Verizon ILD, Teleservices Payphone call made with credit card hugely inflated National
I made 5 phone calls while at LAX. I didn't have any change, so I used my credit card. The rates posted were 50 cents for national calls and $1 for calls to Canada, which lasted 20 minutes or less. The 5 phone calls which averaged about 5 minutes each, were billed on my credit card for $120 total.
This is completley ridiculous! I called my credit card company (Mastercard Bank of Montreal) about it and they want me to prove that the phone didn't state the price of the phone call. Are you kidding me? I asked them what they wanted..a photo of the rates on the payphone in LAX? They said they need the company Verizon or ILD to agree to reduce the charge. Are you kidding me? A company states one rate, then rapes you, and they get to decide if they want to reduce or remove the charge? Ummm, don't you think that a company that would do that IN THE FIRST PLACE might not be inclined to be a good citizen after the fact?
I called Verizon and they 'explained' to me that any call made with a credit card would be subject to certain 'fees' over and above the posted rates. I asked them why they didn't post THOSE rates, seeing that they were 1000% higher than the rates that WERE posted. I can't believe that they are getting away with this.
Rob
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
6 Updates & Rebuttals
Alex
Mississauga,Ontario,
Canada
Coin vs. credit card
#7Consumer Suggestion
Sun, November 09, 2008
Ya, OK....so the sticker on the phone states coin charges. It would be nice to know before hand that credit card charges are ridiculously inflated. Could they not post that on the payphone as well? I went through a similar experience and even spoke with an operator, who conveniently decided not to let me know how much I was going to get raped when making a CC call to Canada.
George
Belmont,California,
U.S.A.
Using coins at Payphones may not help
#7Consumer Comment
Fri, June 13, 2008
To Clarify from "Mytown USA" - I have seen your response to two different consumers about use of payphones. You advise to use coins and read the instructions on the phone. I have been ripped off by ILD AFTER depositing coins in the phone. I read the instructions on a payphone at a highway rest stop outside of Boron, CA that said call anywhere in USA for $1.00. I called my brother in Vegas to tell him I was running late, but the line was disconnected five seconds into my call. I did not have enough coin to make another call. Called the 800 number listed on the phone for refunds and was told I had the wrong number. Redialed and was told I had the wrong number again. I tried several other numbers listed on the phone instructions but not one could help me. So, I used my credit card, left a 30 second message on my brother's voice mail and got billed over $35.
And get this - my credit card company wants a printed receipt or "transaction slip" from the payphone to support my challenge to the billing.
George
Belmont,California,
U.S.A.
Using coins at Payphones may not help
#7Consumer Comment
Fri, June 13, 2008
To Clarify from "Mytown USA" - I have seen your response to two different consumers about use of payphones. You advise to use coins and read the instructions on the phone. I have been ripped off by ILD AFTER depositing coins in the phone. I read the instructions on a payphone at a highway rest stop outside of Boron, CA that said call anywhere in USA for $1.00. I called my brother in Vegas to tell him I was running late, but the line was disconnected five seconds into my call. I did not have enough coin to make another call. Called the 800 number listed on the phone for refunds and was told I had the wrong number. Redialed and was told I had the wrong number again. I tried several other numbers listed on the phone instructions but not one could help me. So, I used my credit card, left a 30 second message on my brother's voice mail and got billed over $35.
And get this - my credit card company wants a printed receipt or "transaction slip" from the payphone to support my challenge to the billing.
George
Belmont,California,
U.S.A.
Using coins at Payphones may not help
#7Consumer Comment
Fri, June 13, 2008
To Clarify from "Mytown USA" - I have seen your response to two different consumers about use of payphones. You advise to use coins and read the instructions on the phone. I have been ripped off by ILD AFTER depositing coins in the phone. I read the instructions on a payphone at a highway rest stop outside of Boron, CA that said call anywhere in USA for $1.00. I called my brother in Vegas to tell him I was running late, but the line was disconnected five seconds into my call. I did not have enough coin to make another call. Called the 800 number listed on the phone for refunds and was told I had the wrong number. Redialed and was told I had the wrong number again. I tried several other numbers listed on the phone instructions but not one could help me. So, I used my credit card, left a 30 second message on my brother's voice mail and got billed over $35.
And get this - my credit card company wants a printed receipt or "transaction slip" from the payphone to support my challenge to the billing.
George
Belmont,California,
U.S.A.
Using coins at Payphones may not help
#7Consumer Comment
Fri, June 13, 2008
To Clarify from "Mytown USA" - I have seen your response to two different consumers about use of payphones. You advise to use coins and read the instructions on the phone. I have been ripped off by ILD AFTER depositing coins in the phone. I read the instructions on a payphone at a highway rest stop outside of Boron, CA that said call anywhere in USA for $1.00. I called my brother in Vegas to tell him I was running late, but the line was disconnected five seconds into my call. I did not have enough coin to make another call. Called the 800 number listed on the phone for refunds and was told I had the wrong number. Redialed and was told I had the wrong number again. I tried several other numbers listed on the phone instructions but not one could help me. So, I used my credit card, left a 30 second message on my brother's voice mail and got billed over $35.
And get this - my credit card company wants a printed receipt or "transaction slip" from the payphone to support my challenge to the billing.
Clairifi
Mytown,Texas,
U.S.A.
UMM... read the INSTRUCTIONS on the phone... and USE COINS so you don't get ripped off!!!
#7Consumer Suggestion
Mon, March 24, 2008
UMMMM... if you READ the information correctly that is CLEARLY posted on the phone... the rates shown are phone COIN calls! That obviously means calls placed with COINS. Don't blame the company if you don't bother to read the card completely or have enough common sense to understand it. Always use coins at a payphone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DUH.