Telephone charges

bernie · Post by **bernie** » 10 Jun 2005, 18:21

I recently had a holiday in Italy.
I phoned a UK landline number from a public phone box on a sunday evening useing my credit card.
I've just received the bill.
Around 6 to 8 minutes, no more than 10, cost £36!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is that right??????????????????????

Ross_K · Post by **Ross_K** » 10 Jun 2005, 18:47

Wow, thats about €50. Unless that phone was in an airport or hotel, you got ripped off.

Oscar Too · Post by **Oscar Too** » 10 Jun 2005, 20:15

Yes unfortunately that set of costs will have passed through 1) Italy's expensive phone system; 2) UK's phone system and 3) the credit card company who will have given you a lousy rate of Euro:GBP exchange.
But I would still get on the phone to the credit card company and scream blue murder "Last bill I ever pay, dozens of cards looking for my business, transfer the balance to Egg/Smile/LloydsTSB tomorrow etc etc". You might get a result. Last time I called Visa they dropped the interest rate on my debt from 16% to 6.5% for 6 months!

oilyspanner · Post by **oilyspanner** » 11 Jun 2005, 14:10

That is even dearer than using a UK mobile phone from abroad, scream rip off loudly to whoever you can and next time vote with your wallet.
Stewart