Hoyts is giving out free movie tickets for those who have a birthday before July 2010, including la premiere and imax tickets.

Free movie ticket from Hoyts as part of their 100th year celebration.

Free movie ticket Deal from Hoyts

One ticket per person which can be used on your birthday to any Hoyts cinema (gold class, la premiere, 3D, imax, xtremescreen).

Offer valid until 31/7/2010

(For people whose birthday after July 2010, sorry u miss out… but you can pass this along!).
Just register on the above website to print out your voucher & bring your ID to claim the tix at the counter.

goto http://celebrate.hoyts.com.au/  if you want more details

Payment Administration Fee

“We have listened to customer feedback and have made a decision to stop charging the $2.20 administration fee for bill payments made through the mail or in person at a Telstra Shop or Australia Post. See the details of this announcement.

We are currently implementing system changes to remove the $2.20 administration fee and will provide current customers with refunds in the coming months for any $2.20 administration fees they paid to Telstra since the new charge was introduced on 14 September 2009.

You do not need to call Telstra about this, as a refund for any $2.20 administration fees you have paid will be automatically applied as a credit to your current customer account with Telstra.”

Mr Thodey said Telstra would honour its commitment to a special offer of up to $50 Cash Back through to the end of December 2009 on selected Telstra Shop product purchases for customers who continue to sign up for direct debit payment options.

As the leader in australian   telecom sector makes a better move towards customer service , just like Nab did as well removing unpopular  fees   customers were getting charged, we hope  that  Other companies like optus  Also follow suit instead of charging customers $2.20 for them to pay their own mobile bill . I was  very pissed off when i noticed this on my bill recently.

Here is some  comments on this on another forum :

http://forums.overclockers.com.au/showthread.php?t=765500

Optus to charge $2.20 for each paper bill??

..where the hell did they pull that out from?..
From 1st May each paper bill will hav addtional $2.20 surchage.
Will be considerng another phone & ISP company now..its BS.
Anyone other company doing this? or this is common practise now?

———————

But I’ll bet your bill is not reduced by the amount of the new charge. It’s just another way to get more money out of you while claiming it’s saving you money. Did the letter let out a waft of poo smell when you opened it?
Regards,
g@z.

———————

who wins? certainly not the customer.
If they want online bills they should offer a $2.20 discount to switch to it not charge you for paper bills.

 

-Death

—————————-

How about the thousands of people who don’t / cant use the internet?
I found signing up to get the paper bills a bit of a pain. That myaccount system for optus is annoying! It was down for a week when I first tried signing up too.

 

-Plastik8

——————

I can’t believe the number of people defending a blatant price gouge. Is anyone trying to say that it actually costs Optus $2.20 to print a paper bill?
Or is it rather that arbitrary and unjust charges are somehow acceptable?
Sure most people have an option. But should they be forced to do it?
If Optus implemented a policy where they would add $50 to your bill for holding your phone in your right hand then the solution is easy – use your left hand! But how stupid to suggest this as being reasonable.
I have had the pleasure of working for optus, and I have questioned similar decisions in the past, and have been assured it was about revenue raising and there was no justification for the cost.
What a bizarre, bizarre world we live in that people are content with that – not just complacent about it but will condescendingly defend it!
Just… wow.

 

-Rush

Article from http://www.theage.com.au/national/optus-bill-fee-to-hit-poor-20090323-97hn.html

CONSUMER advocates say that new fees for people who prefer to receive their phone bills by mail will hurt low-income earners who do not have access to the internet.

From May 1, Optus will charge mobile phone customers up to $2.20 a month for receiving their bills in the post. The company imposed the fee for new mobile and landline customers in January.

Vodafone already charges $2.20 for paper bills but says it will waive the fee for anyone unable to access the internet.

"The telcos should follow the lead of some of the energy and utility providers who, if you agree to pay your bills online or by direct debit, give you a discount," Christopher Zinn, a spokesman for consumer association Choice, said.

He said not everyone had access to the internet and low-income earners could be affected. "It could be pensioners, migrants, it could be those who want to have a paper bill," he said.

Unhappy with Optus paper bill fee? Break contract 4 free!

If you are going to plan a holiday for this year or next year sometime  its worth checking out and booking now to scor yourself a Cheap airfare ,, because for sure  you will not ge these sort of fares at a later date. here are some fares being highlighted on their website for starters

Jetstar’s Stocktake Sale!

Sale now on until midnight (23:59 AEDT) Sunday 13 December 2009, unless sold out prior. Sale may be extended.

DOMESTIC  DISCOUNT FARES

Brisbane
from $89^^*

Gold Coast
from $75

Sydney Gold Coast
$49

INTERNATIONAL DISCOUNT FARES

Auckland
from $189 (JetSaver Light)~

Sydney Christchurch
$129

Sydney Tokyo
Via Gold Coast
$349

Go check out the whole list of  discounted fares at  http://www.jetstar.com/au/en/cheap-flights/sales.aspx

Sale fares

For travel on selected days and flights only. Sale fares include JetSaver Light# fares, for when you travel with carry on baggage only. Or you can also choose a JetSaver fare for just $10 more for domestic flights or $20-$35 more for international flights with the full 20kg checked baggage allowance. StarClass promo fares are non refundable and include 30kg checked baggage allowance. Click here for more information on StarClass, including a virtual preview of the cabin. So whichever fare you choose, you’re sure of an amazing fare!

• • First We lose our money as none of the favorites VIEWED , ALCOPOP , Roman Emperor manage to make a mark with shocking giving us a stunning finish.
  • Second The RBA rubs salt into our wounds by announcing  a Rate Hike of 25 basis points  to empty our bank accounts even further

Yesterday’s 149th Melbourne Cup, before a crowd of 102,181, will be remembered for how physical it was. Caulfield Cup winner Viewed was bumped many times, as was the favourite Alcopop, while Daffodil nearly fell. Michelle Payne, riding in her first Cup aboard Allez Wonder, was surprised at some of the tactics.

Winner MELBOURNE CUP 2009 – SHOCKING

MELBOURNE CUP 2009 Results

1. Shocking

2.Crime Scene

3. Mourilyan

4.Master O’Reilly

RESULTS FOR MELBOURNE CUP 2009

Pic courtesy :www.ozbet.com.au

Crime scene did a good job taking  in  second place by a whisker after shocking. It was shocking new to many  as non of the favorites   won and many  punters  disappointed .. but leaving the bookies laughing.

RBA RAISES RATES BY 25 Basis Points today 3 Nov 2009

To add to our misery The RBA went ahead and did a 25 basis point rate cut today   and   thus  be ready to see even more money  going out from your bank account if  you hold a mortgage

As was widely expected by economists, the Reserve Bank board lifted the cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.5 per cent. Mr Swan says Australians should expect rate increases as the economy recovers from the global financial crisis.

WESTPAC has matched the central bank, increasing its standard variable mortgage interest rate by 25 basis points.

The bank’s standard variable home loan rate will rise to 6.31 per cent as of Friday November 6, from 6.06 per cent, Sydney-based Westpac said in a statement on Tuesday.

LINKS :

CASH RATE TARGETS AUSTRALIA

Article: www.australianstockwatch.com

MELBOURNES NUDE BEACHES

Head north-east from the car park and follow the sand as it curves to the right, walking over the rocks or along a narrow-beaten path etched into the neighbouring dunes, and you’ll start to notice a few differences.

First-timers might find it strange here, even confronting, but the atmosphere is relaxed. The words “letting it all hang out” come to mind.

Sunnyside North is one of four official nude beaches in Melbourne, where visitors are legally entitled to grace the sand wearing nothing but their birthday suits

For more than 30 years, nudists have been getting their gear off around Melbourne and even in Sydney and WA.

Nakedness and liberation is an association widely echoed within the nudist community, but self-empowerment tends to mean little to those who campaign against public nudity. Pro-nude organisations such as Free Beaches Australia Incorporated claim their shores are constantly under threat from the nudity naysayers: councils, property developers and religious lobbyers

“It attracts people from all walks of life and from all age groups,” she says. “For me being a nudist is about the freedom to be able to be myself (and) to be happy with my body to the point where I don’t feel I have to hide it.”

Here’s a guide to the best clothes-free beaches

Where are the Nudist beaches ?

There are four official nude, or “clothing optional”,

beaches in Victoria:

Sunnyside North (Mount Eliza),

Campbell’s Cove (Werribee South),

Point Impossible (Torquay)

South Side (Torquay).

Unofficial nude beaches also exist in Hastings and East Gippsland.

IN WA PERTH

North Swanbourne in Western Australia

(Which is about 20 minutes out of Perth. Every year North Swanbourne holds a summer sports carnival where in-the-buff participants grace the sand to compete in events such as Best Bum, Pass the Bucket and Four-Legged Race)

NSW

Samurai Beach in Port Stephens, NSW, also hosts an annual competition (the “Nude Olympics”) and features Australia’s only legal nude campsite.

Guidelines for etiquette on nude beaches

• respect the privacy of others( dont stare)
• respect the property of others (chairs)
• no overt sexual activity

RELATED LINKS:

http://www.freebeach.com.au/NSW%20List.htm

http://oznudism.blogspot.com/2009/09/nude-adventure-activities.html

http://www.qldbeaches.com/nude.html

http://www.australiablog.com/planning-a-trip/nude-beaches-near-sydney.html