I received my phone bill on 7/26 and found to my surprise that Legacy Long Distance INternational had billed me 12.39 for a 2 minute, operator assisted call to my home in New Jersey from Port Authority Terminal New York City on 6/20/07 at about 6.53 PM. I was not even sure if this was a legitimate call because the time of the call shown on the bill was 3.53 PM whereas my call was made at 6.53 PM, and so I called the company, but their customer sevice reps. Cut me off at least three times. Even to get the address of this company over phone was so hard that we had to call them about 5 to 6 times. Finally when I reached a representative, he stated that they are cheper than others such as AT& T who charge a lot more money per minute on operator assisted calls.
AFter a great difficulty, I remembered that when there was a blackout for a couple of hours in NYC on 6/20, I was stuck in Port Authority Bus Terminal and had to make a call to my home on 6/20/07, becasue of the incorrect time of the call shown on my phone bill, adding to confusion about the bill. My home is only about 30 miles from NYC, in NJ and I felt it outrageous to pay 13.26 (includes taxes) for a two minute call. Additionally, before the call went through, I was not even advised that it would cost 12.39 and if I was willing to go through the call. The call was simply connected to my home after some one at my home accepted the call and I did not know that the charge was so hefty until I received the bill.
In the past, I have made collect calls to my home but have never paid more than about $5.50 for a one or two minute call. Lls from a public phone.
I wonder if phone companies are not obligated to specify the charges for such calls before we accept or reject to make the call.
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