European election candidate Lorraine Higgins has said that ordinary customers should not be expected to pay in full as a result of Eircom's technical debacle.

This follows news that 30,000 customers could be facing bills of up to €500 following a failure by the company to process direct debit payments since January.

"This is outrageous behaviour from the largest telecommunications operator in the Republic towards its 2 million Irish customers. Eircom are taking absolutely no responsibility for addressing this oversight at all.

"All we have heard is an apology, that the error has now been amended and details of how they intend to process the outstanding payments.

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"Ordinary customers use direct debit payments in order to manage their personal finances. The reality is that most people will not have been aware these payments did not go through, and are now facing bills of some €500. This is from a company that reported revenues of €1.3 billion last year.

"Eircom have a duty of care to their customers to process accounts in a correct, efficient manner and in accordance with their agreement. It is Eircom who failed to administer the accounts as per this agreement and in the circumstances they are not entitled to visit hardship on their customers.

"This is a mistake of their own making and it is totally unjust and unfair to expect anyone to pay out such a large amount of money in one go. Eircom should be looking at options including reducing the amount to be paid back and staggering payments to ease the hardship on individual customers.

"We have seen the impact of technical failures by banks in the past, and now we have the failings of a telecom company that has a direct impact on both customers' access to service and on their pocket.

"Corporate organisations need to know that this is not acceptable and take responsibility for their mistakes."

(CD)