No I don't work for Telstra but one thing I did learn growing up is when me mum kept telling me I was special, she really meant unique and not that special and I've worked out counter jocks and call centre operators aren't that special either. It probably helps having been in biz and having to deal with large corporate suppliers and I keep records of everything, particularly contractual obligations and I don't sign nuthin without reading it all through.
One thing gets drilled into you in biz is a contract is a contract and your word is your bond. Essentially it's an offer, an acceptance and a consideration and once you sign on the dotted line as an adult, mum doesn't enter into it anymore. It's binding and enforceable in the Courts for both parties, the same as a verbal contract is, but the latter all too often gets down to he says/she says and who to believe? That's why I say you're dreaming if you think you can organise important contractual obligations over the phone nowadays, with varying skill levels residing in large corporations and the continual tales of woe bear that out. As the man said, stupidity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome and besides it's many years since big biz had the margins to check yer oil, water and tyres, etc when you anointed them with the price of a tank of petrol.
You got it in writing you got something for any letter of demand, legal eagle or higher authority to get their teeth into, but a recall of a lazy conversation with a lackey over the phone is simply asking for mum to wipe your nose for you again. I drum it into the kids and cry me a river if they choose to ignore it and you want any sympathy go see yer mother.