WARNING: do not use disney's pay phone, NEVER!!

[nyfrenchy]

My cellphone battery died, I lost the rest of my party, so I had to use one of the pay phones you can find in any restrooms in any parks.

I did not have any change on me, so I used my credit card, and followed the spoken instructions. At no time was I ever informed of what the rate would be. I'd assume a couple of dollars.

My phone call lasted 39 SECONDS.

The charge came on my credit card two days later: $16.55.

You are warned.

The scam company is ILD Teleservices, which if you google it, has hundreds of complaints.

Only in America such ripp off can be legal.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

That is HORRID.

Why would Disney use that company!? I'm suspicious....

 

[MKCP 1985]

upcharge for Disney magic . . .

was Stitch your operator? he doesn't come cheap.

 

[DizneyPryncess]

oh wow! was there a rate list on the telephone itself? If they didn't post it anywhere or ever tell you the rate, you might be able to fight that charge.

 

[nyfrenchy]

oh wow! was there a rate list on the telephone itself? If they didn't post it anywhere or ever tell you the rate, you might be able to fight that charge.

The charges posted on the phone itself are for when you use coins. When using a credit card, it's a different company. And a shady one.

 

[TURKEY]

I don't know that Disney has anything to do with it. Rates are normally set by the phone company as far as I know.

 

[DisneyWall-E]

even if Disney had nothing to do with it they at least had to know who they were dealing with and how much they would charge. If my cell phone goes out in a park I would just give a stranger a coulple of dollars to use there phone I guess.

 

[DizneyPryncess]

The charges posted on the phone itself are for when you use coins. When using a credit card, it's a different company. And a shady one.

Incredibly shady! That's a criminal amount for a 39 second phone call. I made a phone call from a cruise in the middle of the ocean that cost less than that. They should at least give you fair warning how much it's going to cost.

 

[Disney05]

Are you able to call your cc company and contest it?

 

[DisneyGigi]

Very funny that this thread was posted, we were just discussing the same thing. Last trip DS battery died and he was going to use the payphone at Epcot to call us. Local calls are cheap but it was about $6.00 to call us on our cell phone for just a few seconds which I thought was ridiculous.

 

[blackthidot]

Thats pretty insane. I could see maybe a dollar a minute but thats just nuts!

 

[Tiggerfanatic]

Just a little off topic, but on our trip to Vegas in March, DD's boyfriend (who is visiting from Ireland) was the victim of a credit card scam. The 7-minute phone call from our hotel room to his bank in Ireland was $190.00.

Fortunatey, when we explained the situation at the front desk, they waived that charge, but I thought that was a bit much. When Chris calls his Mom from my home, my long distance carrier charges $3.00 a minute for an international phone call.

 

[Eljay]

*Note To Self:
Always keep my cellphone fully charged. :animwink:

 

[LudwigVonDrake]

Slightly OT: What insane rates does Disney charge for the phone in your room?

 

[glendroid]

two minute phone call from disney world hotel room to alberta canada:

14.50 for connection fee.

then 2.50 a minute =|

ended up being like 17 dollars for a minute and a half phone call=|

 

[I_heart_Tigger]

Connection fee for non-us cell phones

to the op:

Just wondering if the person you were calling is from outside the US. If you call a number that is not in the States you are charged an international connection fee which I think is about $15.

It's ridiculous that they could be 3 feet away and you're charged this fee but I've seen it happen in other pay phones in the US so I'm not surprised that it happened in Disney.

They should inform you of the charges, though. It's pretty shady just to put the call through without informing you or to assume that you would just know that you would be charged an outrageous amount.

My aunt had a similar problem and was told by the credit card company that if they could prove that they were not informed of the fees they could reverse it...but guess how she had to prove she wasn't informed...by getting a letter from the shady phone company stating that they didn't inform her of the fees :hammer: Like they would write a note so she could get the charge reversed. :brick:

She ended up getting the charges reversed by taking a picture of the phone that showed only coin charges listed but it took about 7 e-mails and a dozen phone calls and 4 months.

Start by calling your credit card company and explaining the situation, and maybe someone on here would be kind enough to take a picture of the pay phone the next time they're in WDW in case you need it.

 

[balletgirl2]

That is as bad as what the Atlantis resort charges to use your room phone. I have a Verizon cell phone and when I went to the Bahammas I didn't have any service at the resort. A 2 minute phone call would cost me like $25! You would think it would be different in Orlando!

 

[Billy6]

In hindsight, A polite "would it be possible to use your cell phone, I lost my party" question to another guest, would have saved a bit of bother...Or maybe guest relations would have helped in that emergency....Pre paid phone cards help too..But in a pinch, I understand how you needed a phone right away.....

 

[bluefaery]

In hindsight, A polite "would it be possible to use your cell phone, I lost my party" question to another guest, would have saved a bit of bother...Or maybe guest relations would have helped in that emergency....Pre paid phone cards help too..But in a pinch, I understand how you needed a phone right away.....

When my friend and I lost each other in The Magic Kingdom, since no one would let me use thier cell phone (I didn't have one at the time) I went to city hall and asked if I could call my friend, even though it was long distance they let me use their phone.

 

[raven]

Just in case everyone doesn't know, Disney can charge your cell phone for your when you are at the parks. Just ask at Guest Service and they will be glad to assist you. :wave: