Aussies prefer to be working than waiting

One third of Australians would prefer to be at work than waiting at home for services such as wifi, utilities, and whitegoods to be installed, according to a new survey* commissioned by EnergyAustralia's Home Services.

And what Australians most hate waiting for is the doctor, followed by tradespeople.

EnergyAustralia's survey, conducted by Nielsen, asked 1500 respondents across Australia aged 18 years and over what they hated waiting for. It also provided an insight into what people would prefer to be doing with their time.

The survey found:

• Thirty one per cent of participants listed the doctors as the most frustrating area when it comes to waiting, with women hating the wait at the doctors more than men;
• Twenty seven per cent of Australians expect to wait more than 30 minutes at the doctor, with 9 per cent expecting to wait more than an hour;
• People listed waiting for a tradesperson as the second most frustrating service to wait for;
• When it comes to waiting for home services, such as the installation of a phone or wifi connection, utilities or heating and cooling, there are many activities people would prefer to be doing; and
• Not surprisingly, nearly half of all Australians surveyed would rather be spending time with family, 40 per cent preferred to be socialising with friends while sleeping came in at 27 per cent.

EnergyAustralia's Home Services Product and Sales Manager Gavin Lewis said people's time was valuable and EnergyAustralia had tailored its new home services program to take this into account.

"For many of us, there never seems enough time in the day to achieve everything we want yet when it comes to waiting at the doctors, or for a bank teller or plumber, we are forced to put our lives on hold," Mr Lewis said.

"Even getting into a good restaurant requires lining up and waiting.

"And often when you organise a home appointment, you are provided a five hour window and still you are left waiting when no one shows.

"At EnergyAustralia, we understand that no one wants to wait too long for services and that's why we are guaranteeing our service people will turn up at an agreed time.

"You choose the two hour time window that suits you, and if we don't turn up on time, we will provide you a $50 voucher."

EnergyAustralia's Home Services offers heating, cooling and hot-water installation and servicing, as well as 24-hour emergency home response.

The service launches 17 August and will be available for customers in the metropolitan areas of NSW, Victoria and South Australia. Operating hours apply.

For more information, phone 133 349 or visit www.energyaustralia.com.au

Additional survey results:

• Fourteen per cent of survey participants hate waiting for public transport the most, 10 per cent said banks and 8 per cent hated queuing to get into restaurants;
• Victorians hated waiting for public transport more than the national average;
• Only 4 per cent of Australians listed waiting at a bar for a drink the most frustrating area to wait for;
• The home service Australians find most frustrating to wait for is telephone connection at 26 per cent and wifi connection at 22 per cent, utilities (gas and electricity) at 19 per cent, and white goods installation at 16 per cent; and
• Australians over 40 find waiting for a phone connection more frustrating than 18-39 year olds.

^{*Energy Australia claim based on research conducted by Nielsen, from 4 July to 9 July, 2014, among 1501 surveyed Australians aged 18+.}