Telecom Eireann has received complaints about new prefixes added to phone numbers in several parts of the Republic. The new numbers have been operational since August 12th.
One problem experienced was overseas callers not being able to connect to the new prefixed number. Other overseas callers who rang the old numbers were not given a message to tell them they had been changed.
According to Telecom Eireann, a limited number of incidents may have arisen because computer software used by British Telecom to switch calls to the Republic from its exchanges has not been able to handle all the new prefixes.
A spokeswoman said that many of the complaints, when investigated, related to incorrect dialling by callers.
The area with the new prefixed numbers are Drogheda; Dundalk; Churchfield, Co Cork; Cavan; Ennis, Co Clare; Tralee, Co Kerry, and Co Limerick.
The number were ordered to be changed by the Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation. Yesterday the managing director of Brandon Books, Mr Steve MacDonogh, said his company had probably lost a lot of business because overseas callers had been unable to contact the company's office in Dingle, which is part of the Tralee phone area.
"Typically, our international customers are saying that they have tried dialling the number with the new prefix, only to be told either that there is a fault or that number is not in service or doesn't exist. Some have tried dialling without the prefix and have typically received a different message but have not got through."
In response to a query from Brandon Books, Telecom Eireann yesterday began to test the company's phone. Mr MacDonogh said some international callers then got through, but others had not. He said since August 12th, "great damage" had been done to the company's business as it was trying to generate business in the run-up to the International Book Fair in Frankfurt.