Sighs and hert-ache at unlucky College
HERTFORD STUDENTS HAVE been finding out that sometimes it is not good to talk, especially when being overcharged for the privilege.
Last week World-Xchange, the company who provide many colleges with an internal phone service, sent unsuspecting students at Hertford an unnecessary phone bill demanding immediate payment. The accompanying letter warned that if payment was not forthcoming, the names of those students would be sent on to credit agencies.
Students at Hertford were outraged by the demand, but JCR President Johan Beggren explained that World-Xchange were quick to deal with the mistake: "They spent all Friday trying to rectify the error, they were very apologetic." Beggren noted that "apart from some minor problems, the service has been fine."
For student Graham McKay, these apologies must have seemed a little empty. After the initial letter McKay paid what he thought he owed. But World-Xchange continued to extract money from his account despite McKay's attempts to settle the bill. Beggren claims the problems are due to the "internal changes" in World-Xchange as it is currently taking over the company who had previously provided the phone service, ACC.
Dissatisfaction with ACC and World-Xchange has long been a problem for Oxford colleges. Incorrect bills have also been issued at Wadham and certain practices of the phone company have led to complaints from many MCRs.
An emergency motion by St Antony's MCR recommended that the World-Xchange contract should be reviewed because of the cost to students. The motion raised the issue that with the World-Xchange system, "students will not be allowed to install BT, NTL or other land lines in their rooms." Due to this proviso, students would be unable to "use discount service providers like One-Tel or Switftcall." They are also expected to pay for using 0800 numbers, which would be free on other telecommunication services.
Contention also comes from overseas students, who comprise 10% of undergraduates and 50% of graduates. The motion at St Antony's observes that international calls on the World Exchange System cost "between 170% and 680% more than on Swiftcall" and "between 230% and 780% more than on One-Tel." Magdalen MCR President Kirsti Samuel stated: "International students have been sacrificed" by World-Xchange for "laying the lines." Kirsti added that World-Xchange are "clearly very aware" that there is a major problem.
The telecommunications watchdog Oftel have no direct control over the prices set by cable companies for their services. Oftel's guidelines state that "there are no conditions controlling prices in the licenses issued to any of the cable companies."
Despite the complaints, University Telecommunications Manager Ian Everett has defended World-Xchange's pricing policies. He contends that if calls to 0800 numbers were free, "users could then make calls via competitors who do not have to bear these costs" and that this would "prevent ACC making a satisfactory return on their investment."
25th May 2000