Eircom is no longer renting telephones to new customers, offering them the opportunity to buy the phones instead, the communications company has said.
Customers already renting a telephone from Eircom are unaffected by this change and can continue to rent their phones. Also, customers who qualify for the telephone allowance from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs will be allowed to continue to rent new phones.
So will new customers who qualify for the telephone allowance.
Mr Brendan Nevin, Eircom's marketing director of consumer and business markets, said: "There are now a wide range of telephone handsets available at very reasonable prices, and many customers prefer to buy their phone outright rather than pay a fixed charge every month." Eircom said customers can purchase a new phone by calling free on 1901 or through any Eircom store.
A spokeswoman for Eircom said the new policy, which has been in place since the start of November, has been "well received by customers. Lots of people like the option of buying."
Eircom has also introduced a new replacement procedure for faulty rental phones.
Customers can either go to an Eircom store or agent, who will immediately replace the product free of charge, or they can have a replacement phone posted, free of charge, within two working days.
From January 2001 telephone rental customers who specifically request a company technician to change a faulty phone will be charged £45.
Technicians will only be sent to replace faulty equipment free of charge in exceptional circumstances, Eircom said. Eircom will be informing customers of these changes via a newsletter inserted in the bill over the next two months.