Arun Gupta, Miles to go ...
Arun Gupta is a technology enthusiast, a passionate runner, and a community guy who works for Sun Microsystems.
Sunday January 27, 2008
Frankfurt to San Jose - $54.54 for one minute call
I used my credit card to call home (San Jose, CA) from Frankfurt
Airport during a trip last year. And the calling company charged $54.54
for an approximately one minute call. Here is what I see in my credit
card statement detail:
| Transaction Date | 12/10/2007 |
| Transaction Description | INTL CL* 800-5762118 CA |
| Called From | GERMANY GE Number: 0114901113 |
| Called To | LOS GATOS CA Number: xxx-xxx-xxxx |
| Time of Call: 00:22 | Duration: 00:05 |
| Charge: | $54.54 |
| Merchant Address | INTERNATIONAL CALLING 511 E SAN YSIDRO BLVD SUITE 1770 SAN YSIDRO CA 92173 USA |
Gosh, this turned out to be an EXPENSIVE call!
The duration is listed as 00:05, i.e. 5 seconds. I remember talking for approx a minute. IMHO having no information is better than having incorrect one.
Fortunately, the customer service number was correct and I got some points clarified:
- This call is placed through satellite and that's why they charged this rate. He could not explain why satellite is used when credit card is used to call.
- The pulse rate is 5 minutes. So the telephone company always charge in multiple of 5 minutes.
- Talk to a live operator, inquire about the rates and then place the call. In the United States, making an operator-assisted call charges you more money. So this was completely non-intuitive to me.
- Because of some stated law, the international calling rate, pulse rate and similar information cannot be placed on the phone equipment. Again, no reference to what/where the law is.
- Use a pre-paid card to make the international call. This is a lesson learned for me, hard way!
Technorati: frankfurt airport traveltips phone
Posted by Arun Gupta in General | Comments[3]
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This is a personal weblog, I do not speak for my employer.
Posted by intuitive on January 27, 2008 at 09:34 AM PST #
Can you please give me the details of the customer service number/e-mail ID which I should be getting in touch with? I have also be robbed for a single minute call to India from Frankfurt airport. Thanks in advance.
Posted by Juhi on July 18, 2008 at 01:06 AM PDT #
Juhi,
I used the customer service # from the credit card statement detailed entry.
Posted by Arun Gupta on July 18, 2008 at 05:35 AM PDT #