I dialled the number, a man’s voice answered. He said it was not the helpline, but I could tell him my problem. I found out that ever since the Supreme Court of Justice (JSC) separated from the Judges Supreme Council, the department in charge of citizens’ complaints are the JSC representatives. I was asked to call again in 10 minutes, so that in the meantime he could talk to the judge and decide what the best way to handle the matter is. After 10 minutes I talked to a person from the Supreme Court in charge of public relations, who recommended that I contact the Centre for Fighting Economic Crimes and Corruption “because they are professionals and will help you.” Unfortunately, he could not offer a CFECC phone number.

The Center for Fighting Economic Crimes and Corruption’s phone number?

Fatigue with invitation ‘to write’

At the CFECC they answered immediately, and after listening to my corruption story, the helpline’s operator suggested to me with a tired tone a couple of phone numbers that I could call. Moreover, I was invited to the centre to“make a written statement.” The CFECC clerk assured me that my anonymity would be preserved and the case would be solved as soon as possible.

Agency of Construction and Territorial Development: 20-45-04

A new institution with no line

Upon calling the the ACTD I wastold that I had in fact dialled the wrong phone number. After insisting, the gentleman at the end of the line informed me that I had reached the deputy minister of Ecology, and hung up quickly.

“Good day. Is this the helpline?”

“No, you have the wrong number. This is another institution.”

“But who am I calling?”

“Who are you looking for?”

“The Agency of Constructions and Territorial Development.”

“It’s not here. What number have you dialled?”

“20-45-04. Maybe you can help me find the number for this department?”

“I don’t know, and you should know that this is the Deputy Minister of Ecology!,” a rude voice replied, and the call was over. I called the Ministry of Constructions and Territorial Development and was told that there was no helpline. If I have a problem – call the State Inspection in Constructions.

National Regulatory Agency in Telecommunications and Informatics: 25-13-46

Movement in offices

“This is not the helpline, but tell me what your complaint is.”

After I told the lady the reason I had called, she advised me to send a written letter to the agency’s address or, if I have the possibility, via email.“The helpline is not functioning at the moment, because some departments have moved offices; it will work later, but I don’t know when.”

National Bureau of Statistics: 40-31-51

The secretary over the line

“Good day. Is this the helpline?”

“No. This is the Bureau of Statistics’ secretary.”

“And what is the number for the helpline?”

“40-31-51.”

“That is the number I’ve dialled.”

“Well this is the helpline and the secretary’s number.”

After this explanation, the secretary called someone else because he was not able to tell me who I should call and who could help me.

Information and Security Service: 23-92-25

Anonymity with a phone call from ISS

“Information and Security Service, good day.”

“Good day. Is this the helpline?”

“No, this is the secretary, but say what you have to say.”

“Well, I would like to speak to someone from the helpline. Do you have it or not?”

“Yes, but it has a different number: 24-51-21.”

When calling this number, I was harshly told that I had reached the right place and was asked to introduce myself. I required anonymity.

“OK, but leave a phone number and an ISS co-worker will contact you to discuss the problem in detail.”

Customs Service: 57-41-74, 27-55-76

Two useless numbers

Although the Customs Service offers two phone numbers on the Government’s website, neither of these are the actual number for the helpline. At 57-41-74, a young man, surprised by our question, told me that it was not the helpline, it was the department on duty. He asked me to hold on a moment. Afterwards, another clerk talked to me and offered me to come to them in Chişinău and he would escort me to the Internal Security Department. There I would be able to tell my story about the corrupt clerk.

Ministry of Health: 72-10-10

Tell it to the corrupt

I was asked to tell them about my case. Then, the voice of the ‘helpline’ told us to contact the director of the hospital where I was asked for a bribe and they will help me. If the problem is not solved by the medical institution, I should call the ministry again.

Ministry of Social and Family Protection: 28-07-92, 73-75-72

No phone and no line

There is no number for this ministry’s helpline on the Government’s website. I found two numbers on the MSFP website: 28-07-92 and 73-75-72. I dialled 28-07-92 and a lady harshly told me to tell her about my case. Since I’ve asked for anonymity, I was redirected to the ministerial department in charge of our problem. I also called 73-75-72. This time, a lady replied that there was no helpline at the ministry, but she kindly told me to come in person to report the problem.

Ministry of Education and Youth: 23-24-72

The youth, even helpless

“Good day. helpline?”

“This is actually the Youth Year line. But what do you want?”

“I would like to report a corruption case that took place in an educational institution.” I was given the secretary’s number: 23-33-48, “from there you will be given the phone number of the department that will solve your problem.”

The Ministry of Home Affairs: 25-54-91, 22-65-74

Only visiting the MIA

At 25-54-91:

“Good day. helpline?”

“This is the Internal Security Department.”

“I would like to know the number for the helpline.”

“I’m listening to you.”

“I would like to report a corruption case concerning a traffic police co-worker.”

“Could you come to see us at the ministry? You must talk to the officer on duty and file a complaint.”

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration: 57-83-25

Answering machine

The answering machine said very nicely:

“Good day. You have reached the MFAEI. Please leave a message after the beep.”

COLD LINES

Court of Accounts: 23-77-48

The Court of Accounts has the biggest problem: their helpline is always busy. Corruption cases are probably continuously reported, or maybe there is something wrong with the line. After a couple of days I was unable to reach them.

Economic Law Court: 27-74-38

No one replied to my call. In vain, I repeatedly phoned them, but got the same response.

Ministry of Justice: 22-25-00

The Ministry of Justice is probably on holiday, because no one answered my calls in the morning, afternoon or evening.

Bad luck lines, functioning lines

Ministry of Economy and Trade: 25-05-35

The name of the corrupt

The lady at the end of the line asked me to introduce myself and state the name of the person asking for a bribe in order to make a reference to the minister.

“There is no other way to do this; you must give me your name to confirm the facts. Then we will call you and the person asking for the bribe to solve the case,” the person in charge informed me.

The Licensing Chamber

A recorded conversation

Kindly and patiently, a Licensing Chamber employee listened to me and asked me to give every detail, assuring me my anonymity will be preserved. I was told that a special commission would handle my problem and a recorded phone conversation was enough to start the case’s examination, making a visit to the chamber’s office was unnecessary.

Material Reserves, Public Acquisitions and Humanitarian Aid Agency: 23-42-80

At material reserves, with no reserves

At the agency I kindly received answers to my questions. I was politely promised confidentiality and a fast resolution of the reported problem.

General Prosecutor’s Office: 22-31-35

Come and we’ll analyse the problem

The lady at the prosecutor’s office kindly listened to me and invited me to come to the prosecutor’s office in order to analyse the problem in more detail.

Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry: 23-23-90

“Good day. I want to report a corruption case.”

“Yes, of course, is it part of our ministry?”

“Yes?”

“Is it from the sixth floor department?”

“Yes”

“I’ve recorded the information and will pass it on to the minister. Please phone again with concrete details about this case. And thank you for this call.”

The texts from the page www.zdg.md are taken over within the maximum limit of 1,000 characters. The direct link to the downloaded article must be indicated in the case of web pages, IN LEAD, mandatory. At least one more hyperlink to the primary source must be indicated in the text. The media institutions that take articles or images for TV or radio shows will cite the source, and the printed editions will indicate the source and the author of the information. The materials on www.zdg.md are protected by Law 139 on copyright and related rights, including the Code of Ethics for Journalists in the Republic of Moldova. The full takeover of ZdG materials can be done only under the conditions of a prior agreement with the editorial office.