Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!ukma!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!agate!telecom-request From: stephen@corp.telecom.co.nz (Richard Stephen) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Debit Phone Cards in NZ Message-ID: Date: 11 Mar 91 07:24:58 GMT Sender: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Organization: Technology Strategy, Telecom Corporation of New Zealand Lines: 42 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 198, Message 4 of 9 In article Ben_Kinchant@kcbbs.gen.nz (Ben Kinchant) writes: > Telecom New Zealand introduced "Card Phones" in early 1990 to most > Toll calls from card phones are more expensive that from a home phone. > ... but Telecom says that maintainance costs of the > public telephones are much higher, which are reflected in the rates > for card phones. In my opinion the above comments are incomplete, partially inaccurate and slightly emotive. The facts as I understand them are that national toll calls made from a public card phone are charged at the FULL RATE irrespective of the time of day or day. The full rate charge is identical to the charge applied to a call made from any other phone (eg domestic). There is no additional charge levied just because it is a card-phone. At the time, there was considerable public anguish about being levied the full rate. Telecom countered that since the basic equipment, including the pole and plastic housing cost a lot more than a simple domestic phone installation, they considered that off-peak rates could not be supported. From my Wellington Phone Directory: Telecom NZ maintains a distance based national toll charging structure whose rate varies according the time of day. There are 8 charging steps A-I, with A being the smallest (closest distance outside the free calling area) and I the furthest. Rate structure: Full Rate: Mon-Fri 8am-Noon (FR) Afternoon Rate: Mon-Fri Noon-6pm = approx 20% off FR Economy Rate: Mon-Fri 6pm-10pm; 7am-8am } Sat,Sun & National Hol 7am-10pm }= 40% off FR Night Rate: Everyday 10pm-7am = approx 70% off FR richard.