Consumers should be aware that placing an international
long distance call from your wireline telephone here in the United States to a
wireless phone in another country may result in a “surcharge” on your bill
in addition to your usual charges.
This can happen because many foreign countries use a “calling
party pays” framework. Under a “calling party pays” framework, wireless
phone subscribers pay only for the outgoing calls they place to others. The
“calling party” must pay for calls placed to wireless phones. As a result,
when wireline U.S. customers call foreign wireless customers, foreign carriers
may pass through to the U.S. carrier the additional cost of connecting the
wireless call. The U.S. carrier may then pass this cost through to the U.S.
customer as a surcharge on his or her bill. Examples of some of the highest per
minute surcharges currently reflected on certain long distance carriers’
Web sites include: $0.22 for the United Kingdom and $0.23 for France.
Steps You Can Take
-
Check with your long distance carrier for more specific
information about international wireless surcharges and for international
rates.
-
Check your carrier’s Web site, which may list
surcharges for calls to particular countries.
-
Some countries use unique telephone numbers for
wireless telephones. Your carrier may be able to provide those numbers
(including on its Web site), so that you will know in advance whether you
are about to incur a surcharge in calling a foreign number.
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Washington, DC 20554 |
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