BajaNomad

I can't afford "Toll-Free" calls!

unbob - 3-8-2013 at 10:25 AM

Here's a shocker - I was charged approx 87 cents per minute for a 9:47 min "800" phone call to the US! Actual cost was $108.40 pesos. "Toll-Free" ain't cheap (or free)!

The call was made using my TelCel phone here in BCS. I'm on the "Amigo Combinado 20" plan.

The call was to CS at my US bank. Alternatively, I could have called a "regular" number (area code 605) but chose instead to use the 800 number. I wonder if calling the 605 number would have been cheaper?

Anyway, heads-up out there! Rob

bajaguy - 3-8-2013 at 10:29 AM

If you have computer access and it is supplied by cable or DSL, get a Magic-Jack. All calls to us numbers are free from wherever you are

chuckie - 3-8-2013 at 10:30 AM

What bajaguy said...

wessongroup - 3-8-2013 at 10:35 AM

Dittos

schwlind - 3-8-2013 at 10:36 AM

I was told to substitute the 800 area code with 880 for US 800 numbers... has this changed?

unbob - 3-8-2013 at 10:38 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
If you have computer access and it is supplied by cable or DSL, get a Magic-Jack. All calls to us numbers are free from wherever you are
Thanks. Yeah, I know about all the other calling options. It's just that I was in a rush to make the call and didn't want to screw-around with a possible bad connection or disconnection while making the call. The bank had put an "Early Fraud Alert" on my Visa account (whatever that is) and I had a pending charge for a large amount transaction I did not want jeopardized. So it was an "importante" call.

durrelllrobert - 3-8-2013 at 12:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by unbob
Here's a shocker - I was charged approx 87 cents per minute for a 9:47 min "800" phone call to the US! Actual cost was $108.40 pesos. "Toll-Free" ain't cheap (or free)!

The call was made using my TelCel phone here in BCS. I'm on the "Amigo Combinado 20" plan.

The call was to CS at my US bank. Alternatively, I could have called a "regular" number (area code 605) but chose instead to use the 800 number. I wonder if calling the 605 number would have been cheaper?

Anyway, heads-up out there! Rob


Naw, Carlos Slim would never do that:lol::lol:

DavidE - 3-8-2013 at 12:45 PM

This is why I MUCH PREFER the throwaway TelCel AMIGO phones with the pre-paid cards. 12 pesos for 20 minutes. Don't need a steenking computer modem to call.

bajaguy - 3-8-2013 at 01:01 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DavidE
This is why I MUCH PREFER the throwaway TelCel AMIGO phones with the pre-paid cards. 12 pesos for 20 minutes. Don't need a steenking computer modem to call.





MagicJack Plus allows our kids and grandkids to make a free local call to our US number when we are in Baja and we can call anybody in the US for free (well, $20 a year). We also take it with us when we travel.

[Edited on 3-8-2013 by bajaguy]

unbob - 3-8-2013 at 01:54 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DavidE
This is why I MUCH PREFER the throwaway TelCel AMIGO phones with the pre-paid cards. 12 pesos for 20 minutes. Don't need a steenking computer modem to call.
I normally pay about 4.5 cents per minute with my TelCel Amigo service to call loved-ones in the US.

DavidE - 3-8-2013 at 02:54 PM

I just counted them up. Fourteen calls to various 88, 877, 866 et al. Normal prices, the same as other 001 calls. I wonder what your plan is doing to you.

unbob - 3-9-2013 at 08:51 AM

OK, here are the instructions I followed for dialing a "toll-free" number in the US from Mexico. Does everyone agree this is correct?

Dialing U.S. 800 Numbers from Mexico (800, 888, 877, 866)

Mexico has its own series of 800 numbers, so in order to make dialing U.S. numbers possible, they came up with a simple system. Simple - once you know the secret...

To dial a United States 800 number FROM Mexico, replace the 800 prefix with the prefix shown below:

800 numbers Dial 001-880-then the number
866 numbers Dial 001-883-then the number
877 numbers Dial 001-882-then the number
888 numbers Dial 001-881-then the number

For example, to call Wells Fargo's customer service FROM Mexico we change the number from 1-800-869-3557 to 001-880-869-3557 and to dial Blue Shield FROM Mexico we change the number from 1-888-568-3560 to 001-881-568-3560.

http://www.solymarweb.com/phone-baja-mexico.htm

woody with a view - 3-9-2013 at 08:59 AM

if it was an important call i would think it was worth the cost for the peace of mind, no?

durrelllrobert - 3-9-2013 at 09:47 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by unbob
OK, here are the instructions I followed for dialing a "toll-free" number in the US from Mexico. Does everyone agree this is correct?

Dialing U.S. 800 Numbers from Mexico (800, 888, 877, 866)

Mexico has its own series of 800 numbers, so in order to make dialing U.S. numbers possible, they came up with a simple system. Simple - once you know the secret...

To dial a United States 800 number FROM Mexico, replace the 800 prefix with the prefix shown below:

800 numbers Dial 001-880-then the number
866 numbers Dial 001-883-then the number
877 numbers Dial 001-882-then the number
888 numbers Dial 001-881-then the number

For example, to call Wells Fargo's customer service FROM Mexico we change the number from 1-800-869-3557 to 001-880-869-3557 and to dial Blue Shield FROM Mexico we change the number from 1-888-568-3560 to 001-881-568-3560.

http://www.solymarweb.com/phone-baja-mexico.htm

This is good info but only applies when calling from a Telnor phone. Anyone having Vonage or Magic Jack just dials the 800 number same as if they were not in Mexico.

unbob - 3-9-2013 at 10:16 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by durrelllrobertThis is good info but only applies when calling from a Telnor phone. Anyone having Vonage or Magic Jack just dials the 800 number same as if they were not in Mexico.
I dialed from a TelCel phone. Never heard of Telnor.

castaway$ - 3-9-2013 at 10:55 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DavidE
This is why I MUCH PREFER the throwaway TelCel AMIGO phones with the pre-paid cards. 12 pesos for 20 minutes. Don't need a steenking computer modem to call.

I donated to Carlos Slims retirement plan last December when i bought a Mex burn phone. How can i find out if I have the Amigo plan? and if i don't can I have my plan changed to this plan?