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From: konstan@elmer-fudd.berkeley.edu (Joe Konstan)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: MCI Around Town Surcharge
Message-ID: <12584@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 24 Sep 90 23:58:50 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 677, Message 7 of 9


I received yet another story about this.  First, I spent time wading
through the training system to hear the "no surcharge" message.  Then,
unable to find an escape to a real person, called up a customer
service person who said that:

1)  The feature now costs 25 cents (I knew that)
2)  The message should have been changed (wow!)
3)  The local calling area is your home city (I know that isn't true, here in
    the San Francisco area it is approximately the free local calling area).
4)  There is no surcharge IF you make a local call from within your local 
    calling area!!!!

This is the one I want to check out!  I've often called home via MCI
from BART stations (pre 25 cent surcharge) since the cost was 8-12
cents instead of 20.  I stopped when the surcharge came in, but will
try again and let the Digest know if this too turns out to be false.

By the way, is this a legal thing for them to provide (and I imagine
even promote)?  Can long distance carriers provide alternative local
service at discount rates through 950-xxxx???


Joe Konstan