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CUC set to close two payment branches
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Posted on Nov 19 2004
The Commonwealth Utility Corp. is revamping its customer service department in preparation for the Nov. 30 closure of the San Jose and Garapan payment branches.
CUC executive director Lorraine Babauta said the utility firm’s main customer service and payment section on the first floor of the Joeten building in Dandan is now being revamped and expanded to accommodate the personnel from the two payment branches.
“We will have four cashier stalls and expanded customer service center with immediate access to the central processing section for billing disputes and investigation,” Babauta said during the CUC board meeting on Thursday.
She added that one or two personnel will be assigned to the credit and collection section, while another to the billing section to assist in billing verification.
The cash-strapped utility firm has terminated its lease agreements for the Garapan and San Jose branches as part of its cost-cutting efforts.
By closing both branches, CUC hopes to save a total of $61,000 in yearly rental expenses. Currently, CUC is paying a monthly rent of $3,600 for the San Jose branch and $1,500 for the Garapan office.
In an earlier interview, Babauta also expressed hope that billing disputes and other customer concerns will be managed more efficiently when CUC starts having one central processing section.
She said that having three branches has made it difficult for CUC to coordinate response to customer service issues.
Babauta also encouraged customers to make payments at other locations such as Bank of Hawaii and Bank of Guam branches.
Further, she said customers could soon sign up for the CUC automatic payment plan. “By enrolling in this plan, customers don’t even have to bother and waste their time to go to CUC to make their payment. We will automatically deduct CUC bills from their credit card or bank account,” she said.
