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Show Ma Bell Plans Clhaiige '. , In Long Distance Calls Mountain Bell operators will begin advising customers that beginning March 1. long distance calls made from public pub-lic phones billed to a third number v. ill not be completed unless someone at the other number accepts the call. The change in policy is being made to protect customers from being billed for calls they don't make and to reduce long distance dis-tance telephone fraud. BETWEEN now and March 1 , if no one answers or the line is busy at the third number, the call will still go through. But on March 1, acceptance from someone at the third number for third-number-billed calls made from public phones will be required before such a call can be completed. Operators will tell customers, custom-ers, "I'll check that number and connect you." If the third number is busy or doesn't answer, the operator will say, "Your billing number is busy or doesn't answer. Billing on this call is acceptable. However, Howev-er, starting March 1 , 1 will need verbal acceptance from your billing number or alternate billing bill-ing such as a Calling Card." The verification attempt takes approximately 30 seconds. "THIS IS only a logical extension ex-tension of our collect call practice," prac-tice," said Carl Hunt, District Manager Operator Services. "The revision is designed to protect customers from being charged for calls they don't make. Misbilled calls from public telephones are growing at an alarming rate. Customer dissatisfaction with the present pre-sent third-number-billing practice prac-tice is growing as a result. In the long run, telephone rates customers pay are affected by fraudulent use of the company's com-pany's facilities," he said. "Third number service will still be offered to customers, and infrequent users of public phones won't notice much change. But a customer who has to make several calls from a public phone and bill them to a third number may want to consider an alternate method of billing," said Hunt. OPERATORS are also advising customers that if no one accepts the charges at the third number, alternative methods of paying for such calls are available. They include in-clude calling collect, paying for the call with coins or using a calling card. Calling Card calls can be placed faster and easier than third-number-billed calls and are less expensive. With Call Card Service, customers can dial "zero-plus" on long distance dis-tance calls. The customer dials in the Calling Card number and billing is handled automatically automatical-ly From public phones, customers cus-tomers hear a tone followed by a brief announcement of dial. ing instructions. ' ; t M CUSTOMERS can obtain ' Calling Cards by calling their ' local business office and avoid V any inconvenience created bv this policy change. |
