Phone company Three has been inundated with complaints from customers about the deterioration of its service across Donegal.
The situation has led to local TD Joe McHugh writing to the mobile telephone company.
Minister McHugh says he has been inundated with complaints from right across the county and has urged customers to log complaints with the mobile phone operator.
He said there is growing evidence that phone signal coverage has declined since Three took over the company 02.
Among the complaints received by the Donegal TD are those from residents in Annagry, Ardara, Gaoth Dobhair, Fanad, Letterkenny, Falcarragh, Ballyshannon, Moville, Dungloe, Downings, Raphoe, Ramelton and Carrigart.
Minister McHugh has supplied a list of complaints to Three and is awaiting a response.
“I have written to Three asking for an explanation and I am awaiting a response,” said McHugh.
“The most frustrating thing for many of the people I have spoken to is that coverage had been quite good but over the past two months in particular it has become really bad and in many cases terrible or non-existent.
“I know for example that customers in Annagry over the past two weeks are getting cut off in the middle of calls when previously there had been no problems.
“Even more frustrating is the lack of any explanation from Three when Donegal residents do get through to the company’s customer service department.
“They have been told various reasons for the drop in signal including that the signal is being upgraded.
“But this does not seem to add up. I’ve asked Three to issue a public statement on any upgrades they are under-taking and at least tell people how long their service may be disrupted.”
However, McHugh said, this does not explain the growing number of complaints.
“This is affecing the day to day lives of people across Donegal as well as people who rely heavily on their phones for their business,” added Deputy McHugh.
Donegal Electoral Area councillor Barry O’Neill says he has also received complaints from constituents.
“The coverage in the Ballyshannon area recently has been shocking,” said the Fine Gael councillor.
“It has become the main conversation around here for the past while and no-one appears to have explained what is going on and the sooner Three does so, the better.
“More importantly they need to get their service back.”
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