PEOPLE who want information about the European single currency and its planned arrival in Slovakia can call the free info line: 0800/103-104. The line was launched during the euro introduction information campaign in January. The info line is run out of the Euro Info Centre at the Slovak Cabinet Office, along with the information web site: www.euromena.sk. The National Bank of Slovakia trained six call centre operators to provide information about the adoption of the currency planned for January 1, 2009. Free calls can be made from the landline network T-Com as well as mobile operators T-Mobile, Orange and O2.
"Citizens can get practical and useful information, such as how long it will be possible to pay with Slovak crowns, what dual pricing is, when the conversion exchange rate will be announced, how people can exchange crowns for euros, etc," Ingrid Šrámková from the Euro Info Centre informed The Slovak Spectator in a press release. "Entrepreneurs, bank employees or large companies also use the info line services. They are interested in information associated with their business activities and obligations during the transition to the euro."
The info line operates from 8:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday. After hours and during weekends and holidays an automatic answering system provides answers to the most frequently asked questions. These questions and answers are regularly up-dated. A blunder was caught at the launch of the info line. The tabloid Nový Čas called the line to test it in mid January. A reporter asked if it would be possible to draw Slovak crowns from an ATM after the planned adoption of the euro on January 1, 2009. "I think that this would be possible during the first days," a soft female voice answered. "You can pay with crowns in shops until January 16. Thus maybe it would be possible [to draw crowns from ATMs] only up to January 16." Unfortunately, this answer was incorrect, as ATMs will give out euros exclusively as of January 1, 2009.
"I don't understand why she answered this way," Šramková told the daily. "She has been working with us for four years. Certainly we will face consequences from this. This should not have happened."
The operator was fined Sk5,000, Šramková said.
