Optus is giving customers one month’s free trial in they sign up to the My Plan Plus or My Plan business contracts. Picture: iStock

Experts say the telco is pouncing on the “bad blood between Telstra and its customers” by enticing new phone users to jump ship from their own provider and if they don’t end up happy they can simply walk.

Optus is offering new customers a free one month trial on some plans. Picture: SuppliedSource:istock

Optus yesterday announced it would be giving customers who sign up to a 24-month My Plan Plus or My Plan Business the first 30 days for free — plan inclusions apply — so they can test drive their service at no charge.

And the telco has promised, “if customers decide it’s not meant to be, Optus is making it easy to move on.”

Telco comparison website WhistleOut’s editor Joseph Hanlon said this latest offer was a tactical move by Optus to try and steal disgruntled phone users from rival Telstra who have experienced a nightmare few months of multiple outages.

“The recent Telstra outages have the competition piling on to attract switchers while there is still bad blood between Telstra and its customers,’’ he said.

“While the telcos battle it out, it is the customers who are the winners.”

If new Optus customers decide they’re not happy with the service they must cancel it within 30 days of signing up, return their handset and they’ll escape any costs.

Repetitive Telstra outages has resulted in many customers being disgruntled with their service. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

Their managing director of marketing and product Ben White said he’s confident once customers try their network they’ll stay put.

“We want to give customers the freedom to try the Optus mobile network for themselves, knowing that they won’t be locked in to anything,’’ he said.

“We believe once customers try our network they’ll be happy they made the switch.

“But in the event that they want to move on, it’s as simple as letting us know, returning the handset in good working order and you’re done — no lock-in contracts, no plan cancellation fees.”

Consumer watchdog Choice’s spokesman Tom Godfrey said Telstra’s recent woes “has some customers questioning why they are paying a price premium for their service.”

Telstra remains the largest mobile phone provider in Australia with 16.9 million customers while Optus has 9.3 million customers.

sophie.elsworth@news.com.au