Off topic WAIUG: Anyone else pay 16$US for a 1min call to Europe from the Marriott?
Purely off-topic (no Informix content): Serge Rielau complained that the Marriott hosting the WAIUG conference billed him US$16.14 for a one-minute call to Europe, apparently charged at AT&T operator-assisted rates even though no operator was used, and posted Marriott guest relations/billing numbers urging others to complain. Replies were jokes and advice rather than a fix — hotel phones are profit centres, use a mobile, Vonage or text messaging — plus banter about exchange rates. He mentions saving $8 after calling billing, but no real resolution is recorded.
Auto-generated by DrWatson from the posts below — may be imperfect; read the full thread.
.. just discovered this on my phone hotel bill and went ballistic. If it happened to you, the more people call an raise hell the better: 301 380 3000 Marriott Guest relations 866 435 7627 Billing (hey I saved 8 bucks, wohooh ;-) I learned that $16.14 is AT/T operator assist (not used) rate + 34cents. I'm used to "insane rates" of a couple of bucks from hotels.... Cheers Serge -- Serge Rielau DB2 Solutions Development IBM Toronto Lab WAIUG Conference http://www.iiug.org/waiug/present/Forum2006/Forum2006.html
> >.. just discovered this on my phone hotel bill and went ballistic. >If it happened to you, the more people call an raise hell the better: >301 380 3000 Marriott Guest relations >866 435 7627 Billing (hey I saved 8 bucks, wohooh ;-) > >I learned that $16.14 is AT/T operator assist (not used) rate + 34cents. > >I'm used to "insane rates" of a couple of bucks from hotels.... > >Cheers >Serge >-- >Serge Rielau >DB2 Solutions Development >IBM Toronto Lab > Geez! You've just figured this out? Serge, Its a good thing you're not in Gary S.'s group. (Lab Services) ;-) Many hotels have been using their phones as a profit center. (They will offer free calls locally, but then nail you on anything that is either a local-toll or a long distance call) Most people use their cells. And some are going to Vonage... You really do need to get out more. -G _________________________________________________________________ All-in-one security and maintenance for your PC.' Get a free 90-day trial! http://clk.atdmt.com/MSN/go/msnnkwlo0050000002msn/direct/01/?href=http://clk.atdmt.com/MSN/go/msnnkwlo0050000001msn/direct/01/?href=http://www.windowsonecare.com/?sc_cid=msn_hotmail
Ian Michael Gumby wrote: > Geez! > You've just figured this out? I expected that reaction. :-) As I said I'm _used_ to paying a _couple_of_bucks_ for "Call me back at xxx". 16$ is new. Cheers Serge -- Serge Rielau DB2 Solutions Development IBM Toronto Lab WAIUG Conference http://www.iiug.org/waiug/present/Forum2006/Forum2006.html
Serge Rielau said: > Ian Michael Gumby wrote: >> Geez! >> You've just figured this out? > I expected that reaction. :-) > > As I said I'm _used_ to paying a _couple_of_bucks_ for "Call me back at > xxx". 16$ is new. Don't they have text messaging in Canada? -- Bye now, Obnoxio "I don't read newspapers anymore except the local rag which I do weekly to cheer myself trying to see if anyone I hate has been stabbed." -- Horribilis XVI -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by OpenProtect(http://www.openprotect.com), and is believed to be clean.
On Fri, 15 Dec 2006 17:49:37 -0500, Serge Rielau <srielau@ca.ibm.com> wrote: >Ian Michael Gumby wrote: >> Geez! >> You've just figured this out? >I expected that reaction. :-) > >As I said I'm _used_ to paying a _couple_of_bucks_ for "Call me back at >xxx". 16$ is new. > Difference in exchange rates, perhaps? 8-) JWC
"John Carlson" <jwcarlson1@yahoo.com.invalid> wrote in message news:knr6o2tvobgd7ascr1548v9j9tn9cqnqqu@4ax.com... > On Fri, 15 Dec 2006 17:49:37 -0500, Serge Rielau <srielau@ca.ibm.com> > wrote: > >>Ian Michael Gumby wrote: >>> Geez! >>> You've just figured this out? >>I expected that reaction. :-) >> >>As I said I'm _used_ to paying a _couple_of_bucks_ for "Call me back at >>xxx". 16$ is new. >> > > Difference in exchange rates, perhaps? 8-) US$16 is about 27p at current exchange rates, I think.
Ouch! but pretty much true. Captain Pedantic wrote: > "John Carlson" <jwcarlson1@yahoo.com.invalid> wrote in message > news:knr6o2tvobgd7ascr1548v9j9tn9cqnqqu@4ax.com... > > On Fri, 15 Dec 2006 17:49:37 -0500, Serge Rielau <srielau@ca.ibm.com> > > wrote: > > > >>Ian Michael Gumby wrote: > >>> Geez! > >>> You've just figured this out? > >>I expected that reaction. :-) > >> > >>As I said I'm _used_ to paying a _couple_of_bucks_ for "Call me back at > >>xxx". 16$ is new. > >> > > > > Difference in exchange rates, perhaps? 8-) > > US$16 is about 27p at current exchange rates, I think.