail (marketing) as registered mail addressed to 'The Manager'. Most in building have FTTB so this wasted everyone's time

— Richard Davies (@richinsydney) June 30, 2017

Not confusion - frustration. 100s of apartments in our complex got unwanted registered mail. The poor postie had to get all those signatures

— Richard Davies (@richinsydney) June 30, 2017

“Pretty p**d off with NBN for harrassing most residents in MPG by sending marketing brochures by registered post,” one resident said via social media.

“Those unlucky ones who weren’t at home will be inconvenienced by having to go to the post office to sign for this cr*p”.

One refused to sign for the letter.
“I’d already seen a copy via another resident. It's a blatant attempt to get people to move to NBN when there is no need to (if you are already on TPG FTTB that is),” he said.

TPG has already connected to the complex with it’s own FTTB network. TPG also offers NBN connections, but the company’s name is absent from the page-long list of providers that “may offer plans over the NBN network in Redfern” which accompanies the registered post letter.

An NBN spokesman said the move was not a cynical marketing move.

“NBN sends material via registered post to residential premises that have not yet connected to the nbn™ network five weeks prior to the disconnection date,” the spokesman said.

“Businesses that haven’t yet connected will receive similar material via registered post four months prior to the disconnection date as they require longer to migrate to the nbn network.

“This is not marketing material — it is important education material sent to premises to ensure they are fully aware of the consequences of not migrating to the NBN network by the disconnection date.

“Mail via registered post will only be sent after up to five letters are sent via regular mail to premises in ‘ready for service’ areas (i.e. that area is able to connect to the NBN network) AND a particular premises has not yet connected.

“As a government business enterprise, NBN has a responsibility to fully inform the public about the 18 month migration period and the consequences of not migrating to the NBN network by the disconnection date.”

Meanwhile, Australia has fallen further behind in the global internet speed and affordability race.
According to the third edition of the Digital Australia: State of the Nation report, our country has fallen two places in the World Economic Forum’s Networked Readiness Index.

Australia now sits 18th in a list of 139 countries on the Index, which measures the impact information and communications technologies have on the economy and society, it’s ranking brought down by the cost of fixed broadband.

Those not home to sign for the letter, were left with a trip to the post office to collect the unsolicited mail. Picture: Supplied

Originally published as ‘Stop harassing me’: NBN’s ‘blatant’ registered post push