The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-05-16
TELEPHONE USE R S
MAKE COMPLAINT
OF SERVICE
Michigan Cos Subscribers Say They
Continually Get Wrong Numbers,
Have Connections Broken; Stu
alton Generally, Unsatisfactory.
Much Dissatisfaction Caused By the
Discontinuance Of Free Talks to
Windsor.

Subscribers OF the Michigan Tela-
phone Co. throughout the city are
complaining about the services they
are getting. They say that they are
given wrong numbers continually, and
frequently suffer the breaking of OF
connections while they are talking.
This condition. added to their chagrin
over losing the privilege OF talking to
windsor without extra expense, has
made the subscribers very dissatis-
fed lot. They feel that the company
has done them an injustice In depriv-
Ing them OF the Windsor service, in
asmuch as they felt they were paying
for II when they signed their con-
tracts with the telephone company.
Il believe that the telephone com
pany has exceeded its authority in
taking the Windsor service away
from u.s." said one OF the angry les.
sees to The Times. Tuesday morning,
"and | am half inclined to take the
matter into court. When | signed my
contract with the company | paid over
my money as much for Windsor ser.
vice as did for Highland Park or any
other suburb. Now, what right has
the company to deprive me OF that
for which paid? | think IL Is about
the nerviest piece OF work have
heard OF In many a day. The least
the company could have done, in JUS
tive TO all the subscribers, would have
been to have waited until the differ
ent contracts expired before cutting
of the Windsor service. AS each con-
tract ran out, the subscriber could
service would no longer be given free
That would have been more in line
with common decency and justice
than the method employed by the
company
The Times, on the strength OF the
subscribers complaint, undertook to
investigate the situation. A reporter
consulted the city ordinances regulat-
ing the telephone companies of the
city, but found no provision in regard
to Windsor service.
An official of>the Michigan State
Telephone Co. also declared that there
was no regulation tosthe effect that
the Windsor service should be free.
There was nothing in the contracts
between the company and the sub
scribers, he said, to intimate any such
situation. All the company agreed 10
give. he said. was local service. He
produced copy OF the contract to
corroboratc bis contention. He said
that the company sfelt justified in
making a charge for the Windsor SER
vice, inasmnch as It, was getting so
heavy Moreover, he said. the com
pany didn't feel that 1t should give
free service to Windsor any more than
IL should to Ypsilanti or Mt. Clemens.
The imposition Of a charge on the
Windsor service had greatly reduced
the work OF the operators, he said.
Speaking of the local service, he
said he was surprised to hear that
subscribers were complaining. The
equipment was now in good shape,
with the exception OF the north end,
where new exchange Is being in
stalled, he explained.
II Is not in the north end, however,
where most Of the complaining Is be-
ing done. Much OF II is in the eastern
and northeastern sections of the city.
I'VE have a great deal OF trouble
with the service out here" said an
Official Of the Chalmers Motor Co. In
fact. Il Is SO bad that we use the sys-
tenn as little as possible. We have all
sorts of difficulty with the Michigan
system"
While this conversation was In pro-
gress the connection was broken
twice. and considerable time was lost
in restoring II.
Oficer Manager Ward, OF the Pack
ard plant, also said that his company
was having difficulty with the Michi
gan system.
I'VE find 1t very hard matter to
get the numbers we want he said 10
The Times. IL don't know what the
trouble is, but 1t is there. just the
same. Generally, when we want
ua ora told IL ia busy"