Email: abiturhm@hotmail.com, I want Feedback, 05/10/2006, 09:07 AM

Issue:

BARCELO HOTELS IN PUNTA CANA IS SERVICED BY "INTL SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS 1-800-975-0762" WHILE I WAS THERE, WHICH I DON'T RECOMMEND IT, I MADE A COLLECT CALL TO NEW YORK (5:00 MINUTES) I WAS SURPRISE TO RECEIVE A BILL FOR $43.92 PLUS TAX 1.32 TOTAL $45.24.

THIS IS A RIP-OFF.. I CALLED THE INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS AND THEIR ANSWER WAS, "THAT IS THEIR RATES" ???  NEXT TIME THAT YOU MAKE A COLLECT CALL FROM A HOTEL, MAKE SURE TO ASK FOR THEIR RATES.

CONSUMERS AFFAIRS SHOULD LOOK INTO, IF IS LEGAL TO OVERCHARGE ON COLLECT CALLS BY " INTL SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS" WHICH IS LOCATED AT 511 EAST SAN ISIDRO BLVD. SAN ISIDRO, CA 92173

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PublicIssue.org response:

There is something you can do about the over billing; simply dispute the fee with your phone company. In turn the phone company will not attempt to collect from you and not pay International Satellite Communications. If in the event ISC decides to follow-up on their collections, they will contact you. In all cases where our readers/visitors have taken this action, they have never heard from ISC again. If you decide to do as the others have, make sure you document your dispute with your phone company and keep all records of any subsequent conversations regarding this issue including this correspondence.

On the other side of things, if you were warned about their fees before you made your call, you should and must pay the billed amount.