Imagine that you have just activated your new service, using one of the new competitive providers. You call everyone you know using your new phone, and gloat about how great it is…
But, strangely, some people start telling you that they cannot call you back on your brand new phone number… This becomes a serious issue — a phone which can’t be called is not much use.
… from Chris Halsall’s A funny thing happened on the way to the competition…
Cable & Wireless has enjoyed its virtual monopoly for many years, and now that things are changing C&W isn’t taking it too well. According to Chris Halsall, Cable and Wireless have programmed much of their equipment to prevent C&W clients from calling telephones installed by other companies!
Yes, our government should be all over this because we have laws about service and connectivity that govern the operations of communications companies.
Why isn’t the law being enforced?
Good question.
Head over to Chris Halsall’s Ideas 4 Lease blog and read all about it. Then pick up the phone, and – if you’re not blocked by Cable and Wireless – call the Fair Trading Commission at (246) 424-0260 and ask them if they are finished their lunch break yet. (That’s the time between 10am and 2pm, you know.)
When you’re finished listening to their pathetic excuses, try calling the Minister, George Hutson at 426-4452. Although Minister Hutson is probably still feeling his way around his new job, you can bet that a call from the Minister saying “What the HELL is going on with this phone situation?” might help. Minister Hutson probably won’t use those words exactly, but everyone will know that is what he means!
“Ideas4Lease” Blog Added To Our Links
Chris Halsall is the Ralph Nader of Barbados telecommunications business, law and technologies… and we mean that most respectfully. Perhaps we should say that Chris has all of Nader’s good qualities and none of his bad.
Its difficult anytime you compare people, but you get the message: Chris Halsall is out there fighting for the rights of Bajans who, as a nation, have historically been held for ransom by Cable & Wireless.
Halsall makes his points with no hyperbole or shouting – just stating simple facts and asking polite yet devastating questions.
His Ideas4Lease blog is well worth your time if you are 1/ Bajan and 2/ Use the telephone or the internet.
photo – “Lobster Telephone” by Salvador Dali (1936) – courtesy of the Tait Collection, London