Three Simple Rule for Payphone

Consumers who make calls away from home (other than wireless) should be aware that long distance and local rates from payphones and phones in other public areas like hotels, motels, hospitals, and airports can vary. Operator Service Providers (OSP) provide long distance, and in some cases, local telephone service from public payphones. When you place a call from a public or payphone, the OSP serving the telephone usually handles the call if you dial "0" before dialing the telephone number.

Three Simple Rules for PayPhones

RULE #1Stop Before You Make the Call. Look at the printed information on or near the each telephone - in plain view of the consumer - the name, address, and toll free number of the OSP.

RULE #2Listen after you dial the number to determine which OSP is handling your call. The OSP must orally identify itself to you at the beginning of the call before the call is connected and billed. You will then be told how to learn the total price of a telephone call - including any surcharges - by simple pressing no more than two digits (such as the pound key #) or by staying on the line.

RULE #3This gives you the opportunity to hang up on high rates and to "dial around" the OSP by following your choose long distance company's instructions for placing calls from a payphone. (Example: dial 1-8-XXX-XXXX to reach your chosen long distance carrier, punch in your access code, etc.)

Be Phone Wise - Know the Rules

You have the right to place calls from a public telephone through the long distance company of your choice by dialing an access code (dialing around). Dialing Around may mean dialing an 800 number, a local number that begins with 950, or a seven digit access number know as 101-XXXX or 10-10-XXX number. Originally called "casual calling" it is now a big market. Check our dialarounds. Each of our Long Distance Carriers provides a "dialaround" for such "casual calling" as well.

OSPs must connect an emergency call to the appropriate emergency service immediately at no charge. OSPs cannot knowingly bill for unanswered calls.

Unless you plan to use coins for the call, the OSP will require you to charge the call to a calling card, call collect, or bill the call to a third party.

No matter what type of calling card you use, the only way to be sure that your call will be carried by your chosen long distance carrier is to follow your long distance company's dialing instructions for placing calls from a public telephone. If you are unsure, contact the customer service department before you need to use the service and request instructions for placing calls from a public phone. Using your preferred long distance company's calling card will not by itself, guarantee that your company will carry the call.