Phone Charge Rip off
 

During a recent stay, we stayed at <BR>Golden Tulip Casablanca on the Ocean <BR>6345 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida. <BR>We used our calling card to make outgoin phone calls. After a month we were shocked to see a charge of $49.50 on our credit card. Upon questioning, the assintant manager, we were told that the hotel charges 75 cents per out going call !!!! <BR>I hope others learn from our lesson.

As bad as it may sound, this is a general rule. Most hotels charge anywhere from $0.50 to $1.00 just for dialing out. I think they figured there's no other way for them to overcharge on calls made from the room if you're using a clling card. Nobody wants to give up pure profit...

ummmm....first time making phone calls from a hotel, ash? <BR>ALWAYS check the phone policies before making calls. <BR>Used to be, many years ago, that all outgoing calls were charged a fee, then they eliminated fees for toll free and CC calls. <BR>The past few years have seen a return of fees for lots of things which were once 'free'. <BR>Policies vary so much from one hotel to the next that you must always check...especially if you're making a number of calls. <BR> <BR>Rip off? Get this. A hotel operator assisted call from Europe can run you more than $90 for 10 minutes. <BR> <BR>Gotta keep an eye on those add on fees. <BR>Notice the 'energy surcharge' being added lately? What a joke. I'd rather they just tucked it into the total room cost than insult me with this 'surcharge' garbage.

CARRY YOUR CELL PHONE!!!!!!!

I was recently charged 85 cents for each 800 call I made from the room at a Sheridan. I complained and they removed the charge. Unfortunately, this is not the first time I have had to complain at a hotel about phone charges but, the good news is, they have never refused to remove them.

As was suggested in another reply is is a good idea to check with the hotel on its telephone policy. What I find more interesting is the fact that you made 66 calls during your stay. Must have been a long stay or you rarely left the room

You can often avoid this little annoyance entirely by joining the hotel's frequent stay program, where that's an option.

If you don't mind a short walk to the lobby and no privacy there's no charge from the house phone.

The phone charges are usually listed on a phone info card on or near the phone or in the guest services guide. Last 2 hotels I stayed at (Las Vegas) the guide said that all calls other than to hotel services would be assessed a fee of $1 per call. This was at hotels that charged over $200/night. <BR>Just out of principle, I made my calls from the lobby. I can't see how these nickel and dime(or dollar and dollar) tactics win over customer's good feelings. It sure doesn't for me.

I switched to www.bigzoo.com as my long distance phone company about a year ago. Its like a pre-paid phone card and I use it while traveling and at home. Here's the deal 2.9 cents per minute from the larger cities that have a local dial in number. If you use their 800 number, its 3.9 cents per minute. Their fees are good 24/7! They do have a monthly surchare...75 cents per month. I constantly stun MCI, AT&T and Sprint when they ask what I pay. I've even gotten into an arguement with one of them that said calls that cheap were impossible! Check it out... By the way, I usually use the hotel's pay-phone. No surcharge there. With Big Zoo, you can make local calls for pennies per minute. Many pay phones are now charging 50 cents per call now. Happy calling.

I recently stayed at the Westin River North, Chicago. I had my cell phone, but this was at night and the battery was running low. There wasn't an outlet near the bed/desk (where my computer was) for me to plug in and use it. I used the telephone. I made a 14 minute call received a bill for $44! I am in their top level elite program BTW. I asked the manager to remove or adjust the charge, she refused. I will NEVER stay at a Westin when I visit Chicago again. I think the hotels need to realize what they do by "nickel and diming" people during their stays. (although this was much more than nickel and dimes! :)).

The phone information in my room directory at MGM/Mirage in Las Vegas said that all long distance calls would be billed at ATT day time person to person rate plus $1 service charge. <BR>I'm glad I read this before using the phone. <BR>I agree with Idsant.

The biggest phone ripoff I've experienced came last year when I was visiting the Radisson Keystone in Indianapolis. I was there for 2 nights on business and was required to use my computer quite a bit. I had to use an internet connection to dial into my company's network. It is a toll free 800 dial up number so I didn't realize the charges would be so great. Imagine my surprise when I checked out and had $160 phone bill/internet connection fee! Maybe I'm behind the times, but I don't usually connect to the net while traveling so I just didn't think. At least it was the company's bill and not mine.

Didn't happen to me, but a friend that we were traveling with (we stayed at the same hotel and i saw the bill, so i know it's acurate)... <BR> <BR>$11.92 for a 1 minute phone call (left a message on an answering machine, and yes, it WAS state-to-state within the U.S.) <BR>$1.50 local phone call (add'l charge &gt; 60 minutes) <BR>$2.00 toll-free call <BR> <BR>I even commented (before i heard these outrageous charges) that i didn't see any phone rate card in the room or in the guest services book in the room (which i think is illegal).

Wow Beth, perhaps your company will read your cavalier attitude about YOU not having to pay and will adjust your salary accordingly!?