Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: We went out of town for Thanksgiving. When we returned on Nov. 28, we discovered that our phones were out. Upon calling the phone company to report it, they told us the heavy rains were the cause. The phones are still out, and we have been told that they will probably be out until Sunday (yesterday). Aside from the inconvenience, we have to use the pay phones to make calls. Are we entitled to some compensation for the inconvenience and expense? Some could see rebates after
recent phone outagesAnswer: Yes, you can be credited for a nonworking phone if the problem is not on your end.
You will be credited for each 24-hour period your phone line was out of service from the time you reported the problem, said Verizon Hawaii spokeswoman Ann Nishida.
Verizon will first seek to verify that the problem is with the company. Sometimes, Nishida said, the problem is on the customer's end and can simply be resolved by unplugging, then re-plugging the telephone.
If it's verified that the problem is Verizon's, you will be given a credit that is prorated according to your monthly telephone bill, Nishida said. For example, if your monthly bill is $40 and your phone was dead from 9 a.m. Tuesday to 9 a.m. Friday, you will be given credit for three 24-hour days, which comes out to about $4.
Residential and small-business customers should call 611 to report problems, while large businesses should call 643-6633, Nishida said.
She noted that during last week's rainstorms, there was a "high volume of small pockets of customers experiencing problems," compared to a major outage affecting hundreds or thousands of customers in one area.
Telephone repair crews "were stretched thin" responding to complaints of outages of five to 10 homes or businesses in many areas in "very poor conditions," she said. The outages were caused by a variety of things, including wet cables and trees falling on utility lines, Nishida said.
Q: My daughter bought a $50 gift certificate in September from Kengo's Seafood Buffet. But we just found out that the restaurant closed in October. Why didn't they say they were going to close? Is there anything we can do to get our money back?
A: Kengo I. Nozaki, manager of the restaurant that bore his name, says to call him at 754-4053, and he will make good on any outstanding gift certificates.
He says he posted a sign outside his restaurant at Restaurant Row telling people how to contact him after he was forced to close at the end of October, but building "management took off the information."
Nozaki said he was sorry if people have not been able to contact him and that he is willing to buy back the certificates.
The popular restaurant closed around the time Nozaki was found guilty by a federal court jury on three counts of filing false corporate and individual tax returns. He is to be sentenced Feb. 11.
However, he says he is appealing the conviction and hopes to reopen the restaurant at another spot later this month.
Got a question or complaint?
Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com