Payphones are yet another airport hazard, says US based travel expert Chris Elliott.
“Payphones may be an endangered species, but they are not unprofitable. Not if they’re in places frequented by travelers,†he says on his Web site.
Payphone horror stories are not exactly a dime a dozen (or even a quarter a dozen) but they are nonetheless frustrating and generally preventable.
He cites the case of a woman who reluctantly used a payphone when her cell phone ran out of batteries.
She received a $21 charge on her Visa bill or $1.29 for each minute plus a $10 operator charge and taxes.
The credit card company gave her half the money back.
“Lesson learned? Don’t touch that payphone,†concludes Elliott.
A Report by David Wilkening
