Telecommunications – CommsChoice

The LCA has signed a three-year agreement for services with telecoms and IT services company CommsChoice Pty Ltd. This affects anyone currently under the LCA’s Telstra Business Service Agreement. It also affects those in the LCA looking to secure a better telecommunications service or those who will benefit from assistance with moving to NBN.

Why we’re making the change

For a number of years now the LCA have had an agreement with Telstra for the supply of fixed voice, mobile and data services. This agreement was due for renewal in June 2016.

The LCA set up a committee of interested users (schools, aged-care and district representatives) to investigate the new offer from Telstra and explore what other options are available to provide a cost competitive and reliable service for benefit of the LCA and its members and agencies.

After careful consideration, the LCA has selected CommsChoice, a telecoms and IT services provider based in Sydney and part of the Church Resources (CR) family of suppliers. CommsChoice does not provide the telecoms network itself. Rather, it analyses the best market deals and manages wholesale contracts and services with a broad range of underlying suppliers, including Telstra Wholesale.

A better service for you

The LCA is confident that CommsChoice will deliver lower costs to you by being able to negotiate on an ongoing basis very competitive rates with its wholesale suppliers. This will ensure you are getting the best rate available to you in the market and that is suitable for your situation.  These new rates can be implemented at any time.

Its access to a wide range of telecoms suppliers also means greater choice and flexibility in offering to you services that best meet your needs.

We also believe it will be an easier ‘user experience’ for you as CommsChoice will be your single point of contact for all your telecommunications queries – be it new products, billing inquiries or to address service/fault issues.

How the change affects you

We are confident that the changeover to CommsChoice will be a simple process with minimal disruption to you.

You will continue to retain your existing phone numbers and in future you will receive one consolidated bill from CommsChoice for payment.

As outlined above, you will only have to deal with one point of contact, CommsChoice, in regard to issues that may arise, such as service faults.

LCA eNews, sent out fortnightly, will alert you to changes and upgrades that have been made.

What happens next

CommsChoice will be emailing all current account holders under the Telstra Business Services Agreement, along with many other LCA contacts. They will be advising you that they have been appointed by the LCA to provide this service and offering options about how to transfer your services to CommsChoice.

The new LCA pricing from CommsChoice is now available and transfer of existing services can begin by clicking on one of the two options listed below. Option 1 is for current Telstra customers. Option 2 is for Other Providers (non-Telstra customers).

If you click on Option 1, you will see a comparison table of the previous Telstra Business Services Agreement rates against the new LCA pricing for fixed voice and mobile services.

If you click on Option 2, you will see the LCA pricing for fixed voice and mobile services only.

Please go ahead and choose one of the options to review the new LCA pricing. Once you are ready to begin the transfer process you will be required to submit an electronic form, which starts the process. By accepting the agreement, you give permission to transfer your current services to the new LCA wholesale pricing with CommsChoice. A member of the CommsChoice LCA Client Service Team will speak with you before any transfer begins, to ensure all account details are correct and you are comfortable moving forward.

Option 1: Click here Telstra option if you are a current Telstra customer

Option 2: Click here Other-Provider if you use Other Provider/s (non-Telstra customer).

What happens if you don’t do anything?

You, of course, have the option to remain as a Telstra customer. However, as the LCA no longer has an Agreement with Telstra, eventually Telstra will have the right to start charging you at their normal retail rates applicable to your situation.

Alternatively, you will need to explore other options by contacting other telecommunications companies that service your area.

What if your organisation is not with Telstra through LCA now?

You are welcome (and encouraged) to join CommsChoice. Please contact LCA Business Manager Debbie Venz or go direct to the CommsChoice website to follow the prompts. Select the option that applies to you, either as an existing Telstra customer ('Telstra option') or a non-Telstra Customer ('Other-Provider').

Questions or issues

Contact CommsChoice on these dedicated LCA lines

• 1300 431 313
• support@commschoice.com

or contact LCA Business Manager Debbie Venz.