news: Latest Ripoff -- NON-toll-free 800 numbers!!

[David Farber <farber@central.cis.upenn.edu>]

Date: Fri, 14 Oct 1994 11:37:44 -0400
To: moredohrs@FARNSWORTH.MIT.EDU, tcfgie@weber.ucsd.edu


The so called MCI "CALL-INFO" rip-off has gotten a lot of advertising play
lately. It looks like a toll-free information number, since 800-555-1212 is
still such a thing.


Be wary from now on of 800 numbers. Many are not toll-free, and they can
charge you whatever they feel like. There is no ceiling!! And apparently
they don't have to warn you of the charge when you dial.


-rjs




>From: dave@westmark.com (Dave Levenson)
>Subject: 800-CALL-INFO
>Organization: Westmark, Inc.
>Date: Thu, 13 Oct 1994 14:15:16 GMT
>
>This number has recently gotten a whole lot of prime-time radio and TV
>advertisement.
>
>This appears that the latest non-toll-free 800 trap.  Not only do they
>charge the directory-assistance information charge of $0.75 to the
>calling telephone number, they also offer to connect the caller with
>the number requested, and to charge the calling number for that call.
>The 0.75 charge is not mentioned at any time during a call for
>directory assistance.
>


>If you bought yourself (or your business) a toll-free number to encourage
>lots of prospective customers to give you a call, well, sorry about
>that.  The industry seems to have substantially lowered the value of
>such numbers by allowing others to make them non-toll-free, and thereby
>making callers suspicious of them.
>


>Date: Wed, 12 Oct 1994 09:35:02 -0700 (PDT)
>From: Les Reeves <lreeves@crl.com>
>Subject: Testing 1-800-CALL-INFO
>
>
>MCI has announced a new service, 1-800 CALL INFO. It is touted as a
>nation-wide directory assistance service.  You are charged $0.75 per
>call for two searches.
>
>As a test, I called and asked for the number of a Patrick Townson in
>Chicago, IL.  I figured this was a good test since Pat has moved in
>the past year and I wasn't even sure he was still in Chicago proper.
>
>After giving the operator Pat's name and city, and waiting about 45
>seconds, I was told that there were two listings, one non-published
>and one unlisted.  Hmmm.  I asked for another name and the operator
>informed me that I had used up my two searches.
>
>800 CALL INFO is eleven digits.  The extra O must be for overcharge!!
>
>
>  Les     lreeves@crl.com       Atlanta,GA      404.874.7806
>
>
>[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Yeah, well my non-published number is
>for bill collectors trying to get ahold of me and my unlisted number
>is for use when I call hot-chat lines.  <grin> ... Seriously, I am
>curious how they get their information and how they have it organized.
>If you asked for me in 'Chicago' (312) then I am not there, period
>however there is a Patrick Townsend (no relation, no connection) who
>by coincidence lived only a few blocks away from me when I was living
>in Rogers Park (Chicago neighborhood) until about a year ago. I am
>told he had to get his number non-pub out of self defense because so
>many people were calling him looking for me!  If you asked for me
>in 708 or "Chicago North Suburbs" then maybe the response would have
>been different.  I wonder if MCI is using any sort of legitimate data-
>base from the local telcos or if they have strung together some sort
>of outdated cross-reference books where half the entries are out of
>date and a couple years old.  Sounds like a ripoff to me; best limit
>use of the service to coin phones (Genuine Bell or COCOT, I don't care)
>and of course be prepared to deposit the 75 cents in coins when the
>operator requests it ... but then, how were *you* to know a call to
>an 800 number costs you money?   <grin> ... remember the astrologers
>a couple years ago operating on an 800 number and how Digest readers
>took a sudden interest in the subject?  PAT]