Reverse Charge Calls

Post by **Wanderlust** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 6:52 pm

I have had a problem with my Mastercard credit card being refused, so I got my father in the UK to obtain a phone number that I could call and they would accept reverse charges (collect call to any Americans) as I was damned if I was going to pay for what is likely to be a long call, half of it spent in a queue. However I have now hit a snag; calling the operator here on 100 (can only be done from a fixed line not a mobile) and get told that they can't help, but try calling 1322. Call 1322, and they say, no we don't do international reverse charge, you have to call 001999441066 (seriously!). So call that number, and get an english message saying, 'Please enter your account number'!!! Call the previous number back, and they say, that's not meant to happen, try again....

So does anyone on here know how to make a reverse charge call to the UK? And has anyone done so recently?

Post by **STEVE G** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 7:47 pm

WL, out of curiosity I just tried the international access number from here and if you listen to that bit about account numbers twice you eventually get an operator. She is probably angry now from having her time wasted by people who donâ€™t even want to make a call.

Post by **PeteC** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:00 pm

Caller: I'd like to make a collect call to the UK please.
Operator: What you want to collect sir, this is the phone company.
Caller: I'd like to reverse the charges to the party receiving my call in the UK please.
Operator: Oh, I understand sir. Do you have permission to do this from the person you are calling?
Caller: Uhhh, no, but I'm sure they'll accept the charges.
Operator: I'm sorry sir, you have to call them first and get their permission. Have them fax their permission to us and then we can reverse the charges on your next call to them. Thank you for using TOT.

Pete

Post by **buksida** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:34 pm

prcscct wrote: Have them fax their permission to us and then we can reverse the charges on your next call to them. Thank you for using TOT.

Thats about right, I don't think there is a single thing that can be achieved in Thailand without the generation of paperwork apart from taking a dump!

Post by **Wanderlust** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:45 pm

Steve G,
Thanks for doing that! i am obviously not patient enough, but i just figured that after hearing that message, and the bit about hearing it in a different language (how stupid is that?) that was that! I will try again then...

Post by **STEVE G** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:54 pm

I would be interested to know how long the bank keeps you on hold when they are paying two pounds a minute instead of you.

Post by **Wanderlust** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:41 pm

I just tried to call - the operator put me through and it was a queuing machine! After about 3 minutes she said, sorry I can't hold any longer now and that i will have to try again later! My father specifically asked for a number that would accept reverse charge calls and it's a bloody machine!

Post by **STEVE G** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 10:18 pm

Earlier this year I had to wait 15 minutes to get through to Lloyds on a call from Thailand so Iâ€™m not at all surprised that a bank isnâ€™t prepared to wait that long. If you call in the middle of the night they will answer and helpfully tell you that the department that you require is closed.