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No Hotdogs And That Will Be 90 Cents For Asking!

By Woody Oakes

On my latest Bellsouth telephone bill, I was charged for attempting to, but not obtaining, the last caller’s telephone number using Bellsouth’s Star 69 services.  I have never been charged before when their computer could not obtain the number for me.  I learned the Kentucky Public Service Commission (KPSC) allows Bellsouth to charge for Star 69 services, even when they do NOT deliver the number.  This charge is comparable to a person going up to a hotdog stand, asking for a hotdog, being told they do NOT have hotdogs and then being charged 90 cents for asking. 

Bellsouth informed me that I could subscribe to two services from them that will block all unidentifiable calls.  I refuse to pay $14 monthly for caller I. D. and call blocking services that I do not want. 

 A second unfair charge is when you call information to get an unpublished number and you are charged $1.25 for the computer’s failed attempt, so unpublished numbers actually generate additional revenue for Bellsouth.

But the most unfair charge made by Bellsouth is charging NOT to publish our name, address and phone number.  No doubt this is where telemarketers, junk mailers and others obtain lots of our personal info.  Putting our numbers on a no call list does not solve the personal info problem.

          Many people don’t want their personal info listed in a public book, not in this age of credit card fraud, identity theft, stalkers, rape, home break-ins, or call blocking whereas the caller can block their number from being identified.

     About 16 years ago I began paying Bellsouth NOT to publish my personal info, so I have been paying EACH and EVERY month for this NON-service. They save on printing cost, yet month after month, I pay and pay.  I calculate I have paid Bellsouth more than $600 dollars over these years for not publishing my personal info.  To say this in an unfair charge is an understatement.   It is an OUTRAGE!

     For comparison, how many people using a computer would subscribe to internet services if the provider would automatically publish your name, street address and your e-mail address, and if you didn’t like it, charge extra for NOT publishing this personal info?

     Even Bellsouth's Cingular division does not publish or give out our cell phone numbers.

     The KPSC should force Bellsouth, a virtual monopoly, to eliminate these charges.  Times have changed and it is past due for Bellsouth to come into the twenty first century… even if they have to be dragged by KPSC…that is, assuming KPSC can be prodded into action.  They did not respond to my previous e-mail complaint.

     If you feel as I do, please contact the Governor, your State Senator, State Representative and others to voice your opinion on this issue.  Below are some e-mail addresses.

governor@mail.state.ky.us

dmrhody@mail.state.ky.us        (Kentucky Public Service Commission)

Ramona.McCawley@BellSouth.com

(Editor’s note:  I believe we now have alternatives to Bell South.  Perhaps, instead of always being frustrated by state regulators who do not do what we think they should, we might just change to another phone service provider.  Competition often succeeds where regulation does not!) 

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