BTC have been accused of another public relations blunder after failing to warn customers that phone cards would be unusable on some pay phones during maintenance work.

Black Star Communications president Rolfe Commissiong said he had been deluged with angry tourists and cruise ship workers who found cards bought from his firm would not work in most of the phones in Hamilton's Number One dock.

Last night BTC said adjustments were being made to allow the cards to work but Mr. Commissiong said the company should have said there would be problem.

He said: "It's come at a very inappropriate time. Why now in the middle of the tourist season?"

Mr. Commissiong said there were no notices on the kiosks and customers were blaming phone card companies, including his, for the mistake.

"It's costing us money. It's a fairly substantial amount when word gets around phones can't be used. That's going to dampen sales.

"I have been deluged with customers I sold cards to who are irate with me."

A BTC spokeswoman said about 50 of the Island's 650 phones would be tested over the next three weeks as a new dialling system which allows access to international calling by dialling 888 is installed, allowing faster and more efficient service.

The spokeswoman said the company apologised for any inconvenience caused.

Mr. Commissiong said BTC were sailing close to the wind after Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb had warned they faced sanctions if they continued to let customers down.

He said: "There was nothing in the newspaper about this. It's another indicator of a lack of real proactive customer relations."

Mr. Commissiong said he had not heard directly from BTC that they were fixing the problem and he did not know what the situation would be today as work continued.