asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state in what cases and under what conditions it is normal for his Department to demand the payment of five years' rental in advance plus a deposit charge for calls before installing a telephone; and whether he considers it reasonable or desirable that a person having a telephone installed should be asked to pay a sum of £62 10s. in advance.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Rentals.
28.
It is not normal to require payments in advance of the order indicated in the Deputy's question before installing a telephone. The Department reserves the right, however, to require payment in advance in any case where it considers that course to be justified, for example, where the capital cost of installation is abnormally high and where there is, in addition, more than normal risk that the service will not be retained for the full initial period of contract. Even in such cases the payment in advance is usually only a fraction of the capital cost involved. Since there is no installation charge, the requirement is not at all unreasonable.