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Kokua Line
Question: In March 1999, someone asked about all the different taxes and surcharges on the phone bill from MCI WorldCom. At that time, the answer was that the Office of Consumer Protection was looking into this. Did this ever happen? What are all those
phone bill charges?Answer: It turned out OCP was looking into a specific case.
But even top regulatory officials have complained about the difficulty in deciphering what all the charges and surcharges are, noted Stephen Levins, who has since taken over as acting director of the Office of Consumer Protection.
If you are uncertain or confused about any of the charges, Levins said you should first get it clarified by your local or long-distance phone carrier. Contact numbers should be noted on your bill.
If you're unable to get an answer, then Levins suggested calling the Office of Consumer Protection, 587-3222; the Public Utilities Commission, 586-2028; or the Federal Communications Commission, 1-888-225-5322.
To try to deal with the issue, the FCC last year came up with "Truth-in-Billing" guidelines for telephone bills. Under the guidelines, telephone bills should:
Be clearly organized and any new charges or changes to consumers' services since the last bill should be highlighted.
"With respect to a consumer who is unclear as to what the line items represent," Levins suggested first contacting the local and/or long distance carrier.
Auwe
To three young adult males, tough-types, who harassed a green sea turtle inside the reef at Kahalu'u Beach Park in Kailua-Kona on Nov. 19. Ignoring basic decency and posted warnings to protect these creatures, they threateningly swam at the honu, at one time surrounding it before it, the better swimmer, escaped. Their behavior was in opposition to all other people at the park (young and old alike, kamaaina and visitor) who exhibited awe, admiration and respectful observance of these gentle creatures. -- Richard Schmidt/California(If anyone sees someone harassing, harming or killing a sea turtle, call the National Marine Fisheries Service law enforcement branch at 541-2727 on Oahu or 1-800-853-1964.)
Mahalo
In early November, we had the best vacation in our lives in Hawaii. It would have been marred when my wife forgot our expensive video camera and digital camera at the Bowfin Museum, if not for an honest worker who turned it in. We have our memories back and we came home with happy hearts! -- Dennis Estrada/California
Auwe
To the morning DJs at I-94 (93.9 FM). About 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22, they were laughing and encouraging another DJ to put a live turkey in an industrial-size dryer and turn it on. He did so and they were laughing and thinking it was funny. I think this is horrible animal cruelty. They should be investigated. -- No name(Chuck Cotton, manager of Clear Channel Hawaii, the parent company of I-94, assures you the station would never condone such cruelty.
"It was not real. It was just an on-air gag," he said.)
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
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