Comments on: Warning: Euro payphones steal C-notes, get away with it http://www.elliott.org/blog/warning-euro-payphones-steal-c-notes-get-away-with-it/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Justin http://www.elliott.org/blog/warning-euro-payphones-steal-c-notes-get-away-with-it/comment-page-1/#comment-27746 Justin Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:21:11 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/warning-euro-payphones-steal-c-notes-get-away-with-it/#comment-27746 I agree wholeheartedly with using Wells Fargo because of their wonderful fraud department. I worked in it for 3 years doing Visa card disputes. We would always go to bat for the customer (even when we knew they were not telling the truth). I dont know about the rest of Wells Fargo, but at least in the fraud department it was always "the customer is always right". The bank I work for now leaves customers hanging out to dry and it disgusts me :-( I agree wholeheartedly with using Wells Fargo because of their wonderful fraud department. I worked in it for 3 years doing Visa card disputes. We would always go to bat for the customer (even when we knew they were not telling the truth). I dont know about the rest of Wells Fargo, but at least in the fraud department it was always “the customer is always right”. The bank I work for now leaves customers hanging out to dry and it disgusts me :-(

]]> By: Public service announcement… ok, and a rant « Ramblings and roadtrips http://www.elliott.org/blog/warning-euro-payphones-steal-c-notes-get-away-with-it/comment-page-1/#comment-25523 Public service announcement… ok, and a rant « Ramblings and roadtrips Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:50:22 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/warning-euro-payphones-steal-c-notes-get-away-with-it/#comment-25523 [...] now (I sure will in two weeks’ time), but judging by what Google digs up they’ve been doing this to people for years, under different names. I was billed by GB BBG FINANCIAL SRVS EUR. So be sure to avoid them, or [...] [...] now (I sure will in two weeks’ time), but judging by what Google digs up they’ve been doing this to people for years, under different names. I was billed by GB BBG FINANCIAL SRVS EUR. So be sure to avoid them, or [...]

]]> By: Brian http://www.elliott.org/blog/warning-euro-payphones-steal-c-notes-get-away-with-it/comment-page-1/#comment-20376 Brian Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:32:45 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/warning-euro-payphones-steal-c-notes-get-away-with-it/#comment-20376 This ALMOST happened to me in Croatia. My cell phone would not work at all, no matter what and all the pay phones require calling cards which are apparently hard to come by after the post office or tabacs are closed. I needed to call the owner of the apartment I had rented and needed a phone. All the phone booths had stickers touting international calling with an access number no Phone Card required. I called them up and for me to make a call within the country...not even an international call..they wanted $17.95 per minute. I hung up on them righ there. I also tried calling my cell phone carrier collect (which is what they recommend on the website) and the international calling company tried to trick me into giving them my credit card number saying it was "just for validation". They said "collect calling is when we charge a call to your credit card" and not back to the person called. Anyways, thanks to the kindness of an owner of a local cafe I was able to make a local call to the owner. What he got back was a customer every morning durring my stay! This ALMOST happened to me in Croatia. My cell phone would not work at all, no matter what and all the pay phones require calling cards which are apparently hard to come by after the post office or tabacs are closed. I needed to call the owner of the apartment I had rented and needed a phone.

All the phone booths had stickers touting international calling with an access number no Phone Card required. I called them up and for me to make a call within the country…not even an international call..they wanted $17.95 per minute. I hung up on them righ there.

I also tried calling my cell phone carrier collect (which is what they recommend on the website) and the international calling company tried to trick me into giving them my credit card number saying it was “just for validation”. They said “collect calling is when we charge a call to your credit card” and not back to the person called.

Anyways, thanks to the kindness of an owner of a local cafe I was able to make a local call to the owner. What he got back was a customer every morning durring my stay!

]]> By: DN http://www.elliott.org/blog/warning-euro-payphones-steal-c-notes-get-away-with-it/comment-page-1/#comment-18619 DN Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:39:14 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/warning-euro-payphones-steal-c-notes-get-away-with-it/#comment-18619 Actually, this could happen in the USA also. I once locked myself out of the house without keys, wallet, cell phone, and a jacket. I knew there was a pay phone nearby, and it allowed me to pay via a credit card, so I placed a 2 minute phone call to my wife asking her to come home and unlock the door for me. No rates posted, but there's always the "Call anywhere in the USA for $1.00/ 3 minutes!" sticker on those non-phone company phones. I assumed I'd pay $1 for the call and a $4.95 service fee. The next month, I received a bill from the phone provider for $34.95. The phone number I called from was a (310) number - West Los Angeles. The phone number I called was a (626) number - Pasadena. I never disputed the charge because I called it my own idiocy tax, and I never close the door anymore without 100% verifying that I have the house keys in my hand. Actually, this could happen in the USA also. I once locked myself out of the house without keys, wallet, cell phone, and a jacket. I knew there was a pay phone nearby, and it allowed me to pay via a credit card, so I placed a 2 minute phone call to my wife asking her to come home and unlock the door for me. No rates posted, but there’s always the “Call anywhere in the USA for $1.00/ 3 minutes!” sticker on those non-phone company phones. I assumed I’d pay $1 for the call and a $4.95 service fee.

The next month, I received a bill from the phone provider for $34.95. The phone number I called from was a (310) number – West Los Angeles. The phone number I called was a (626) number – Pasadena.

I never disputed the charge because I called it my own idiocy tax, and I never close the door anymore without 100% verifying that I have the house keys in my hand.

]]> By: Dang http://www.elliott.org/blog/warning-euro-payphones-steal-c-notes-get-away-with-it/comment-page-1/#comment-18540 Dang Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:13:04 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/warning-euro-payphones-steal-c-notes-get-away-with-it/#comment-18540 I had a similar problem. When I missed a train from Amsterdam to Antwerpen, I tried to call my friend in Antwerpen. The price they charge my credit card is not the price display at the booth. Almost 90% of the booth which accept credit card in Europe in Train stations are scam. The only way to avoid is to buy phone card. But it was an emergency. It was a 35$ for a 5 minutes call from Amsterdam to Antwerpen which normally cost less than 5$ in Hotel (I did it in my Barbyzon Hotel). I just don't want to waste time and energy to fight a greedy company in Israel for a 30$. But my bad experience turn out Ok, the train I missed was in a collision with another train. I had a similar problem.
When I missed a train from Amsterdam to Antwerpen, I tried to call my friend in Antwerpen. The price they charge my credit card is not the price display at the booth.
Almost 90% of the booth which accept credit card in Europe in Train stations are scam. The only way to avoid is to buy phone card. But it was an emergency.
It was a 35$ for a 5 minutes call from Amsterdam to Antwerpen which normally cost less than 5$ in Hotel (I did it in my Barbyzon Hotel).
I just don’t want to waste time and energy to fight a greedy company in Israel for a 30$.
But my bad experience turn out Ok, the train I missed was in a collision with another train.

]]> By: Anke http://www.elliott.org/blog/warning-euro-payphones-steal-c-notes-get-away-with-it/comment-page-1/#comment-8575 Anke Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:24:17 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/warning-euro-payphones-steal-c-notes-get-away-with-it/#comment-8575 I recently made two phone calls using my credit card at Schiphol airport. I was reluctant to do this, because it did not state anywhere what the charges would be for credit card calls, only what the charges were with a Dutch debit card. But because I had to make the calls, and because I had no other options, I made two 2-minute calls to phone numbers in the Netherlands. I was charged exactly $11.47 for each call. I called the company in LA, and they gave me back 30% when I complained that I did not see their rate posted anywhere, nor any information on how to get an operator. I was still upset about this phone being there in the first place, and I contacted Schiphol airport. They apparently contacted the LA company again, and I got a full refund. So, if they still haven't corrected the signs at these phones, make sure to complain to Schiphol about the fact that the credit card rates are not listed (go to www.schiphol.nl and click on "contact"). I recently made two phone calls using my credit card at Schiphol airport. I was reluctant to do this, because it did not state anywhere what the charges would be for credit card calls, only what the charges were with a Dutch debit card. But because I had to make the calls, and because I had no other options, I made two 2-minute calls to phone numbers in the Netherlands. I was charged exactly $11.47 for each call.
I called the company in LA, and they gave me back 30% when I complained that I did not see their rate posted anywhere, nor any information on how to get an operator.
I was still upset about this phone being there in the first place, and I contacted Schiphol airport. They apparently contacted the LA company again, and I got a full refund. So, if they still haven’t corrected the signs at these phones, make sure to complain to Schiphol about the fact that the credit card rates are not listed (go to http://www.schiphol.nl and click on “contact”).

]]> By: darrell chan http://www.elliott.org/blog/warning-euro-payphones-steal-c-notes-get-away-with-it/comment-page-1/#comment-3976 darrell chan Sun, 30 Sep 2007 19:57:27 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/warning-euro-payphones-steal-c-notes-get-away-with-it/#comment-3976 We travel infrequently and did not opt for international mobile. Not having experience I purchased a dial in pin coded call number. At Paris CDG we had to make an emergency call, and not having any coins to activate the pay phone, I inserted visa card. The 30 second call registered 3.5 Euro's, but the actual bill in dollars came to 11 plus, US! Another surprise is that hotels layer their own charges. I made status calls home to Los Angeles, and the call card was hardly dinged. Each call, however, tacked on a 3 Euro room service phone charge! We travel infrequently and did not opt for international mobile. Not having experience I purchased a dial in pin coded call number. At Paris CDG we had to make an emergency call, and not having any coins to activate the pay phone, I inserted visa card. The 30 second call registered 3.5 Euro’s, but the actual bill in dollars came to 11 plus, US! Another surprise is that hotels layer their own charges. I made status calls home to Los Angeles, and the call card was hardly dinged. Each call, however, tacked on a 3 Euro room service phone charge!

]]> By: Tazz Tassone http://www.elliott.org/blog/warning-euro-payphones-steal-c-notes-get-away-with-it/comment-page-1/#comment-2601 Tazz Tassone Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:08:05 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/warning-euro-payphones-steal-c-notes-get-away-with-it/#comment-2601 I read this blog item with great disgust. Unfortunaely barfield didn't name the phone company but I have copied both Elliott's comments and Barfield's comments and sent them to an influential friend of mine in Rotterdam with a request that he pass it on to the head of Schipol management so they can check it out and correct it when it is verified that this is going on. I'll keep you posted. Since Elliott is always talking about customer's fighting back I'm surprised when stuff like this happens that he doesn't take it upon himself to forward a copy of the item to management like in this case and then track their response publicly. I believe the Dutch overheit (management) at Schipol will be surprised at this situation and will take appropriate action either to remove or update the offending rate's posted by the phone. Any further info anyone can send me as to the specific location and/or the name of the telephone company will be appreciated as I've taken this one on as a "cause" to rectify. TazzT@aol.com I read this blog item with great disgust. Unfortunaely barfield didn’t name the phone company but I have copied both Elliott’s comments and Barfield’s comments and sent them to an influential friend of mine in Rotterdam with a request that he pass it on to the head of Schipol management so they can check it out and correct it when it is verified that this is going on. I’ll keep you posted. Since Elliott is always talking about customer’s fighting back I’m surprised when stuff like this happens that he doesn’t take it upon himself to forward a copy of the item to management like in this case and then track their response publicly. I believe the Dutch overheit (management) at Schipol will be surprised at this situation and will take appropriate action either to remove or update the offending rate’s posted by the phone. Any further info anyone can send me as to the specific location and/or the name of the telephone company will be appreciated as I’ve taken this one on as a “cause” to rectify. TazzT@aol.com

]]> By: Barfield http://www.elliott.org/blog/warning-euro-payphones-steal-c-notes-get-away-with-it/comment-page-1/#comment-2544 Barfield Tue, 04 Sep 2007 15:04:05 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/warning-euro-payphones-steal-c-notes-get-away-with-it/#comment-2544 Problem is, how do you "inquire about prices." I've heard tales similar to this one involving a payphone at Amsterdam Schiphol that has the credit card rates on the wall right next to the phone! One woeful customer, after getting a 3-figured bill for a few minutes' call, was informed by the phone company: "Oh, that sign is incorrect." His credit card issuer did block the charge, but that's no panacea. The phone company (based in Los Angeles) hired a collection agency to dun him at home. Heaven iknows what happened to his credit score! I've confirmed this story to the point of checking out the phone in Amsterdam and the sign, and to view numerous complaints about the company in question via Google. But I haven't had the courage to try out the phone by placing a call and seeing what happens. Anybody who goes abroad very much at all should get a US cellphone service that supports calls from overseas at a guaranteed rate. I have mine, which charges a flat rate of $.99 a minute in Europe. Although I naturally prefer using a phone card where it makes sense to buy one, having my trusty cell at hand gives me enormous peace of mind. Problem is, how do you “inquire about prices.”

I’ve heard tales similar to this one involving a payphone at Amsterdam Schiphol that has the credit card rates on the wall right next to the phone! One woeful customer, after getting a 3-figured bill for a few minutes’ call, was informed by the phone company: “Oh, that sign is incorrect.”

His credit card issuer did block the charge, but that’s no panacea. The phone company (based in Los Angeles) hired a collection agency to dun him at home. Heaven iknows what happened to his credit score!

I’ve confirmed this story to the point of checking out the phone in Amsterdam and the sign, and to view numerous complaints about the company in question via Google. But I haven’t had the courage to try out the phone by placing a call and seeing what happens.

Anybody who goes abroad very much at all should get a US cellphone service that supports calls from overseas at a guaranteed rate. I have mine, which charges a flat rate of $.99 a minute in Europe. Although I naturally prefer using a phone card where it makes sense to buy one, having my trusty cell at hand gives me enormous peace of mind.

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