C&WJ's guinea pigs

THE EDITOR, Sir:

WITH regard to the "always busy" topic of cellular phones and cellular service providers, many customers of C&WJ must be wondering whether to feel elation, or to serve their telephone company a hearty slap in the face, in response to the sudden "lifetime service" and special "discounted rates" being offered to so-called "loyal pre-paid mobile users" of C&WJ.

One can't help but feel like the proverbial guinea pig, or more appropriately, lab mice, used as experiments by Cable and Wireless, who feed us with bits and slices of poisoned cheese, and wait to see how gullible we are, or if we will still be swayed away by the new, exciting and pleasing aroma of Digicel!

How long will this last, and if it is legitimate, why wasn't it offered to your "loyal customers" all along?

Is it that C&WJ suddenly made a huge profit in April 2001, to support the sudden 23 per cent discount on weekdays, and 30 per cent discount on weekends offered to all mobile pre-paid users? After all, it seems strange that one doesn't even have to call in.

While "pondering" these things one afternoon (as lab mice are prone to do), it dawned on me that I did not receive an expected phone call. It turned out that the other party was trying for the better part of the day to get through to my cellular phone, but with no luck (what did I expect, it's C&WJ).

So, my question is, when a call is not delivered because of a fault in your network, does it just disintegrate into thin air? Why is there no indication, notification or other verification that a call was attempted? We await your answers...needless to say the aroma of Digicel seems more and more pleasing by the second! You may answer in this medium, or better yet - give me a call, you know the number; my telephone is "always on" and "fully charged". Mind you, it may take quite a number of attempts and maybe several - hours? - before you actually get through to me! Well, at least you will realise how pleasant your recording sounds, as you listen to hours of:

"We're sorry, but your call cannot be completed at this time, as your party is either out of range or has turned off the instrument. Please try your call again later!"

I am, etc.,

RICHARD A. BEADLE,

P.O. Box 29,

Oracabessa,

St. Mary

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