Question: I went to Hawaiian Telcom on Bishop Street to pay my bill. The lady said they don’t take cash anymore, but I can go to First Hawaiian Bank to pay. When did Hawaiian Telcom decide to stop taking cash payments? I don’t have a checking account. Too bad! I know many senior citizens who don’t have a checking account and only pay cash. They will have a hard time if they’re using a cane or walker.

Answer: It actually may be more convenient for you to go to First Hawaiian Bank to pay your bill, since it has 58 locations statewide.

But there is a $1 “convenience fee” for that option, which is the only way you can use cash to pay your Hawaiian Telcom bill.

In August, Hawaiian Telcom’s former downtown retail store on Bishop Street began operating as “an equipment depot,” supporting its recently launched television service, said R. Scott Simon, executive director of corporate communications.

It was one of five retail stores statewide (three on Oahu) that Hawaiian Telcom closed during the summer. The stores were used mainly by customers paying their bills — a dwindling number as more people shift to paying their bills electronically or by phone.

“Our customers who prefer to pay by cash are very important to us,” Simon said. However, “Maintaining a store presence at high cost primarily to receive in-person payments was no longer feasible, particularly with such a convenient (First Hawaiian Bank) option available.”

Customers were notified beforehand of the transition through fliers and signs, along with bill messages, he said.

In the meantime, customers are encouraged to opt for paperless billing, receiving bills via email, along with automatic bill payment (online at www.hawaiiantel. com), as a means to reduce printing and mailing costs.

They can also pay by mail or by credit card (call 877-651-8962).

Question: Often, when someone complains about someone driving recklessly or, for example, when someone complained recently about a baby not being secured in a car seat (“Kokua Line,” Nov. 17), the advice is to call the Honolulu Police Department at 911. What actually happens to those calls?

Answer: If a caller chooses to remain anonymous, the 911 dispatcher will put out an all-points bulletin (APB) for the vehicle.

If the vehicle is not located, no investigation or follow-up will be done, explained Sgt. Danton Nakama of HPD’s Traffic Division.

“If the vehicle is located on the road by an officer after the APB is made, then any violations or criminal actions observed should result in traffic citations being issued or arrest (made), if warranted,” he said.

If the caller is willing to meet with an officer and provides enough information, a “hazardous driver” or any other applicable violation report will be generated, he said.

For example, if a license plate number is provided, that can lead to the address of the registered vehicle owner and a follow-up investigation, Nakama said.

If the registered owner of the vehicle is located, he/she will be informed of the complaint, and their statement included in the report. However, Nakama said, no citation will be issued because the alleged violation was not witnessed by the officer.

If the registered owner is not located, then the police district in which the registered owner lives would send a form letter informing the registered owner of the complaint.

AUWE

To a dangerous driver. I was traveling into Kailua town on Kailua Road in morning traffic one day and was turning left onto Hoolai Street when a silver SUV Acura turned in front of me, cutting me off of my legal left turn. Shame on you, mister, for putting the lives of everyone around you in danger!

— Kailua Resident