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From: rmadison@euler.berkeley.edu (Linc Madison)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: How To Dial Long Distance (AND: Where COCOTs Are Better)
Message-ID: <3549@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 6 Feb 90 01:00:11 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 78, message 5 of 13


In article <3398@accuvax.nwu.edu> Rob Warnock writes:

>To make matters more confusing and frustrating, you *can* dial the
>number first on the Pac*Bell pay phone if the number is not "local",
>that is, will cost more than 20 cents for the call.

Yup, Pac*Bell pay phones have a fun and exciting algorithm.

(1) Local (Zone 1 -- within 8 miles) call
    a. Listen for dial tone
    b. Deposit 20c
    c. Dial number
    d. If you did (c) before (b), you must hang up and return to (a)

(2) Non-local (all other calls)
    a. Listen for dial tone
    b. Dial number
    c. If you inserted any change (even the exact amount) before
       dialing, it will be returned to you.
    d. Listen for recording telling you how much money to insert
    e. Insert three pocketfuls of change

Thus, you can walk up, insert 55c, dial your number, have your change
returned to you, and then be told to insert 55c.  What a system!
       
       -- Linc Madison   =   rmadison@euler.berkeley.edu