From: owner-videotron@idiscover.net on behalf of Chris Ward-Johnson
[chriswj@mostxlnt.co.uk]
Sent: 28 February 1998 8:20 am
To: videotron@idiscover.net
Cc: Graham.M.Wallace@cwcom.co.uk
Subject: [videotron] Cable and Wireless retract allegation against Times
journalist

>From Chris Ward, The Times

As some list subscribers will know, I was extremely unhappy with the
statement Cable and Wireless were issuing last week saying that my article
of the 18th February was 'not wholly accurate' (attached below). The
argument between us centred around the use of the word 'indefinitely' in my
quotation of what the press officer told me. Roy Payne, who is senior to the
press officers, had several long conversations with me during which he
insisted that his staff would never have used such a word. I insisted in
return that I had verbatim, shorthand notes of that and other
conversations - in particular, of the conversation I had with the press
office after the article appeared during which the press officer told me
that there had indeed been a change of mind taken at the highest level of
cable and wireless AFTER he gave me the statement. He had only learned of
this decision after publication on the 18th, he said, too late to change the
piece. He apologised for making me and The Times look foolish.

On Thursday I did, as I said on the list, literally shout at Roy Payne. He
said it was actually just a question of my word against his press officer's
for what had been said, and who's to know who's right but Cable and Wireless
had never and would never use the word indefinitely. I told him that, as a
journalist of 20 years experience, I was if necessary prepared to stand
before a judge and swear that my notes of my conversations with his staff
were true and accurate, and was he prepared to put his staff before the same
judge with their notes of our conversations - especially that one after the
18th - to swear something different? I warned him that what his staff, and
particularly what Graham Wallace were saying was libellous and that I and
The Times would have no hesitation in issuing proceedings if they didn't
withdraw the offending sentence forthwith.

That conversation ended with him saying that the conversation could go no
further and he would call me back on Friday morning.

He eventually called back on Friday afternoon and said, "The offending
sentence will be removed as quickly as possible" from their statement.

I am happy that they've now retracted their allegation that I made a
mistake, and that they're now saying that Cable and Wireless have changed
their position on the free calls. Whatever they said to me before the 18th,
the official position from them now is that, at some point, the free calls
to former Videotron customers will go. The exact dates will vary depending
on individual's contracts.

Chris Ward
Times Interface

The offending statement - the incorrect line is in [square brackets]

> From: Wallace, Graham M <Graham.M.Wallace@cwcom.co.uk>
> To: A. Hirsch <hirsch@dircon.co.uk>
> Subject: RE: Videotron
> Date: 26 February 1998 14:57
>
>
> Thank you for your recent e-mail concerning the company's position on
> free local calls within the former Videotron franchise area.  I am fully
> aware of the concerns that a number of our customer's have.
>
> I am able to confirm that we have no intention, at present, to remove
> the free local calls from "Videotron" customer's.  We will however be
> continuing to improve our alternative offerings and encouraging
> customers to switch to the new Cable & Wireless packages.  Customers who
> choose to remain on the free local call tariff should be aware that
> charges outside of the free local call time window will not be adjusted
> in line with the new Cable & Wireless tariffs.
>
> Cable & Wireless reserves the right to vary our terms and conditions in
> accordance with our contract, including the free local calls element,
> and therefore I cannot offer a guarantee that this will never change.
> [In this respect the article in The Times of 18th February 1998 is not
> wholly accurate.]
>
> I do hope that this has clarified our position, should you wish to
> determine the benefit from migrating to one of the Cable & Wireless
> tariffs then please do call customer services on 0181 244 1111.
>
> Graham M Wallace
>