I have a simlar problem.
I recently got NBN at my address and after evaluating options, I decided that the best value was the optus service. $200Gb, 25MPS, nothing special.
I'd save $60/mth from my Telstra ADSL2 Premium Home Internet service, and this service was cheaper than Telstra who offerred the same NBN service at $80/mth.
I was informed that I'll be able to get the email retention service from Telstra for free for 12 months.
All sweet, NBN box install good, speed fine, home phone line switched over to optus on same number just fine,,,, then my Telstra email was switched off.
I've spent the last 4 days on Telstra service chat trying to get it sorted..... after two days of allot of brush off's "it will take 24hr's for work order to be completed",,, today "Good Friday" I finally got someone on chat that tried to activate the email retention service...... with no success.
I'm told that Telstra cannot activate a email retention service as I don't now have any "post paid" services with them and the cheapest is a $35/mth mobile service.
I've asked this question on Whirlpool, and some users there state free email retention does exist.
How can I get retain my old email addresses with Telstra paying such a high price?