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From: sims@hou2b.UUCP (J.SIMESTER)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Re: Telecommunications and the Phone Company
Message-ID: <175@hou2b.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 28-Dec-83 10:21:22 EST
Article-I.D.: hou2b.175
Posted: Wed Dec 28 10:21:22 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 30-Dec-83 00:28:16 EST
Organization: Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 36


Karl posted the following horror story... (edited version)

> This little story about modems and unreliable phone lines struck a
> chord dear to my heart.  I have this nervousness about owning my own
> phone, which is why I still rent/lease/whatever-they-call-it mine.


> Joe calls local phone company and says, "My phone's stopped working."  Well,
> now, Local Phone Company Repair Representative asks a few semi-pertinent
> questions, and then comes to the big one: "Is this an AT&T phone, or do
> you own it yourself?"  Joe responds truthfully (much to his shortly-to-
> be-realized regret), "I own it."  Local Phone Company Repair Representa-
> tive heaves a great sigh of despair, and announces, "I'm sorry, but we
> <note the editorial "we"> feel that it's YOUR PHONE which is causing the
> problem, and the line is OK.  Have YOUR PHONE repaired."  Offhand, you
> have to admit that it's in the local phone company's best interest to say
> this; after all, it would cost them some bucks to go out and check your
> line, and it costs them next to nothing to have the LPCRR tell you where
> to get off.

I can't recall the source (may have been in a mailing from NJ Bell), but I
do remember reading that the local phone company would, if asked, come out
and check your line.  HOWEVER, if the line checked out OK, the consumer would
be billed for the service call in addition to having to pay to get their
telephone fixed.  Naturally, if the problem WAS on the line, there would
be no service call charge.

The suggestion was made that a consumer check the line by plugging in
a different, working phone - which is great for households with multiple
phones (assuming they both don't die at once).  For single phone homes ...
"Hi, I'm your next door neighbor.  Can I borrow a cup of sugar and your
telephone???"
-- 
                                    Jim
                             houxm!hou2b!sims