The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) said it does not plan to institute a charge for using directory assistance until the service can be upgraded. Earlier this week, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) published a public consultation paper detailing BTC's application to start charging 35 cents per call for local directory enquiry (DQ) services. BTC yesterday pointed out that if approved, it would not begin charging customers for directory assistance until the fourth time a call is made in any given month.
Calls to directory assistance from pay phones would be free, said BTC in a statement. "We are in the process of developing a much more sophisticated directory assistance service and when that program is completed and in place, it will be accompanied by a nominal (charge)," said BTC vice president of marketing Marlon Johnson.
"We apologize for any confusion caused which we believe arose out of the necessity of our requesting regulatory permission for any rate change, but wish to assure the public that there is absolutely no intention to charge for directory assistance at this time. It is one of many programs that we are in the process of developing as part of our renewed commitment to putting the customer first and aligning ourselves to industry leading practices."
BTC said when the new directory assistance program is unveiled it will include the ability to link directly from number retrieval to the calling party. "The enhanced and additional services are part of BTC's pledge to provide the best products and services delivered at the best rates," Johnson said.
"When the new package of services is ready to go online, we hope to have an app for iPhones and BlackBerrys that will allow the customer to check directory assistance as frequently as they want right online on their smart phone without incurring any extra charges." Johnson said the 35 cent charge "is in line with other phone companies in North America and is a widely accepted fact of doing business.
"Specific nominal user fees that apply only to those who use a particular service provide a revenue stream that allows us to keep other general rates, including minutes, competitive," he said. "We at BTC are very mindful that competition in the fixed line market is already here and in the wireless market just around the corner. We have to provide this directory assistance service to competitors, therefore, we have no option but to charge a nominal fee even as we strive to keep our rates more attractive than our pending competitors' rates."
URCA said it is minded to approve BTC's proposal.
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