Made a $60 phone call at BWV!!!

[A1A1]

When I checked out of BWV over the holiday, I almost threw up. I got the account profile under the door during the night, and read it early in the morning. I was astonished and horrified to see that phone calls I made home to an aunt whose son is very ill with leukemia cost me one dollar per minute!!! I have never read the disclosure on the telephone charges before, because I never expected that they were so outrageous. This call was placed at 9:30 at night. Not only did I make this call, but I made others that will make you pass out. I called home to check my answering machine: 2 minute call = over seven dollars!!! I live in the USA just so you know. What is the deal????? It cost me about $150 to check on my aunt while I was in Florida for a week. That is unbelievable.

[luvdvc95]

That's why we never travel without our calling card. There are many plans out there to choose from depending on your needs. The long distances charges that some resorts and hotels charge are very steep. With a calling card at Disney all you pay is a one time charge 75 cents per call (35 cents for DVCmembers). Something to think about.:)

[ncligs]

I am surpised at the number of people that don't have toll free numbers for themselves and family(parents,in-laws) We have 3 toll free numbers (son,parents, etc) There is no monthly charge.You only pay for what you use. The cost is only 7 cents a minute, 24 hrs a day. That is from anywhere in the USA. The company is Comdata Telecumunications. If anybody wants the number just send me a PM. I have had these toll free numbers for 10 years. :D

[Regina]

Unfortunately, this is standard practice within the entire hotel industry, not just Disney.

Ditto on the calling card. It's very sad that you had such a costly lesson in how the system works.

I hope that your cousin's health is improving.

[dianeschlicht]

We not only use the toll free number, but usually use my DHs national cell phone.

[DVC-Don]

Same here. We used our cell phone's to call home.

[Chuck S]

We use calling cards and occasionally use our car phone (although since it is analog it isn't cheap) Both are cheaper than hotel calls. Most hotels charge ridiculous rates, not just Disney or DVC.

[Nanajo1]

When we checked in at OKW in Nov the CM told us that the phone was very expensive to use and to use phone cards or cell phones instead of the room phone. She said she was tired of upset/irate customers complaining about the phone charges so now she warns everyone she checks in. I used my AT&T calling card it still was $.35/min and $.35 cent connection charge.

[rbuzzotta]

WE also use my DH's Nextel cell phone. He does alot of work from our vacations and if he used the phone in the room it would probably cost more then our DVC!!!!!

Also, my DD's love to call their Nana when on It's a Small World so she can hear it!!! It's her favorite ride!!

[dianeschlicht]

:D I feel so sorry for "Nana"!:D For both having to hear it on the phone, AND for it being her favorite ride!:D :jester:

[PamOKW]

I'm sorry that happened to you. Unfortunately, dvcreg is right and this is standard in most major hotel chains. On the directions for using the phone you'll see a paragraph that says long-distance calls have a 50% surcharge above the long-distance rate. The rate the hotels pay is also quite a bit higher than most people pay at home.....and they add up quickly.

Thanks for posting so others can learn before it's too late for them. Calling cards or cell phones are the way to go. Even collect calls from pay phones will usually be less.

[DebbieB]

I believe it maybe even 50% over the operated assisted rate, which is even more. There is a disclosure on the card by the phone, I remember reading it when I was trying to figure out what number to hit to get an outside line.

Even regular calling cards from the phone co. can be expensive, I learned that on a Disney trip. Your best bet is the prepaid cards.

I would try writing to BWV, explaining the situation with your aunt's son, it wouldn't hurt.

[DVCDAVE]

Double Dittos on the cell phone, I never leave home without it. I can roam for far less than what any hotel or Disney charge and it is always on my belt.

[Pluto4President]

except when you're sitting by the spa :)

[DVCDAVE]

True PLUTO, very True.

[eva]

I'm with Debbie. We had an MCI card that seemed to charge us whatever they wanted. They had so many rules about prices at certain times that we could never keep it straight. We've been using prepaid phone cards for sometime now and find them very handy. If you look you can usually find them for well under $.10 a minute. We use our cell phone only in emergencies. I sure learned my lesson about hotels and long distance. A few years ago I stayed at a Hyatt in Jacksonville, FL and a call to my mother in Illinois for 10 minutes cost me over $13. And that was on a Sunday afternoon!

[PKS44]

When you use a calling card you have to dial an 800 number...in many hotels there is a fee for even this ( $0.75, I think?) but as a DVC member there is not a charge for 800 calls- is this correct?

I once sat with an MCI customer rep on a plane and she said she NEVER used the calling card- only prepaid cards when she travels...the connecton rate and the per minute rates are too high on those long distance calling cards...this was before they tacked on the extra charge for using pay phones... be aware that prepaid cards used on pay phones charge an additional amount for using the pay phone...I am not sure how this got started but it is written in tiny writing as THE LAW on the back of the prepaid cards...they just deduct time off the card as a way of taking the money...also many cards have an expiration date so don't buy more than you need...

I am not sure how much I get charged for using my cell phone outside my calling area but I think it's a lot...
It's funny how confusing the whole thing is- the rates would probably be more competitive if everyone actually knew what the heck was going on...

Paul

[DebbieB]

Right - members are not charged for 800 # calls when staying on points at a DVC resort. 35 cents for local calls. Other Disney resorts charge 75 cents for both 800# and local calls. I've been to some hotels that charge $1.00. At Treasure Island in Las Vegas, they not only charge $1.00 they also put another fee on if it goes over 30 minutes.

[ncligs]

That is true. DVC members do not have to pay a surcharge for toll- free calls from a DVC resort. But even when staying at other hotels. I always ask Mgmt,if their is a charge for toll free calls. If they tell me there is, I tell them I will never stay here again and recomend to friends not to stay there either. And 9- out of 10 times, they say they will waive the sur-charge for toll free calls.:D

[A1A1]

Wow. As bad as I feel about being so naive, I have gotten some good ideas. The prepaid cards are something that I would have never considered before. I always thought they were for people who didn't have phones in their home. Sorry. Anyway, I was wondering how they work. From what I am gathering here, a user would dial an 800 number first to get access, then dial the number you are calling and perhaps an account number. Is there an access charge imposed by the prepaid card for each call? Are there some that are better than others? I wanted to mention something upon check out, but didn't feel I had the right to complain since I was certain the fees were in the room, probably right next to the phone, and it was my fault for not taking the time to read about it. I just figured there was a charge of $1.00 - 1.50 for each call, not a ridiculously inflated per minute charge plus a hotel surcharge for allowing me the priviledge of using the phone. I feel taken advantage of, but I sure did learn a lesson.

[Lhargus]

We always use a Sams Club pre-paid phone card for all our calls, even at home. The cost is only 3.7 cents per minute and the cards are ATT so you have good quality.

When you purchase the card at Sams Club it is activated at check out and you can use it right away. When you want to add minutes it's an easy transaction over the phone using a credit card.

We couldn't be happier with this card..:cool:

[Lhargus]

I'm sorry I didn't answer all your questions.

There is no access charge to use the card (unless you are at a pay phone and they just add a few minutes to the call).

You dial an 800 number than a 1 for english than your pin number on the back of the card than a 1 for a USA call than the area code and number. Before the call connects you are told how many minutes you have left.

I know it sounds like a lot of dialing but it's easier than you would think. At home we have most of it programed in speed dial.:cool:

[SEC]

I have a Sprint digital cellular service which has nationwide free long-distance calling. I got it to replace my regular cell phone and my long-distance phone calls from home because I thought our rates were too high. It works great. I have used it in Orlando and Seattle, as well as many other cities and never had a problem. It is really reasonable, they have plans as low as $30 a month and it is nice to have an extra phone line in case someone needs to reach us while we are on the Internet.

[bmleroy]

Here's another plug for Sam's Club calling cards.

I started using calling cards when I was living in a college dorm and there was no long distance service. Since then, I'm always on the lookout for good calling card terms - seems like there's always a catch (high connection fee, short expiration date, etc).

Sam's Club cards are in the neighborhood of 4 cents a minute or less with online sales, don't expire, have no surcharge other than a couple minutes for a payphone call. I use them at home now - we also programmed it into our speed dial. Even 10 cents a minute seems high to me now!

If you don't have a Sam's membership Walmart has a comparable product with higher rates - not sure how much higher.

Brandy

[Disney Duo]

We also use the Sam's card from home and also when we are traveling. We have our whole family using these. I have never had a problem with them and feel it is the least expensive way for us to go!! Check them out!

[A1A1]

This is a great thread for me!

[Pumbaa_]

I change my cell plan n I am going to Florida. My cell paln allows you to change your plan with them (not cancel, just change to another option).

This way, wehn we go to Disney, I pay my regualr phone bill, get my regular minutes, free nights and weekends, but have coast to coast calling.

I love the freedom this gives me to call whenever I want. (You should have seen the cell phone action at DisCon) I program all my Disney numbers into the phone, so I do not have to keep looking them up, and I never use the room phone!

[Grateful11]

We use SAM's also. I think I saw that they had cards in packs of 10 with 50mins each for the same low per minute charge. These are a good idea because each family can have one. We use the Sam's card at home during the day and cell phone at night.

OT Tip: Get call forwarding, for your land line, and have calls forwarded to your cell phone and it will ring while your online. No need for a second line. I do it and it works great.