Path: utzoo!attcan!cmtl01!matrox!uvm-gen!uunet!lll-winken!ames!netsys!vector!nobody From: claris!edg%bridge2.3Com.Com@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Ed Greenberg) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Bad pay-phone experiences while travelling Message-ID: Date: 24 Jan 89 21:18:58 GMT Sender: chip@vector.UUCP Lines: 47 Approved: telecom-request@vector.uucp X-Submissions-To: telecom@bu-cs.bu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@vector.uucp X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 27, message 4 In a previous article Ralph Hyre discusses bad experiences with pay phones. 1. The case in which 950-xxxx connects but the pay phone doesn't give tone. Usually the operator can reconnect you to the 950 number and the tones work. (This assumes a cooperative operator.) 2. Can't get 950 from the sticks. That's the breaks, I think. Some of these phone companies are still living in the dark ages. Carry an ATT credit card for just in case. Here are some of my pet peeves. 1. I call my voicemail via AT&T credit card, but the phone disconnects me when I hit the pound. It tells me that I may dial another call now. Solution: call via the operator or on MCI. 2. Hotel phones that either block 950 or charge you 50 cents for it. Solution: Complaining bitterly usually doesn't help. In the old days you could sic Sprint on a hotel and they'd try to sell the hotel on unblocking the 950 access. I don't use Sprint any more, so I don't know if this is still done. 3. Hotels that use Alternative Operator Services for credit card calls. If it don't say "Thank you for using AT&T" or "Thank you for calling on Pacific Bell [insert your BOC here]" hang up. Be sure to fill out the comment card on the bureau and tell them you don't appreciate being raped. This is especially nasty when the hotel charges you a $.50 or more charge for making a credit card call from the room and then places your call on an AOS that kicks back a hefty percentage. 4. COCOTs of any kind. Local calls are charged as toll calls (deposit .85 for a call that should cost .20.) COCOTs that route to AOS's. COCOTs that cut off the touch tone pad so you can't unload your voicemail. COCOTs that tell you to call *611 for a refund and then don't answer. Sorry I blew my stack. The state of telephony is declining, even as the technology improves. -edg -- {decwrl|sun|oliveb}!CSO.3com.com!Edward_Greenberg Ed Greenberg -or- 3Com Corporation {sun|hplabs}!bridge2!edg Mountain View, CA 415-694-2952