I think it is fair to say that this country has reached the verge in what is understood to be the right of a citizen and the fulfilments of the requirements of a service. The latest controversy is the one with the telecommunication providers. Since when is it right for a telecommunication firm to sign you on a two-year contract for a list of channels that you desire and then find out that two of the channels were being aired illegally?  

Wait for the best part though, I went to one of the outlets of my provider to downgrade my package and was told I would have to pay e50 to do so as the contract says “as long as we remain providing you with the same number of channels in the package you will be subject to pay a fee always if you downgrade before the contract ends”.

Very clever, only thing is, when I did sign the contract, no one told me I am signing for a package that airs two illegal stations – ironically, the only two stations that I pay the maximum package price for.  As always, the citizen is never backed up by the government in such a situation. Where are the leaders when we need them?  Is this fair? Although going through a rough time paying the high water and electricity bills seems to be a needed measure by the government in such an economic crisis, it does not justify all the errors in the bills that have been sent out either.

We have to stand up and realise that it is time to move on from being a country that is subject to extremely low wages, the highest water and electricity bills and terrible consumer service.

Regretfully, at such times I also believe that Malta has lost the true Christmas spirit and value. It might sound funny when expressed but I do believe that the extreme cut in Christmas decorations around the island is subject to the high tariffs, which without a doubt, I can understand. Can’t the government possibly think of a tailor-made exception on tariffs during a festive season and help rebuild a value that our country has grown to live up to as a tradition? This is just one of the measures I am thinking of, but the same can be done by the authorities to brush up the fair consumer service which should be a must for anyone paying for a service or investing in a product and a solidly forced requirement that should be offered by any given business. 

■Simon Copperstone

St Paul’s Bay