Madam, - I write in sympathy with Frank Bannister (February 2nd), who complains about Eircom "gouging its customers". I have had my own battles with Eircom and the only way I got any action was when I wrote to the Minister for Communications asking for his assistance in getting them to reply to my letters.
I did not ask Mr Ahern to take my part in the dispute, just to get me an answer. That worked. An extremely nice lady from Eircom rang me and in the fullness of time all was sorted out. Now it appears from a recent bill that the whole goddam nonsense has started again.
What immediately springs to mind is the story of the wealthy Arab who arrived in Dublin complete with his retinue of wives. He was very impressed indeed by a small boy who not only helped him with the luggage into the hotel but stayed all night in the rain guarding the Arab's opulent limousine. In the morning the Arab told the boy that he was going to give him a present.
The little boy - a simple lad - said that things weren't so bad with him and not to be bothering with a present. The Arab insisted. The boy said that in that event all he wanted was a cowboy outfit - if that was all right.
The Arab replied that not only would he buy him the cowboy outfit but that he would get him the biggest and best cowboy outfit in Ireland.
And straight away he went out and bought Eircom. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN D. NUGENT, Rahara, Roscommon.