Telephone Rates

It is an uncontestable point that the new way of charging consumers for telephone service should take account of Cable & Wireless' productivity. The Fair Trading Commission recognises this.
So why has the FTC neglected to do so in the sensitive area of residential telephone service in both the last ruling as well as the new ruling?
The productivity factor is used by the FTC for other services and yet there is no explanation why it has been excluded for residential services which affect the lowest income consumers.
Consumer advocates made a lot of noise about productivity when our views were invited prior to the new decision on rates. We complained that the original 7 per cent price control in the first decision was not transparent, had not been explained and was unjustified. In short, a nonsense which only served to shackle ordinary citizens with unjustifiably high rates.
The experts tell us that when a regulator such as the FTC is preparing rates under a Price Cap model "The proper choice of an X-factor (productivity factor) is critical for the long-term viability of any price cap plan."
So, for example, the use of a productivity consideration can result in price "reductions".
What usually happens is that if a company can increase its productivity beyond inflation then the consumer may benefit from lower rates.
So my concern is if the FTC can use prductivity as a factor in other services under the new Price Cap why can't it do so for residential service? Certainly every citizen would be pleased in these hard times to know that at least their basic monthly telephone bill is lower than previous years. If we read the new decision carefully the FTC agrees that the company's productivity gains were higher than anticipated.
Would this not suggest that the compounded 22.5 per cent increase in rates over the past three years was a bad decision?
The FTC has never explained why it chose seven per cent and after the initial period of a freeze in the new rates Cable & Wireles can charge a maximum of 4.5 per cent annually. Again, no explanation for this figure although we believe it is related to projected inflation rates.
The overall decision suggests that a lot of work has been done by the FTC and its consultants.
What is in question is whether in the case of residential rates the consumers are getting a fair deal.
What do you think?
Hallam Hope

I WANT TO COMPLAIN SO THAT WE CAN TAKE ACTION

What people don't want to complain. How about calling RBTT bank and having to be on hold for 20 mins; calling Pizza Man Doc and someone telling me "mek sure yuh send a good tip",; calling Pizza Man Doc and hearing the delivery guy did not come in because of "the rain"; I can write a book
Rip off prices - there is a convenience store in Thorpes selling a chicken for $30.10 cents the price of a pigeon. Every weeks Cavendish potatos are up by $1; The attitudes are horrible. there is a sense of entitlement in this country which makes workers believe they can behave any way. FIRE THEM! Why is N.I.S.E. there - as a silly joke?
How about leaving for Canada and being sexually harassed in security by G4S personnel and I reported it and got no answer (well no satisfactory one); how about the attitude of customs officers when they see my British passport but know I am a legal resident but stamp me a visitor anyhow.
How about the attitude when just shopping or in a bank. OMG, the service sucks, the attitudes suck, the people are angry and miserable and equate service with servitude. How about going to dinner and getting the wrong order everytime from a certain upscale restaurant. How about a barman stealing you change in 2nd St. I can go on. I am not the only one.I think I'll drink my martini at home and travel. I will not tip a soul for poor service! What is the purpose of NISE? C'mon Kim Tudor? I like you, what's up with this and Public Sector Reform or has that gone the way of all flesh!
How about lame journalism in both daily papers and the same on our airwaves. Where did all the tenets of journalism go to make way for sensationalism and the destruction of people in cou cou and flying fish and pudding and souse on Saturdays, is that "we culture" cos it is not mine. I mind my own business.

THIS WAS RECEIVED FROM A MEMBER OF THE CONSUMER WATCH GROUP ON FACEBOOK

Car Tyres

Talking about difference in prices....

Here is the story....A friend of mind had a flat tyre this morning and was very upset as she had a ten o'clock appointment and several other things to do, none of which included getting a tyre patch.

Off she went to a brand name tyre repair store, to be told that she had a problem as the tyre itself was no longer usable...she had to get a new tyre.

She ask the price of one and was told that a 14 Michellen Tyre was $245.00 (175) as they did not have 185. She said in her nicest voice thanks and put down the receiver.

She then called an establishment in the Bagatelle area and was told that the tyre she wanted costed about $170.00.

She then asked one of the guys on the block in her neighborhood and they sent her to the tyre place there in Cave Hill.

She got two new tyres for $320.00 dollars, and the guys put them on and move around her tyres too!!!!!!!!!!!

The moral of this story.....do not buy the item at a price that your instincts tell you is unreasonable..shop around..go to a telephone and call around.

Cheers