MTC adopts new policy on phone disconnection By ALDWIN R. FAJARDO

A big number of phone subscribers on Saipan trooped the Micronesian Telecommunications Corporation office in San Jose yesterday in what appeared to be “panic paying” to have their lines reconnected.

MTC subscribers complained that they were not given a grace period to settle their accounts, nor were they notified that their telephone lines were up for disconnection because of their failure to pay their bills before the due date.

The telecommunications company’s office was characterized by long queues of subscribers who were to pay additional $20 in reconnection fee.

Kathryn Jeanes Fullmer, MTC administrator for customer contact collections, however explained that the telephone company is adopting a new policy on monthly billing payments.

“We are changing some things, streamlining the process. As it has always been, there are growing pains in any change,” Ms. Fullmer pointed out.

She said MTC is eliminating the grace period, which is normally beyond the payment due date, given to subscribers to pave the way for a new uniform cut-off date.

Beginning February, MTC is setting the due date every 10th of each month. The telephone service provider will also implement strict policies on the settlement of monthly bills.

Failure by subscribers to pay their monthly bills on or before the due date would mean automatic disconnection of their telephone lines, according to Ms. Fullmer.

She also stressed that a lot of subscribers usually wait until the last day before settling their billing statement, which explains the long queue at the MTC office yesterday.

At the same time, some complaining customers whose telephone lines had been disconnected claimed paying their monthly bill in advance.

“When the subscribers use the drop box, payments are not normally posted until the next business day which explains the delay,” Ms. Fullmer said, adding that MTC also allows automatic credit card payment.

She said MTC has been consistent in its commitment to provide efficient telephone service to Northern Marianas subscribers, that include proper notification.

Ms. Fullmer mentioned the company’s automatic call delivery system — 2359011 and 2347143 — which accept inquiries from subscribers.

“We want to make sure that we spend the right time with our customers, as well as the most efficient telephone service in the islands,” she said.