asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he has seen a complaint in which serious charges were made against his Department in relation to overcharging for telephone calls; if in view of the admission of his Department to this overcharging on several occasions he will advise the general public to keep their own check of all calls made; if he will indicate how many cases of overcharging for calls have been reported and found to be justified and in which refunds were made since January, 1958: if it is a fact that there is in existence a stereotyped letter to answer queries relating to wrong telephone accounts issued to subscribers; and if he will fully enquire into the present unsatisfactory position.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Call Charges.
38.
The overcharging in the particular case referred to arose from a fault affecting the recording of local calls in a newly installed telephone exchange and was aggravated by subsequent clerical errors in adjusting the accounts. The faulty recording was discovered in an engineering check shortly after the new exchange was opened. A reduction was made in the subscriber's accounts for the period during which the fault could have affected recordings.
The recording meters in use in my Department are of the highest quality and standard of accuracy obtainable and are identical with those used in other telephone administrations. There is, of course, a possibility of fault as there is in practically every similar type of electrical equipment. During the three years 1958, 1959, 1960 refunds were made in a total of about 600 cases. These included a great number of cases in which the refunds were made on the basis of giving the subscriber the benefit of the doubt.
As over 100,000 accounts have to be issued and cleared every quarter office procedures have had to be designed to deal with queries as expeditiously as possible. Accordingly, neostyled letters have been devised to inform subscribers of the result of enquiries which are liable to arise frequently.
Mr. Ryan
Is the Minister aware that, though far removed from the area to which Deputy O. J. Flanagan is referring, similar complaints have been received in connection with other telephone exchanges? I am referring specifically to Sutton where one subscriber was able to assert that she had been charged in respect of 1,000 calls which she had not made. Is the Minister further aware that a Catholic priest was all but called a liar by an official of his Department when he said he had been charged in respect of thousands of calls which he had not made and that he was threatened with disconnection, and that, because of the honoured post he held, he was not disconnected but within a month the Department sent an official humbly to him to ask him what amount he was prepared to pay——
The Deputy is making a speech.
The cases referred to by the Deputy have nothing whatsoever to do with the subject-matter of the Question and accordingly I have not got the information sought for. If the Deputy comes to me and gives me specific cases I shall have them investigated. I should point out that if a person is aggrieved he has the right to appeal.
We are all aggrieved.
Mr. Ryan
They can make an appeal but they are being ignored and insulted whenever they approach the Department.
If the Deputy would give me the names of the Catholic priest and the others whom he mentioned I shall investigate them. I shall investigate any case of which I have information. I cannot give the information here in answer to an entirely separate question.
Could the Minister say how many individual meters were found to be faulty?
I have not got that information.
We shall ask again.
Can the Minister say in what area the fault was found?
I think it relates to the Dundrum Exchange.
Mr. Ryan
These complaints are universal.
Surely the Minister will agree this is a very serious matter?
I agree, but you cannot find electrical equipment that is faultless.
Mr. Ryan
In view of the Minister's unsatisfactory reply, I should like to raise this matter on the adjournment.
I shall communicate with the Deputy.