asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if it is possible for private users of the telephone service to get a breakdown of trunk calls and dialled calls; and, if not, how the quarterly charges are arrived at.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Breakdown of Telephone Charges.
13.
Full details can be supplied to subscribers served by manual exchanges. In automatic areas details of dialled calls, and of calls obtained through operators, are available but, in regard to dialled calls, it is not possible to distinguish between locals and trunks, as both are recorded on the same meter. The meter advances by one unit for each local call. For dialled trunk calls it advances by one unit at regular intervals while the call lasts. The length of the interval varies with the distance of the call and the time at which it is made.
The quarterly charges for dialled calls are made up from the meter readings and those for trunk calls obtained through operators are made up from tickets and summarised on a statement issued with the account.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that there are instances in which fantastic accounts have been sent out and that, on occasion, it has been found that where one call has been made, it has been registered in units of ten and one call could mean that ten, or 60 and in some cases 100 have been recorded? Is it not true that the Parliamentary Secretary has one complaint from me about this at the present time?
I agree that there are rare occasions when this happens but I would not like it to be taken that it happens frequently. This is a recording mechanism and it is possible, as with all mechanisms, that it can go wrong, but it is seldom that it does happen. The mechanism is somewhat similar to the ESB meter which records current consumption. There may be slight inaccuracies from time to time but the Department makes every effort to control these.
When a bill which should be for £14 turns out to be for £84, it cannot be described as a slight inaccuracy. Can the Parliamentary Secretary say why it takes so long to investigate these matters when they are reported and when sometimes there is a threat of being cut off?
I agree that the difference between £14 and £84 is more than a slight difference but it would be a bit of an exaggeration to suggest that one telephone call would cost £70.
It shows more than one mistake in the same meter.
I do not accept that.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary solve the problem that when a person makes a trunk call and puts down the receiver and then raises it to make another call, he finds that he is still connected to the trunk call? Does the meter continue to tick cheerfully away until some sprite intervenes to stop the connection? I think a good deal of my current charges are due to a heavy silence which ensues on my putting down the receiver.
I cannot imagine that the Deputy's current charges would be due to silence on the part of the Deputy.
When the receiver is down.
I understand that it automatically cuts off the meter.
That was my pious hope but, when you lift it again and find you are still connected, it is rather discouraging.
That may happen with a manual call but not with an automatic call.
Oh, yes.
I invite the Parliamentary Secretary to look into the matter at his convenience.