Interesting thing about Hotel Telephones!

[Mrs Daddy]

hhhmmm interesting

[Arthur Little]

If I might be permitted to deviate [slightly] from the theme, I would like to relate my tale of woe, arising from an overnight stay - not in a HOTEL, but in bunking down [literally] at a Venetian Youth Hostel - (yes, even "golden oldies" like me are permitted to use these places!) some years ago, prior to mobile phones becoming so fashionable.

I'd arranged to contact my then girlfriend to simply notify her of my arrival. Using my visa card, I duly dialled the International Operator - who spoke with an American accent - and asked to be put through to the appropriate number. This done, I estimated my call had lasted barely five minutes.

It was only when my bank statement came in a month or so later, that I realised - to my horror - the single entry therein, showed my account had been debited to the tune of £35.??p. Naturally enough, before agreeing to part with this astronomical sum, I asked staff to investigate. They DID, and eventually they were even able to provide me with an explanatory breakdown of the charge. Apparently I had actully OVERestimated the time I'd spent on the call which - in the event - turned out to have been only marginally more than 3 minutes!!! It transpired my call had been intercepted by an operator in San Diego, California [would you believe!] and THEN diverted to the UK - hence its cost.

I post this message in the hope that it serves as a warning to others to be extremely wary when phoning from abroad.

[Arthur Little]

If I might be permitted to deviate [slightly] from the theme, I would like to relate my tale of woe, arising from an overnight stay - not in a HOTEL, but in bunking down [literally] at a Venetian Youth Hostel - (yes, even "golden oldies" like me are permitted to use these places!) some years ago, prior to mobile phones becoming so fashionable.

I'd arranged to contact my then girlfriend to simply notify her of my arrival. Using my visa card, I duly dialled the International Operator - who spoke with an American accent - and asked to be put through to the appropriate number. This done, I estimated my call had lasted barely five minutes.

It was only when my bank statement came in a month or so later, that I realised - to my horror - the single entry therein, showed my account had been debited to the tune of £35.??p. Naturally enough, before agreeing to part with this astronomical sum, I asked staff to investigate. They DID, and eventually they were even able to provide me with an explanatory breakdown of the charge. Apparently I had actully OVERestimated the time I'd spent on the call which - in the event - turned out to have been only marginally more than 3 minutes!!! It transpired my call had been intercepted by an operator in San Diego, California [would you believe!] and THEN diverted to the UK - hence its cost.

I post this message in the hope that it serves as a warning to others to be extremely wary when phoning from abroad.

Aww, no response[s]? Maybe I should've posted a New Thread entitled: 'Warning About Ho(S)tel Telephones...'!

[Fitzy]

Aww, no response[s]? Maybe I should've posted a New Thread entitled: 'Warning About Ho(S)tel Telephones...'!

Noooo
Is perfectly ok mate, just been busy.
A very valid point Sir, and thank you for bringing it up.
I have an Acer Aspire One Webook, really tiny in size, and only 1.3kilos in weight.
I add some skype credit to it, and use the Wi-Fi hotspots around the world, most of which are free, and I make calls to the UK all the time to landlines for 1.2 pence per minute.
Am sorry to hear that you got ripped of in this way.
I have amassed alot of Telecommunications knowledge over the years, and have explored various mediums to call cheaply, and using providers like Skype, or Voipcheap are pretty reliable, and cost effective, and you can text with Skype too, and it also gives you confirmation that the mobile that you sent it to has in fact received it.
There are numerous phonecards, and sim cards also to be had!
I use a Lyca Mobile sim in my other phone to call my lady in the Philippines when she is not on the computer with skype, so the options to call the philippines cheaply, or for nothing are great.
I think it's something like 7 pence/min with the Lyca Sim
When she is online at home with Skype, I use my Skype enabled Mobile Phone, and it's so great, as I'm saving 60+quid a month in phone calls to her since I got the Computer for her, LOl

Please feel free to add any comments.


Philip...