IN these days of fast global communication, it amazes me that getting an answer to complaints or queries is almost impossible. During the past month, I have had occasion to contact my previous employer, the local Council offices, and a claims department of an Insurance company. In all cases, despite leaving my telephone number, wiring and telephoning, getting an answer back was frustrating.

I have had to resort to seeing my local MP to gee up the local council, contact the managing director of the insurance company to sort out his staff, and actually visit my former employer to get any satisfaction.

A good excuse today is that the computer does not contain the right information, or that the computer is faulty: nothing about the fact that human beings operate these things, and that, basically, its all about people talking to people.

Now I am retired, I find that having someone to talk to is very important, but if they won't talk back to you, you might as well pull a paper bag over your head. I can't tell you of the number of times I've stayed in waiting for the promised return call, but to no avail.

S L HAMMETT, Rutland Street, Nelson.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.