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Phone book complaints
are being heard

Question: Will you please find out what Verizon is going to do about the 7-pound telephone book that's causing problems for so many of us? I have rheumatoid arthritis and can't even pick up the book. I've called Verizon several times asking if they could cut some books in half and re-cover them for people like me, or the elderly or the truly disabled, until they reconsider doing separate books. They say it's a very isolated problem, but that's not the case. I'm fairly young; my 83-year-old mother is having a problem, and my 94-year-old mother-in-law can't pick it up. Why is Verizon holding to its "we can't do anything about it policy" and instead, see what they can do about it, which is basically re-cover the sections for us?

Answer: Verizon says it is "listening to what people are saying."

That might have an impact on next year's directories, but for now it's not possible for Verizon to cut the current directories in half, then re-cover and redistribute them, said spokeswoman DeAnna Causey.

As of Monday about 80 percent of 620,000 copies of the 2004-2005 Oahu directory had been distributed so far.

Causey said Verizon did ask people what they thought about combining the white and yellow pages in one volume before it did so.

At that stage, "We had many people say that they would like that change," she said, because "most people prefer" getting information in one book instead of two.

After customers literally have been able to weigh the pros and cons, "We've heard both sides: people who like it and people who don't," she said.

Most of Verizon's directories nationwide are combined, but some are still separated into two volumes.

"It really depends on the size of the directory," Causey said. "The Oahu directory is about as big as we go for a combined white and yellow pages. Much bigger and we will split the volumes."

Causey couldn't promise any changes, but "what I can tell you is that we are listening."

"While I don't know what the decision about next year's directory size will be, we will definitely be putting a lot of thought into that decision based on what we've heard," Causey said.

Anyone with complaints or questions can call 800-222-7398.

Meanwhile, Causey said schools can win cash and prizes by collecting the most old directories in a recycling contest. Almost 50 schools are participating this year, she said.

Mahalo

To Henry DeVincent and a man named Choi, both from Wahiawa, who helped my mom when she had a flat tire on the H-2 freeway last Saturday. She had to cross four lanes of traffic to walk to the emergency phone. Mr. DeVincent was working and going the opposite direction but turned around to help her. Mr. Choi saw her walking back to her car and stopped. He had to reverse back to her car on the shoulder of the freeway. I am so grateful to these two men who unselfishly stopped to help a stranded "grandma." They both refused to be compensated. -- A Very Grateful Daughter

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