Call waiting

On Nov. 11 PT Telkom sent me a letter on the "call waiting" facility. It says that the facility is offered free of charge to a selected number of subscribers during three months starting Nov. 1. However, if a subscriber does not express his objection or cancel the facility, he will be charged an additional cost of Rp 3,000 a month starting Feb.1, 2000.

Although PT Telkom is well intentioned, the granting of this facility is troublesome for subscribers, because they must express their objection or request the cancellation of the facility. Moreover, such a facility often causes the disruption of the connection, especially if a caller uses a modem connection.

In other countries methods of obtaining subscribers resulting in rejection by consumers of a facility (with costs charged to the consumers if not rejected) are no longer permitted.

I think PT Telkom should reconsider its policy in granting this facility. I also request that the Indonesian Consumer Foundation (YLKI) study this matter and give its recommendations on such "free" services.

AMIR SIDHARTA

Tangerang, West Java