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by pltm
(PLTM) - Once again, telecommunication companies in the British Virgin Islands are under blast, this time for the excessive number of text messages sent out to their clients. Customers have expressed their disgust with the messages, complaining that they are invading their space.
In an interview with BVI Platinum News, a customer of CCT said, “Everyday I get a text message from them saying they are fixing something or a sale. I don’t like to be disturbed. I don’t think it’s right. Your number should be private unless you give it out and not even them should take advantage of it.”
Others explained that the services offered by the providers fail to get better, but messages indicating that something is being fixed continue.
“The texts are annoying. I get mad every time I get one,” said a customer of Digicel and CCT.
BVI Platinum News reached out to local providers, who explained that the text messages are often used for a number of reasons, which generally result in the customer being brought up to speed on several matters.
Sarah Graham, Marketing Manager of Flow BVI noted that their messages are used for relaying important notices, government warnings, notification of offers and competitions, and to remind customers of their data limits.
Graham further disclosed that since June 2016, the company has received a total of two complaints from customers on the matter of excessive text messages. The customers further requested to be removed from the notifications list, to which the company obliged.
“Once they are removed, they would no longer receive the government warnings or the data usage warnings. They would also be advised that they will need to be extra vigilant to monitor their data usage and avoid data overages.”
She said, “We have equally had customers asking to be added because they were not receiving any messages.”
She further highlighted that while some persons feel strongly that they do not wish to receive the text messages, others enjoy them.
“A recent regional text to win game resulted in more participants in the BVI than in any other country in the region.”
To this note, Graham stated that in order to reduce the number of text messages being sent out to their customers, the company abides by a strict policy to refrain from providing a text platform to persons.
“We are aware that some other providers sell the texting to their customers, but we have a strict policy against that. The only organization that we will circulate messages for is the Government Department of Disaster Management.”
Similarly, Marketing & PR Manager of CCT, Ms. Janette Brin explained that the company does not indulge in the practice of sending commercial text messages, nor do they sell their customer list to anyone.
Brin said, “We get a number of requests from individuals, companies and organizations, and only make exceptions for very select requests such as emergency notifications or the recent Haiti Relief Effort.”
The primary purpose of CCT's notifications is to inform customers about network outages, discounts on CCT services or CCT product launches, according to Brin, who added, "In an effort to not be overbearing to customers, we make it a point to keep text messages at a minimum and within a certain time of day.”
Notably, Brin indicated that CCT is currently looking at alternative text solutions with improved features that would possibly solve the issue.
“For example, we would like for customers to be able to just send a text back that could generate an automatic removal.”
Both companies have indicated that customers who wish to be removed from their notifications lists are free to do so by calling customer service at 444-4444 for CCT clients or send an email to bvi-customerinqury@cwc.com for clients of Flow BVI.
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