Telstra gives local businesses priority reconnection choice

Telstra's south-west area manager Bill Mundy said  businesses could call in at the Warrnambool business office off the Ozone car park to choose a reconnection priority as technicians works to reconnect services.

"Overnight we have been able to do a lot of work for priority customers," he said.

"We can temporarily connect businesses.

"But when it comes to connecting businesses, we do not know whether it is EFTPOS, or ADSL or other services they want first."

Telstra's call, which was broadcast on radio on Monday morning, attracted a big response with a queue of about 50 people stretching out the doors of the Telstra business office and across the Ozone car park.

Among those in the queue was Noeline King from Middy's Data and Electrical store who said the impact on business had been "huge."

"It's been very quiet," she said.

"Our EFTPOS and landline are out.

"We cannot do orders."

Ms King said the business had one Optus phone that had been very popular.

Sacks The Jeweller owner Peter Hogg said 80 per cent of his business was on debit or credit cards, so without EFTPOS trade had been substantially down.

He said the business had a swipe machine that used paper receipts, but customers were reluctant to use it.

Some people had asked for items to be withdrawn from sale and said they would come back later and pay for them.

Gateway Centre manager Tony Scott said most of Gateway Centre's specialty stores were without EFTPOS but the major stores did have it.

The centre has about 30 stores, most of which are specialty stores.

"It has affected every business in terms of sales but people are still coming in," Mr Scott said.

Another in the queue was Cathy Dumesny, an administration worker for a psychologist, who said the practice wanted a land line so it could contact clients about appointments.

"If someone misses an appointment, we cannot contact them to make sure they are OK," Ms Dumesny said.

"It's had a big impact."

ehimmelreich@fairfax.com.au