Nilda Salcedo v. Iriga Telephone Company

Summary

This case involves a debt collection suit by Iriga Telephone Company, Inc. against subscriber Nilda Salcedo for unpaid long-distance telephone bills totaling P571,728.11. Salcedo subscribed to telephone services in 1994 and used long-distance services to communicate with her husband in Japan. From March to July 1998, she accumulated substantial telephone bills but made only minimal partial payments. The telephone company filed suit for collection after sending a demand letter. All three levels of courts found Salcedo liable for the unpaid bills based on the evidence presented, including billing statements and witness testimonies. The Supreme Court affirmed the liability but deleted the attorney's fees award for lack of proper legal basis and adjusted the interest rate to conform with current jurisprudence on legal interest rates.