Free toll calls for Waikato region

MEDIA RELEASE
12 September 2007

Free toll calls for Waikato region

TelstraClear has smashed toll boundaries for households, turning the entire Waikato phone book into a ‘Big Back Yard’ of free local phone calls to landlines.

The Waikato ‘Big Back Yard’ offer covers homes in the Hamilton, Thames, Whangamata, Waihi, Paeroa, Huntly, Te Awamutu, Morrinsville/Te Aroha, Matamata, Tokoroa/Putaruru, Otorohanga, Te Kuiti and Taumarunui calling areas.

TelstraClear Head of Consumer Markets Steve Jackson says more than 140,000 Waikato households can now say goodbye to toll bills when calling landlines within the Waikato phone book area.

“Waikato residents can ring landline numbers in their phone book area for free - call Waihi to Te Kuiti, Thames to Hamilton or Whangamata to Taumarunui and don’t expect a toll bill from us,” says Mr Jackson.

Mr Jackson says Big Back Yard was launched in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch in January, the Nelson and Otago regions in July and Bay of Plenty in August.

“People have been asking why calling to a neighbouring place is a toll call, but we’ve gone even further and abolished toll boundaries within the entire phone book area.TelstraClear’s Big Back Yard dispels all the myths that toll boundaries can’t be removed and delivers what people ask for,” he says.

Mr Jackson says TelstraClear’s ‘Big Back Yard’ offer is available to residential customers in the areas covered by the Waikato White Pages™ 2007 phone books. Customers simply need to join Big Back Yard, and TelstraClear’s HomePlan phone line and calling for 12 months.

All new and existing customers can sign up to TelstraClear’s Big Back Yard by calling 0508 010 229 or going online to www.bigbackyard.co.nz

ENDS

A map of the area covered by Big Yard Yard in the Waikato is available.

Click to enlarge

Other information - A $99 charge applies for early termination. Customers with Kiwi Yak Paks®, the $3.95 Flat Rate Internet Special, Phone Line Over 60's or Phone Line Rental Economy are not eligible for Big Back Yard. Big Back Yard excludes three party, phone divert, operator assisted, card calls, and calls to special numbers (eg, 018, 0900).

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