TelOne threatens to name and shame defaulters

STATE run landline operator TelOne, which has a subscriber base of less than 400 000  has warned of exposing all its defaulting customers countrywide in a bid to force them settle outstanding bills.

The notice is under headline 'Intent to publish names of defaulters' but it didn't not state the amount it is owed.

"TelOne wishes to advise its valued customers that it intends to publish in the press as final demand, the names and the outstanding amounts of all those customers who have defaulted in the payment of their telephone bills," reads a notice  pasted at their Bulawayo offices.

It urged all defaulters to make payment arranges or submit acceptable payment plans.

Two weeks ago, a report submitted to parliament detailing government's debt to various service providers, the Local Government Ministry was said to owe TelOne nearly $1 million in landline phone bills.

The fixed telecommunications provider TelOne ended last year with 337 881 subscribers. Most people are now on mobile networks.

In the past TelOne had to resort to cutting of defaulting clients.

It is not clear whether the parastatal was considering taking legal action against defaulters if they failed to pay the billed amounts.

In a recent interview State Enterprises and Parastatals minister Gordon Moyo said TelOne would soon be restructured.