Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Trouble with 800 number
floods office with irate callsQuestion: The back of traffic ticket citation forms have an 800-423-3841 phone number as an option to pay by credit card to the Traffic Violations Bureau District Court of the First Circuit. Calling that number results in the call being dropped. There is no ring, no answer and no way to leave any message. When people can't get through to the 800-423-3841 number, they assume it must be a local call and dial my office. I get more than 10 calls a day. Callers are very angry and upset after hearing that I have nothing to do with the traffic ticket system. Sometimes they leave messages on my answering machine asking for a call back. Why can't they fix the problem?
Answer: The problem was corrected yesterday, after we passed your complaint on to the state Judiciary. A spokeswoman said no one was aware there was a problem. The vendor handling the line was asked to check the system.
Q: Is a restaurant required to itemize the billing on a tab instead of just giving you a total? There is a Chinese restaurant that we've gone to that refuses to itemize even if you ask them to. Is that legal? There is not even a cash register or receipt. My friends and I are very uncomfortable with this.
A: There are general consumer laws governing unfair or deceptive business practices, and, depending on the circumstances, something like this may fall under those laws.
However, it would have to be determined on a case-by-case basis, according to Stephen Levins, acting executive director of the state Office of Consumer Protection.
It is not unreasonable for a customer to request and be provided an itemized tally of his or her bill, he said. If a customer questions a bill, the restaurant should be in a position to corroborate the charges.
If it doesn't provide such a tally, "it certainly brings into question the appropriateness of what a restaurant is doing," Levins said. "If people feel that they are not being clearly told what the pricing is, then they should file a complaint with consumer protection." Call 586-2636 if that's the case.
In general, restaurants should provide some kind of notice as to what their prices are, either through a menu, board posting or oral presentation "so the customer has a clear understanding of what they're purchasing and how much it will cost," he said. "It seems improper not to provide some kind of pricing upon questioning."
Levins also said there is nothing "inherently wrong" in a restaurant stating prices orally, as long as it's clear to the customer.
Not being able to converse or communicate in English should not be an excuse, Levins added.
Mahalo
To Jimmy Kobayashi for helping me, a complete stranger, start my car when the battery died. Thanks to Jimmy, I was able to go and purchase a new battery. -- Marsha Gibson
Auwe
To people who walk their dogs in the parks where the signs clearly say "No Animals." I know you mean well, and I'm a dog lover, too, but even if you are doing your civic duty and picking up after your dogs, some of it still remains, and park-goers who may be having picnics or playing sports may end up with more than grass stains. -- Keith
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.
E-mail to kokualine@starbulletin.com