The Phone Company Shuffle

* Local consumers are not the only ones suffering from the whims of this so-called phone company [“Verizon to Pull Plug on OneSource Service Plan,” Feb. 26].

Our small business was also informed in mid-January that our long-standing bundled service (local and long distance) was being unceremoniously abandoned by Verizon Select Services and we would have to find other phone service due to a “change in VSS’ business direction.”

It then shuffled us over to Verizon California with a nightmare in paperwork and added fees of $34.50 per line for “service order activity” charges. It claimed Verizon Select would reimburse us for these charges, but we have yet to see a payment.

This is like a shell game: from one Verizon to another. But I had no time to research other phone options and felt totally at their mercy.

I was never too crazy about GTE, but at least I had reliable and reasonable phone service. Deregulation hasn’t brought about more competition or lower prices; it’s just the same old companies with new names and more confusion.

I wish the Public Utilities Commission would truly look out for the public. It sure hasn’t helped us.

LOUISE HAGLIND

Long Beach