Eircom's restrictions on bill payments

Date: 31/08/2010
Posted by: Darragh

EIRCOM'S FINANCIAL FIGURES MAY BE BEHIND NEW RESTRICTIONS ON BILL PAYMENTS

I urge Eircom to come clean on why it is imposing a minimum payment on customers who want to pay their bills in instalments through their local post office.

I have received a number of calls from concerned Eircom customers who pay their bills in precisely the way that is now being restricted by the company. I first raised this issue last week and Eircom has done nothing to allay the fears of thousands of its customers who will be affected by its new ‘minimum payment' policy at post offices. I understand this policy change will affect up to 250,000 Eircom customers. I am very concerned that this will hit those on pensions and other State payments the most as they work to weekly budgets on low incomes.

I am now concerned, in light of the figures released by Eircom today, that this move is not at all to do with simplifying payment systems but simply a cost cutting measure for the company. Like many across the country I want Eircom to be a viable competitive business and its revenue results are a cause for concern. However the company must understand that hampering the ability of loyal customers to pay their bills is not the solution to its problem.

Eircom customers are being given very little notice of this change which is far from insignificant. The company has also declined to state exactly how many customers or what percentage of its customer base will be affected by this change. This suggests the number of people I understand to be affected, of 250,000, is actually the case.

I believe there are thousands of people across the country at the moment who do not know that this change will take effect from October 1st. I have called on Eircom not to implement this new policy. I believe it will disproportionately affect those in receipt of State pension payments and other social welfare benefits as they pay many of their bills by instalments at their local post office.