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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!mcnc!ecsvax!hes
From: hes@ecsvax.UUCP (Henry Schaffer)
Newsgroups: net.dcom
Subject: Telco "Trouble Isolation Plan"
Message-ID: <1177@ecsvax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 11-Feb-86 22:48:52 EST
Article-I.D.: ecsvax.1177
Posted: Tue Feb 11 22:48:52 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 13-Feb-86 19:26:36 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: NC State Univ.
Lines: 32

<>Our local operating company, Southern Bell, has announced its
"optional Trouble Isolation Plan for single-line residence and
business customers" which "is designed to help eliminate customer
confusion and frustration having to do with repair responsibilities."

  "Here's how it works.  When a Southern Bell technician visits your
premises on a repair call, there is no charge for locating the
trouble if you belong to the plan.  If the trouble is in the facilities
we maintain, we will make the repairs at no charge.  If the trouble
is in the telephone set, the technician will isolate the problem but
won't be able to fix it since the instrument is no longer the property
of Southern Bell.
Under the plan, customers do not have to be concerned about the
possibility of paying $31.25 for a repair visit only to learn that
the problem is not in Southern Bell's facilities"

  "The plan is optional and costs $1.05 a month."  (There is no
service order charge if I sign up  in Feb., $10.75 residence, $14.50
business, thereafter.)

  How do you like this, insurance against finger-pointing!  With a
break-even point at about 30 months it might be worth it for non-
technical people who buy complicated/unreliable telephones.  My
own experience with Western Electric pushbutton phones is that I
haven`t had to have a home repair call for over 10 years.

  I wonder if Southern Bell had to get permission from the state
Insurance Commission?  (i.e., is this legally considered
insurance - my guess would be -no-, it probably is considered
a maintenance contract.)  What do you think it is?

--henry schaffer