Case Studies

The following case studies are based on actual complaints received by TDR.

These examples provide a good cross-section of the types of complaints TDR can help with. All identifying information has been removed.

Case Study 1: Not-so-new number allocation

A customer moved house to another area and was allocated a new phone number.

Case Study 2:  Contract termination and final billing

Having cancelled phone and internet contracts, early, a customer set up an instalment plan to pay the final bill and termination fees.

Case Study 3: Mobile phone buttons ‘fell off’

After nine months of use, a customer requested the provider repair their mobile phone’s damaged keypad.

Case Study 4: Dropped calls not a mobile phone fault

After experiencing ‘dropped calls’ on his new mobile phone, a customer returned the phone to the store where he’d bought it.

Case Study 5: Replacement phone not up to scratch

After a customer’s mobile phone was damaged, she received a replacement touch-screen phone through her insurance policy.

Case Study 6: Conflicting accounts

After accidentally machine-washing his phone, a customer understood his provider would provide a replacement.

Case Study 7: Misinterpreted sales advice

Having signed up to a new phone and internet package, offered by a visiting salesman, a customer received a bill bigger than he expected.

Case Study 8: Old and new package confusion

When signing a contract for a new package, included increased broadband, a customer assumed his old package’s overseas calling offer would still be included.

Case Study 9: GST change increases price

When GST went up, a customer did not expect his contracted price to increase.

Case Study 10: Mobile phone contracts 

About 18 months after a customer bought a mobile phone, on a two-year contract, it started playing up.