I was at JFK airport terminal 1, arriving from an international flight. I had no American currency left, so all I had was my credit card to make a call (so I would be picked up). I saw a payphone, and the posted rate was $1 for 5 minutes of conversation. Sounds like a good price, so I put through my credit card as per the instructions.
I called an adjacent area code and talked for less than 1 minute. Later I get my credit card statement, $9.36! Quite an unreasonable amount, any city payphone would have cost much less.
I called Legacy and dialed their number. Someone answered in broken English, then put me through to a smooth talking rep. I explained the situation to the rep, saying that this amount was very unreasonable.
The well rehearsed rep said that the $1 rate is for coins only (not specified on the phone box), and that there is no law that requires them to notify me of the credit card rate. According to this rep, legally for all intents and purposes, the company is authorized to charge from $9 to $35 for a call if they wish.
I tried appealing to the rep's sense of reason and said that despite this "loophole" this is quite an unreasonable charge for such a service, but the rep said it doesn't matter - it's legal. I said that I will dispute this charge. He threatened if I do that, the company will provide subsequent supporting information and I will have to "face the consequences of filing a fraudulent complaint".
Looks like someone set up a good scam. At $9 for a 1 minute call, you can pay someone without a conscience a cut from the ripoff to rebut the upset customer (the one who bothers to call and stand up for his rights), and pocket the rest.
Airports and other institutions must avoid signing contracts with such scam services, because it is bad for their reputation and customers.
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