Warning Calling UK from French pay phones

oysterlover

:mad: I have just had my Nationwide debit card statement and I have been charged £59.02 for a call to a uk landline in August from a pay phone in Chamonix. I used the same debit card in Switzerland 2 days before and the call cost 25p!!! The pay phone in question would not let me use my debit card, instead gave me a number 0800 587 1363 to ring. This routed my call to as far as I can tell California! The company in question will not give me any information I am not even sure of the name, only telling me to take the matter up with the card company, so people be warned, buy a phone card or use a phone that accepts debit/credit cards. I am still reeling from the shock and have sent a letter to the Nationwide asking them to investigate this for me. Has this happened to anybody else? and if so were you successful in getting any money back?

Nordictat2

A letter ? I would call them!! I have never heard a phone call costing that much and I'm sure you didnt spend an hour on there heh.

oysterlover

Unfortunately the company which is at the end of the tel number 0800 587 1363 will not give me any information, they just keep saying take it up with the card company. The maddening thing is, we opened accounts with the Nationwide as they give very good exchange rates and don't charge commision.:mad:

payless

http://www.infonw.com/english.php ??

payless

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Ireland/County_Dublin/Dublin-296021/Warnings_or_Dangers-Dublin-Around_Dublin-BR-1.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-666527.html

google 1-800-576-5402 for more

Markdp

Hi my phone broke on Holiday in France August 2008, I made 5 calls home to landlines in UK. I used a french pay phone and they have advert in box for international calls where you call and give credit card details and are connected. They are advertised as cheap calls - BEWARE BEWARE !! This is not true I made 5 calls to UK total cost £144.36 yes £144.36 - THIS IS A RIP OFF ! Could have flown home for less - company involved in american http://www.infonw.com/english.php ??

Appreciate any ideas on what to do ! I dont mind paying reasonable amount but this is daylight robbery

Francophile

Take it up with your CC company

Mr.Alex_2

Hi,

Has anyone got anywhere with reclaiming charges? I just got billed about £90 for two fairly brief calls from Budapest to the UK, throught the same company (I think).

jaygomez

Yeah why not take it up with your cc?

Mr.Alex_2

jaygomez wrote: »

Yeah why not take it up with your cc?

I have done (but I only began the process yesterday), I'm just wondering if anyone has suceeded?

Mr.Alex_2

Incredible -

I hadn't been getting anywhere via email, so I gave them a call. They took my details, explained the price breakdown. As soon as they realised I had paid with Mastercard and that I wasn't happy, the guy offered me a full refund!

(He said somthing like) we work very closely with mastercard and as a one off gesture we will provide you with a full refund.

Now, almost sounds too good to be true to me. He's said it will take between 30 and 60 days so I'll wait and see. Perhaps they're hoping that it will take so long I'll forget about it. Or perhaps they've had so much hassle from Mastercard in the past they just admitted defeat.

Fingers crossed......