Sir, - I have seen the future, and it does not work. In September 1999, as a result of a very effective advertisement for the installation of a second domestic phone line, I applied to Telecom/Eircom, and was assured that this would be installed within 10 to 15 working days. Being a patient sort of person, I waited for over a month before ringing Telecom/Eircom.
I was then told there was no record of my application, and that, in view of this, my case would receive priority.
Fifteen days later, I received an acknowledgement requesting a payment of £50, which I provided. When I phoned on January 7th I was told that the matter was in the hands of the area engineer, who would be in touch with me. I am still waiting.
On January 17th I asked Telecom/Eircom for an explanation of the delays and I was telephoned with the news that they "had run out of cable" and that the service would be provided in "two to three weeks". presumably these are the same two to three weeks as originally advertised. it is now more than three weeks since this last undertaking was given, and four-and-a-half months since the farce started.
Are we to assume that the people in Telecom/Eircom work an average of three days per month, and that by their reckoning they therefore still have a day or so in hand before they have to deliver on their promise? What other reason can there be for the delay - except of course the fascinating shortage of cable? - Yours, etc., Richard Pine,
Grosvenor Park, Dublin 6.