Beware of Pay Phones!

[CMJFamily]

Just returned from St. Maarten and used a pay phone near the pier. I was going to check messages at home. The rates posted beside the phone said $1.04 per minute however when we got home we discovered that our bill was $50 and we didn't even complete the call! When I phoned to inquire I was told that the posted rates were for coins and if you used a credit card there was a $15 connection charge and then $6.95 per minute for a minimum of 5 minutes!!! I told them we did not complete the call and they said they would "investigate" it (which will take 30-60 days) The company was International Satellite but I'm sure it would be the same for any of the pay phones so beware!

[Aplmac]

There's a row of similar phones on the pier, at Antigua

no doubt with similar arrangement! :D

 

See them here at lower right.

.

[gtaylor]

Sorry for your pain. I've warned about these in the past.

 

Now they are typically labeled as "World Phones" with a slew of credit card images.

 

See this earlier thread and its links.

 

gary