Telephone Queues And Call Waiting Systems

EDM number 478 in 2002-03, proposed by John Pugh on 09/01/2003.

That this House recognises that telephoning queueing and call waiting systems are often a curse of modern times, represent an opportunity for cutting enquiry desk staff and inflicting on the public lengthy musical interludes and unconvincing apologies for delay, incur substantial additional telephone and time costs for the nation's businesses, consumers and institutions; contribute considerably to the profits made in the telecom industry, some of whose own lines are not immune from significant delay; and calls upon OFTEL and the Department of Trade and Industry to investigate the costs and abuses of telephone queueing and call waiting systems and to suggest mechanisms whereby consumers can be protected from or compensated for any entirely avoidable waste of time and money.

This motion has been signed by a total of 56 MPs.