TelOne takes legal action against defaulters

Published: 23 July 2013

TELONE, the country's sole telephone landline service provider, has started taking legal action against hundreds of its customers to recover thousands of dollars in unpaid telephone bills. A majority of subscribers reportedly have not been paying bills since dollarisation in 2009, while others owed money for Internet services.

Scores of TelOne clients yesterday said the company had given them an ultimatum to pay up their outstanding bills by 17 June or risk legal action, within seven days.

A number of the subscribers said they suspected their bills had been inflated.

"I received the notice last week, nearly a month after the expiry of the ultimatum. I am surprised that it was written final notice, when I had never received a notice before. I have a problem because I was always up to date with my account during the Zim dollar era. After dollarisation, my first bill was for $300 when I had not been using the phone. I am unwilling to pay because TelOne has never been able to explain how the bill accrued," said a man whose bill has since accumulated to about $1 300.

Another subscriber said he had a bill of $587, which he said he would not be able to pay because he lost his job when Cotton Printers closed down.

"I am willing to pay the bill, but I have no job. I am on the verge of destitution because other service providers, like council and Zesa are also breathing down my neck. I am afraid of going to prison because of the debts as it would surely spell the end for my family. However, there is nothing I can do because I simply do not have the money," said the subscriber.

Part of a copy of the notice read: "It will be appreciated if the settlement of the above account could be effected within the next seven days. If no response is received regarding the above by 17/06/13, this account will be terminated and handed over to lawyers."

However, some subscribers who received the notice yesterday said they were yet to be disconnected.

A comment could not be obtained from TelOne spokesperson Ms Rosemary Sande as she was not reachable on her mobile phone.

However, in a statement flighted in the Press yesterday, TelOne said it would embark on a debt collection campaign between Wednesday and Friday.

"TelOne wishes to advise its valued clients that our credit control teams will be conducting client premises visits to all clients with outstanding telecommunication services bills from the 24th to the 26th of July. The mandate of these teams is to confirm the outstanding amounts and as well as to negotiate payments with the affected clients," read the statement.

Clients were warned to ensure that people conducting the exercise were TelOne employees, before allowing them into their homes.

"Please note that all TelOne members of staff undertaking this exercise will be bearing TelOne identity cards. If you are in doubt, please request that this identity card be produced for your inspection," read the notice.
- chronicle