BigBend2023

Consumer Rights

Credit, Deposit Information (cont’d.) • If the applicant has been delinquent with in the last two years in payment of their account on more than one occasion, or if service has been disconnected for non payment; or • If the applicant is unable to furnish in writing a satisfactory guarantee to secure payment of bills for the service required. During the first twelve months of service, the telephone company may require an additional deposit if the customer’s cur rent usage is three times the estimated usage, or if current usage is three times the average usage of the most recent three bills. Additionally, the current usage must exceed $150 and 150% of the security held. If the additional deposit or the current usage is not paid within ten days after proper notifications, the tele phone company may disconnect service. The telephone company may require an addi tional deposit if: • The actual billings of a business custom er are at least twice the amount of the estimated billings, if that customer has been issued a suspension notice in the previous twelve months. • The actual billings of a residential cus tomer are at least twice the amount of estimated billings, two billing periods have passed, and a suspension notice has been issued within the previous twelve months. If the additional deposit is not paid within fifteen days after proper notifications, service may be disconnected. In lieu of the additional deposit, the customer may elect to pay the bill by the due date, provided this option has not been used in the previous twelve months. A deposit, with a Public Utilities Commission approved interest rate, is refunded after one year to a residential customer, and after two

years to a business customer, if the customer is not delinquent in the payment of the current bill and has not been delinquent in the pay ment of a bill on more than two occasions. If telephone service is disconnected, the deposit with interest is applied to the final bill. Interruption of Service If you have reported that you have no dial tone and are unable to make or receive calls for eight (8) normal working hours or more and your service interruption is a result of network prob lems, you are entitled to a credit on your next bill for part of the local service charges. Call your service representative to arrange credit. For errors or omissions in listings or advertise ments in telephone directories, allowances are provided as follows: A. For listings in telephone directories fur nished without additional charge, an amount not in excess of the minimum monthly charge to the customer for exchange service during the effective life of the directory in which the error or omission occurred. B. For listings in telephone directories fur nished at additional charge, an amount not in excess of the charge for that listing during the effective life of the directory in which the error or omission occurred. C. For advertisements in classified direc tories, an amount based upon pro rata abatement of the charge in such degree as the error or omission affected the advertisement. For information on allowances available in the event of errors or omissions in information records or in TWX or other special directories, you should contact your nearest service office. Liability for Directory Advertising

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