At Telstra's roadshow in Melbourne on Tuesday, Thodey was struggling with some newfangled contraption called a laser pointer and was forced to call on the support team, which was handily positioned in the front row.

"Which one is it Lisa? I'm not very high tech," says Thodey.

If only Telstra customers had this sort of help to hand.

At least the old marketing pro didn't need any help when it came to dealing with complaints about unsolicited calls from people claiming to be from Telstra.

"They are just a darn pest, these people," was the Marketing 101 response from Thodey.

"They ring up and they annoy you - they ring my home as well and they ring at dinner time and you can't get rid of them. They just keep ringing."

Red lighted

It isn't often that a purveyor of online adult services gets accused of being too discreet.

The corporate pup pinged the unlisted public company Redlight Manor Australia, for $12,000 after it failed to lodge financial reports with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission for three consecutive years.

ASIC commissioner Greg Tanzer said Redlight Manor Australia Ltd was one of nine companies it has targeted over the past  year as a result of ASIC's ongoing compliance program.

"Companies with a legal obligation to lodge financial reports with ASIC need to ensure they do so. Investors and creditors are entitled to know how companies are performing and rely on these reports to make informed decisions," Mr Tanzer says.

Fairfax Media's technology services would not allow CBD to er, uncover further information on Redlight's website but its Twitter account describes the business as: "Australia's Online Redlight District showcasing Brothels, Escorts, Strippers & Gentlemen's Clubs."

ASIC is also targeting tardy filers.

Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting is due before the Perth Magistrates Court in November for failing to lodge its accounts on time in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Pawn to roam

Former Bank of Queensland boss Stuart Grimshaw is still treading the boards of the ASX after being appointed as a non-executive director at pawnbroker Cash Converters.

It isn't entirely of his own volition, of course.

Grimshaw has been appointed to the gig as executive chairman of Cash Converters' largest investor, global pawnbroker EZCorp.

CBD is not sure how Grimshaw will manage his new boardroom duties, which will involve the occasional trip to the Perth HQ from his new home base in Texas.

After all, the tyranny of distance is expected to see him vacate duties as chairman of Hockey Australia in the near future.

Final showdown

AFL finals rivalry is being taken very seriously in the hallowed halls of Sydney's Folkestone bunker.

In the red Swans corner - complete with his own AFL-style change-room locker - is Folkestone boss and Swannies director Greg Paramor, as well as new recruit Winston Sammut, who runs the Maxim Asset division.

In the brown-and-gold corner, with desks at 10 paces, are Folkestone's funds management chief, Adrian Harrington, and number-cruncher Scott Martin.

The winner gets the right to hang the traditional post-grand final cartoon by WEG anywhere in the office - which, if it is the Swans, will be in the eye-line of the Hawk supporters.

Inthedoghouse

Onthehouse founder and chief executive Michael Fredericks has stood down from his role after court orders were made in a Supreme Court battle with former business partner Phil Heraghty.

He "has agreed to stand down from his duties pending investigation of the matter by the board", says Onthehouse chairman and former Macquarie banker Gail Pemberton.

The only other board member - apart from Fredericks - is former SAI Global chief Tony Scotton, which is probably why external help is being called in.

"The board has engaged independent legal advisers to investigate the matter," says its statement.

Pemberton will fill in on CEO duties in the meantime.

Needless to say, the news did wonders for the share price.

Onthehouse stock plunged below 50¢ - that's less than half what investors paid in its 2011 IPO.

Got a tip? ckruger@fairfaxmedia.com.au