Alternative to Collect Calls?!

Gio--

Your response to Helen gave me something to really laugh about this morning. For a moment I though I was reading an excerpt from my autobiography! At one point I had gotten a call, "con cargas" of course, and he told me that his father fell off the roof. At that point I told him, "You can't use that one again. Your father fell off the roof two months ago." Helen should listen.

One option is to purchase calling cards. A friend of mine sells them in various denominations starting at US$5 up to US$100 and they give you US$0.28/min. to or from the USA. Calls can be made from any phone, public or private, in the USA or DR to call the other country. There is an 800 number that works from payphones in the DR and another that works from phones in the USA. This is slightly cheaper than the direct dial or Codetel/TriCom calling center rates.

You can purchase them next time you are down there. Buy them in small increments. Give your friend a couple. When the cards run low, you can give him the secret number off one of your cards until the next time, and so on, thereby maintaining control and monitor over the card usage.

The cards can be obtain from Ronnie (from Boston) at Ronnie's Beach Bar in Boca Chica (809) 523-6021, E-mail MalColate@hotmail.com or from Taxi Dave at (809) 687-3720/mornings, E-Mail david.santos@codetel.net.do.

E-mail is difficult if you don't type well.

JimHinsch@CSI.COM

The price to call the USA from the DR at a Codetel or TriCom office is at the best times, RD$4.90/min., which is about US$0.31/min., not ten cents/min.

Jim Hinsch JimHinsch@CSI.COM

You are right that calls are not collect unless placed that way, but calls are not 8-9 cents a minute. The price to call the USA from the DR at a Codetel or TriCom office is at the best times, RD$4.90/min., which is about US$0.31/min., not ten cents/min. The cost for dial-1 service from a household phone to the USA is RD$10/min., or US$0.63/min.

Jim Hinsch JimHinsch@CSI.COM

Damm, I must be getting "preferred" rates as a 10 minute call has never cost more than 1.50-1.75 US

Tom

The only problem with the calling card, once you give it to your friend, it can be used to call anyone, not just you. If you don't give them the "code" the card is then wasted for everyone.

USe the Codetel Tricom option

Tom

That's why you use small denominations. You give out the secret number, and you know it is good for about 15 minutes of calling to the USA for a US$5 card. It doesn't take much to keep track of calls that total only 15 minutes. Plus, if it is used to call elsewhere, you are only out US$5.

Jim Hinsch JimHinsch@CSI.COM

Codetel advertises their rates to the USA all over the place. The best rate is only good at certain times and that rate is RD$4.90. And I've seen the bill for calls I've made home using friend's phones at the cost is RD$10/min.

Jim Hinsch JimHinsch@CSI.COM

I'm confused. Earlier in the week you were trying to find this guy and now a few days later you're complaining about the phone bill - how many times could he have called you in the last 2 days! Plus you said he's a dancer at the hotel. So buy a prepaid phone card,for $10 Cdn you can talk for an hour, and phone him at work instead of having him call you collect.

Boy oh boy...I had no idea that a little question like that would generate so many responses! I am certainly going to take all suggestions and advice to heart!!! And for Gio...thanks for the advice sweetie...I do know what I am getting in to and will try to get a handle on this pronto! As for the suggestion about the seeing the guy around the corner...Where is he?! lol If he can merengue like my guy...give me a shout!!! I will ask the guy tonight about the phone cards. Thanks for the suggestion Jim. I will also talk to him about the Codetel centres. He has sent me a couple of faxes but when I sent a fax back to the same number he sent it from, he does not seem to get them?! No idea what the heck is going on there?! The language barrier is another pain but, I will give it another week or so. Thanks again everyone!!! Helen