I FIRST advised friends to go out to a public telephone to make directory enquiry calls when BT introduced a 50p charge.

Then, in a blaze of publicity, it reduced it to 25p, still worthwhile to go out, if the box was within walking distance.

But I've just heard that BT recently put the charge up to 35p. Recently? Well, last Easter actually and nobody told me. And I'm chairman of the telecoms advisory committee in Harlow. We should have been told.

You can guess how much publicity was given to that rise in the charge. About the same as when they extended the old peak rate from noon to 1pm. From BT's great publicity machine, complete silence once again.

JOHN HORTON,

Chairman of Harlow Post and Telecoms Advisory Committee,

Harlow Common,

Harlow.

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