Charges for calls made by others
Molloy questioned whether operators always called back to verify long-distance calls and what redress subscribers had when someone else’s call was charged to them. The Minister said operators usually called back but offered no answer on redress. Reynolds and Brennan challenged the Minister’s estimate of 200–300 disputed accounts, saying the number was much higher, before the Chair moved on.
: When a person makes a long distance call through the exchange, will the Minister explain if the operator is required to take the caller's number and ring back? The Minister will agree that it is accepted in his Department that a number of people are giving false numbers and that the bill is charged to an innocent party who did not make the call. If the operators are instructed by the Department to call back in all cases, why is this not done?
Comment on this
: When a subscriber books a call of the kind mentioned by the Deputy it is the practice of the operator to ring back. However, if the operator is under severe pressure there may not be an opportunity to do this. In most cases the operator rings back.
Comment on this
: Could the Minister say what redress the subscriber has if someone else's call is charged to him because a person gave his number which was not correct?
Comment on this
: Does the Minister not think that that would be some safeguard to the public? This is a scandalous situation. The Department do not care and are sending out bills asking people to pay for calls for which they are not due.
Comment on this
: Arising from an earlier reply from the Minister, we will not find Deputies on this or on his own side who would not agree that there is public disquiet about the number of errors.
Comment on this
: Would the Minister please tell me what number of accounts are under dispute with his Department at the moment?
Comment on this
: The Deputy asked a question and received an answer. The Chair is now passing on to Question No.13.
