Telstra Kickback Investigation

[Fred & Mimi]

Here's an interesting article I saw on the Channel 7 Today Tonight Show....A Telstra call centre based in the Philippines is under investigation over claims a worker offered to kill big bills for a small kickback fee.The scam was discovered when one customer rang to complain about his $557 bill and was told that for just $60 it could be wiped away - gone without a trace.Link to article HERE

Edited March 22, 2012 by Just Fred

[Call me bubba]

He feels sorry for Daniella, who sent him photos in her emails. He believes .1.culture,2.conditions,3. and a lack of governance overseas all contribute to the risks of using overseas call centres.quote http://au.news.yahoo.com/today-tonight/latest/article/-/13228741/telco-kickback-investigation/the 3 items says it all.this could happen to anyone any where. here or back in your/mine home country

[i am bob]

I understand that many of the Call Centers in the Philippines are paying better wages than many other jobs... At the same time I also know that Call Centers in more industrial countries (ie: US, Canada, Australia, etc) pay bottom level wages... So if this is going to happen, does anyone really think that it is only going to happen in the Philippines?

[dean01]

It shows that some companies just do not get it , these call centers have access to so very private information.

[Michi Lucero]

Which company is this?

[Jim Sibbick]

Which company is this?

Australia's biggest telecommunications company.It used to be the Post Master General (PMG) before the government split the PMG into phone (Telecom, now called Telstra) and mail (Australia Post). Then half of the phone business was sold off to the general public. Telstra is still half government owned.Regards: Jim

[Call me bubba]

I understand that many of the Call Centers in the Philippines are paying better wages than many other jobs... . So if this is going to happen, does anyone really think that it is only going to happen in the Philippines?

Call center pay is creating the "NEW" middle class.which is sorely needed, lacking in any growth til the BPO operations started.has anyone ever Looked at the "PAY" and benefits offered? even a 5 day work week and PAID vacation, For some High school graduates (who can pass the "tests" and interviews (out of 100 who apply only 2-4 pass,) this can be a JOB from heaven . why work at a SM/fast food ? if you can handle the work part 2, having "personal information" compromised, that has happen before and will happen again,Since this is the 1st NEWS that this "scam" has happen here in the RP seems that they have done a good job "so far" in selecting the employes, does 1 bad call center employee make all Call center workers bad?(same as when 1 foreigner does something wrong,does it make all of them bad???? )I think we have a FM(Papa Carl) who is working in a BPO at Clark. lets hear from him so we can get his feedback too

[Kari Javier]

I can't help but write my long opinion about this: Link removed, you are not permitted to link to your own blog without permission. You may however copy and paste your article with out a link if you wish. Thank you for your understanding.Forum ManagerMain points:

If this incident is indeed true, it is more likely an isolated case – a wrong decision made by someone without any integrity. Just because Philippines is a third world country doesn’t mean that we’re culturally inclined to scam other people. In fact, Filipinos working for call centers are usually the cream of the crop which goes without saying, they are college educated working professionals who are earning more than the average citizen. Whereas call center jobs in other countries are looked at as just an in-between job which even a high school dropout can do.

I'm not saying this report is false. Yes, it could be true but it could also be a demolition job against companies who outsource, it could be that the agent is just lying about how she can erase the customer's bill or it could even be another tale about a lover spurned (there goes my romanticism). I mean, hey, what kind of extortionist would send pictures of herself to her victim? Filipinos are known to have a lot of common sense, why would she risk letting her identity known?

Edited March 26, 2012 by Jollygoodfellow
removed link

[i am bob]

I can't help but write my long opinion about this: Link removed, you are not permitted to link to your own blog without permission. You may however copy and paste your article with out a link if you wish. Thank you for your understanding.Forum ManagerMain points:

If this incident is indeed true, it is more likely an isolated case – a wrong decision made by someone without any integrity. Just because Philippines is a third world country doesn’t mean that we’re culturally inclined to scam other people. In fact, Filipinos working for call centers are usually the cream of the crop which goes without saying, they are college educated working professionals who are earning more than the average citizen. Whereas call center jobs in other countries are looked at as just an in-between job which even a high school dropout can do.

I'm not saying this report is false. Yes, it could be true but it could also be a demolition job against companies who outsource, it could be that the agent is just lying about how she can erase the customer's bill or it could even be another tale about a lover spurned (there goes my romanticism). I mean, hey, what kind of extortionist would send pictures of herself to her victim? Filipinos are known to have a lot of common sense, why would she risk letting her identity known?

I wish I could always say that what you are saying is always true. But many times we have all seen people who should have known better do things that goes against what is right. Why? If we knew that, we would know how to prevent things like this happening. I have worked at call centers here in Canada and many of the employees are college graduates as well. Does that mean that they will not do something really dumb? Sometimes... and sometimes not. Being in management, I was involved in several investigations involving staff members. Not anything like this but just as dumb...