Sir, - What must one do to get a telephone line in this country? Just an ordinary line, not an ISDN or Internet, an ordinary telephone line.
Prior to moving house in August 2001, I filled in an application, paid the relevant amount and received a confirmation order back. I was told it would take about four to six weeks for connection. This was fine: we had mobiles.
After eight weeks I rang customer service and they gave me the telephone number of an engineer who "would be able to tell me the current status". After making numerous calls and leaving messages, I eventually spoke to a man who told me there was no cabling going to either our house or the one beside it. However, the other houses in the estate have phones.
I asked how long this would take and was told it would be given to a contractor and work would be completed within the next couple of weeks (this was late October).
A man did call to the house to do something with a telephone box in the house but could do no more until the cabling was done.
Again, after numerous calls to customer service, they said they would check it out and call back. But no one rings back.
November - status unchanged. December - cabling will be completed on December 5th. Guess what? Still no cable completion.
I really do not know where to turn next or who to speak to. - Yours, etc.,
K. Robins, Ballyderrig, Rathangan, Co Kildare.