Terms & Conditions of Telephone Use

The Terms and Conditions of Telephone Use have been designed to best serve its users, to comply with various regulations and codes and to ensure that inappropriate use by one individual does not interfere with others. This document is intended to supplement the McMaster Residence Code of Conduct. The MacOnline Telephone service includes a connection to the McMaster University Telephone system, advanced set features and voicemail. Each resident student at McMaster has the privilege of using the MacOnline service. Certain restrictions apply and the privilege may be revoked at any time. You may incur charges while using this service. You are personally responsible for all charges, including applicable taxes (i.e. long distance, directory assistance, damages/repairs, etc.).

* Delinquent accounts will be sent to CREDIT COLLECTION for processing

TELEPHONE

All telephone sets are digital. As such these sets will NOT work if taken home. Sets brought from home will not work with our telephone system, as they are most likely analog. The telephone set and all associated wiring has been rented to you and remains the property of McMaster Telecommunications. You must not change or tap into this wiring in any way. You are responsible for all loss or damages to telephone set. Service charges are as follows:

• Administrative service charge $25.00 +
• Replacement handset $25.00
• Replacement line or curly cord $15.00
• Replacement jack $25.00
• Replacement set $400.00
• Replacement cabling $25 to $248
  (must be inspected by telecom technician to determine extent of damage)

Each student is assigned an extension number upon check in. It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that they are residing at their assigned extension. Telecommunications will not accept any room or bed changes from students.

UNLISTED TELEPHONE EXTENSIONS

Each student has the option of having his/her extension unlisted. It is the responsibility of the student to make this request through Telecommunications. Any student requesting to be unlisted will not appear at the switchboard. Anyone attempting to reach you without your extension number will be required to contact Security Services. You may change your status from Listed to Unlisted or vice versa at any time. New extension numbers WILL NOT be provided unless requested by Security Services.

VOICEMAIL

Each student will be assigned a personal voicemail box. Each voicemail box will initially be set with system greetings and passwords (1 followed by your ext. # is your password). It is recommended that each student record his or her own personal greeting and change the password. This is important as each mailbox is initially set with a generic password that others can access until you create your own. Voicemail will be revoked if there are any reports of obscenities in greetings or messages. As there is limited storage capacity ALL messages are deleted after 14 days. It is the responsibility of the student to report any harassing messages to security for investigation within this time frame before the messages are deleted, as they are not retrievable after they have been deleted.

LOCAL CALLING

Each telephone is programmed to allow unrestricted local calling. Please familiarize yourself with local areas, as you will NOT be credited for calls made locally using your authorization code. To dial locally press 9 and then the 10 digit local number. All 1-900-xxx-xxxx and 1-700-xxx-xxxx numbers are restricted from our system. All Bell calling card and Call-me card calls must be processed through our main switchboard. Dial “0” to place call. You may be asked to provide certain information for verification before call is processed. To obtain Bell directory assistance you must dial using your Authorization code. All 1-8xx-xxx-xxxx toll free calls are considered local. Dial 9 and then the 1-8xx number.

TERMINATION OF SERVICE

Telephone service is included in your residence fees and will not be reimbursed if you choose not to use the service.

CALL BLOCK/CALL RETURN/CALL TRACE

These features are not available through our telephone system. You will not be able to block your extension when dialing another telephone on campus. Your extension will appear on the person’s display. When you dial off campus the recipient will see (905) 525-9140, with no listed extension number. Please be advised that Telecommunications has the ability to trace calls dialed from campus. Security will be informed of anyone attempting to dial out and back in to harass someone.

You will not be able to perform a last call return or a call trace. Since all calls are processed through our telephone switch we are unable to allow these features. In the case of harassing telephone calls you are required to inform Security Services. They will report the incident to Telecommunications and everything possible will be done to track the calls.

SUMMARY

The appropriate University authority in conjunction with Housing & Conference Services will investigate violation of these terms and conditions. All or some of your McMaster privileges may by suspended during the investigation. Any further sanctions will be determined by the appropriate authorities according to their policies and in consultation with Housing & Conference Services. Criminal activity, serious cases of repeated abuse, disruption to the residence community or interference with the University Telephone system, may result in additional sanctions under the Residence Discipline code including but not limited to residence probation, behavioral contract or eviction. Proceedings under the Residence discipline code may be carried out prior to, simultaneously with, or following criminal proceedings.