Increased telephone rates

Increased telephone rates

From Media Indonesia

The increase in local telephone rates based on the pulse (ticking of the meter) has become a huge burden to the community.

PT Telkom's newly introduced rates are illogical and suffocating. I experienced it when recently I made a call to Balaraja, Tangerang, from a Wartel (telecommunications kiosks) in Rawamangun, East Jakarta. The charge for three minutes was nearly Rp 5,000, the same amount one needs to pay for a long-distance call of the same duration to Palembang in Sumatra.

With me was another client who phoned Bekasi and had to cough up Rp 15,000 for a call lasting less than 10 minutes. He was shaken and instead of paying he asked the Wartel attendant to collect the money at his house not far from the kiosk.

The customer was astounded by the fact that, with a local pulse now costing Rp 180, how did the kiosk arrive at Rp 15,000 for a call of less than 10 minutes? The operator explained that the call's destination was in category III. The rate is Rp 180, but one pulse lasts a mere seven seconds!

If such is the case, I am going to put a lock on my telephone at home in order to avoid paying astronomical telephone bills. Ironically, long-distance calls are relatively cheaper than calls made within Greater Jakarta.

I cannot imagine very well how a local telephone owner would react upon seeing his monthly telephone bill. I was fortunate in detecting the new rates at a Wartel, so I can make my choice. My alternatives: not to touch the telephone except for incoming calls or disconnect my telephone.

SAHRUL

Jakarta