|
malcolmtex
Aug 31, 2006, 7:07 PM
Post #1 of 16
(2661 views)
Shortcut
Registered: May 9, 2005
Posts: 12
|
The City Of Rocks is in rural Almo, Idaho. There is very little there except the park headquarters, a store and a diner/cafe. This Spring, the park Service allowed the installation of a pay phone in their parking lot, since cell coverage is practically non-existent. Anyway, the only way to make long distance calls is via credit card. I just received my monthly statement, and 4 calls, one minute per call, from Almo to Atlanta, were billed at $23.66 PER CALL!!!!
The phone is operated by NCIC out of Texas. The customer service rep explained that the phone bills at $23.66 flat rate for 6 minutes, whether you talk one minute or 6. THIS IS NOT POSTED ON THE PHONE ANYWHERE NOR IN ANY RECORDED AUTOMATED MESSAGE.
IT'S A TOTAL RIPOFF. BE CAREFUL!!
|
|
|
|
|
j_ung
Aug 31, 2006, 7:17 PM
Post #2 of 16
(2661 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Nov 21, 2003
Posts: 18690
|
WTF? Highway goddam robbery, that is. Did you use a credit or debit card? Maybe you should contest the charge.
|
|
|
|
|
nthusiastj
Aug 31, 2006, 7:36 PM
Post #3 of 16
(2661 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Sep 3, 2002
Posts: 1994
|
Yeah, We were in COR this time last year for a month and a half. We didn't find out about New Orleans intil 2 weeks after it happened. I called my parents and they asked if we were going to go down and help. I said, "help with what?".
Super cool place to climb, but about 2 weeks and you go stir crazy.
|
|
|
|
|
macherry
Aug 31, 2006, 7:42 PM
Post #4 of 16
(2661 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Sep 10, 2003
Posts: 15848
|
bloody ripoff.
i was there last year and there was no phone and i did have to make an important phonecall.
finally, a local said if i drove past the park entrance about 2miles, i could get spotty cell reception. It worked.
there should be a notice on the phone concerning charges. I would protest it, call the credit card company and get it removed
|
|
|
|
|
rockguide
Aug 31, 2006, 7:55 PM
Post #5 of 16
(2661 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Nov 8, 2004
Posts: 1359
|
The park service had the phone installed as a service. Have you informed them of the heinous charges? They may be able to bring the rates down or at least bring in some reasonable competition.
also:
Do collect calls work?
Can you pay by coin?
Can you do the 1 800 CAL LATT option? It is how I have avoided this issue in the past.
|
|
|
|
|
scrapedape
Sep 1, 2006, 2:18 AM
Post #6 of 16
(2661 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jun 24, 2004
Posts: 2392
|
Yeah, you can contest the charge. Just deny ever making the calls. There's a chance that $23.66 is small enough that they'll just write it off - not worth the trouble of verifying with the merchant. I believe they call this the "floor limit" if I recall from my days working in credit card chargebacks. The floor limit will depend on the card issuer - the bank where I worked it was $15 AUD I believe. Can't hurt to try.
|
|
|
|
|
foeslts16
Sep 1, 2006, 4:36 AM
Post #7 of 16
(2661 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Dec 27, 2002
Posts: 210
|
if you have verizon as yr cell provider you should be able to make calls from in town. i am a local yocal (boise), and when i am there, i have good coverage.
|
|
|
|
|
epoch
Moderator
Sep 1, 2006, 11:05 AM
Post #8 of 16
(2661 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 28, 2005
Posts: 32163
|
Two words:
Sattelite Phone. [/two]
Nuff said.
|
|
|
|
|
bruceb
Sep 1, 2006, 12:27 PM
Post #9 of 16
(2661 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jan 16, 2004
Posts: 23
|
I have Sprint and was able to make an analog roaming call from a spot just outside the park. If you drive back toward Almo then turn left on the cattle gated road that takes you back up the valley toward Stripe Rock. The road ends at a trail head. Analog calls suck the life right out of your battery so you'll have to keep it connected to your car charger.
|
|
|
|
|
malcolmtex
Sep 1, 2006, 3:56 PM
Post #10 of 16
(2661 views)
Shortcut
Registered: May 9, 2005
Posts: 12
|
Yeah, I'll contest the charges (4 X $23.66 = $94.64) I have T-Mobile, so I couldn't get coverage anywhere. I called and talked to Mike at the Park Office, just to let folks know. He said he would check into the arrangement that NCIC has wth the park. Seems like the local Bell network could put a phone in.
|
|
|
|
|
trebork2
Deleted
Sep 1, 2006, 4:19 PM
Post #11 of 16
(2661 views)
Shortcut
Registered:
Posts:
|
Cingular makes calls right outside the park also
|
|
|
|
|
kailas
Sep 2, 2006, 1:42 PM
Post #12 of 16
(2661 views)
Shortcut
Registered: May 23, 2004
Posts: 43
|
I suggest you stay in Atlanta, plenty of climbing on that big chunk of
confederate granite. :lol:
|
|
|
|
|
malcolmtex
Sep 5, 2006, 6:34 PM
Post #13 of 16
(2661 views)
Shortcut
Registered: May 9, 2005
Posts: 12
|
Too bad they won't let you anywhere near it.
|
|
|
|
|
sevrdhed
Sep 5, 2006, 9:10 PM
Post #14 of 16
(2661 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Feb 5, 2004
Posts: 923
|
That's weird, I also have t-mobile, and I was able to get service inside and right outside of the little cafe there pretty consistantly.
Steve
|
|
|
|
|
devils_advocate
Sep 5, 2006, 9:16 PM
Post #15 of 16
(2661 views)
Shortcut
Registered: May 18, 2006
Posts: 1823
|
I would certainly contest it, although I wouldn't say that you never made them, as mentioned above. I'm no lawyer, but I'd guess that would qualify as some sort of credit fraud. That toll is excessive, and needs to be labeled at minimum. I think you have that going for you. Maybe BBB?
Good luck.
|
|
|
|
|
bri1682
Sep 5, 2006, 10:31 PM
Post #16 of 16
(2661 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jun 16, 2006
Posts: 107
|
That really sucks. Good luck with fighting the charges
|
|
|
|
|
|
