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One ongoing use of payphones: people with cheap, pay-by-the-minute cell phone plans calling toll-free numbers for utilities, banks, etc. so they don't have to u
by smelendez 10y ago
One ongoing use of payphones: people with cheap, pay-by-the-minute cell phone plans calling toll-free numbers for utilities, banks, etc. so they don't have to use up their airtime while they're on hold.
About two years ago I was in Chicago and noticed a well-maintained payphone. The company that operated it had even attached a decal with the toll free numbers for Comcast, Bank of America, the local electric company, etc.
- taneq 10y agoI don't know if it's still a thing so much these days, they always used to be used likewise for international calling using a cheap international calling card. Make an untimed local call to the international call provider, they then use VOIP or something to route the call to the destination country, and turn it back to another untimed local call. Great for calling family back home when backpacking.
- Broken_Hippo 10y agoHere is a weird little blip in those pre-paid cell phone plans: They generally charge the user for the minutes used when calling a toll-free number. Same for incoming calls. I have always used pre-paid, mostly by the minute (though not always), because it winds up generally cheaper than any of the plans they offer as I don't use it much and never have. It was never really an issue with some companies, but I'd use a google Talk number for companies that tended to put places on hold. This stuff didn't change until I switched countries: I'm pretty sure toll-free numbers are actually toll-free and I no longer get charged for incoming calls/texts, which means my pre-paid time lasts longer.