dsmith@dcsc.dla.mil (David Smith) (10/23/90)
As part of the experience of renting a vacation house in southern Florida recently, a friend made the unhappy acquaintance of a phone company known as ITI, with which the owners or managers of the house had apparently contracted to provide phone service. He wanted to make a long-distance call. His options were to make it collect, to charge it to a third number, or to charge it to his credit card -- he couldn't charge it to the vacation house number. Collect and third-number charging were impossible under the circumstances. When he asked to charge it to his credit card, he was told that wasn't possible because "the computer was down." But, he was told, he could connect with an AT&T operator by dialing "00". Tried that -- didn't work -- called ITI operator back. Was told by another ITI operator he could get the AT&T operator with "*0". Tried that -- didn't work -- called ITI operator back. ITI operator tried to connect him with the AT&T operator -- but couldn't. Friend asked to speak with a supervisor. No supervisor available -- was given an address to write to, instead. What is ITI? Is it typical of something relatively new? Of something relatively common? [Moderator's Note: ITI is an 'alternate operator service', or AOS which purports to be a long distance carrier and alternative to that mean old ripoff, Ma Bell. The letters mean International Telesphere, Inc. Another division of the company operates 900 service, in the $29.95 for the first minute range. Still another division of the company sells/manages COCOTS. They really think they are something. I think they are sleaze. They weasel their way into companies and other places by promising lucrative commissions on calls, etc. They've been known to slam (genuine Bell) payphones, naming themselves the default carrier. Lots of folks could tell you stories about them. PAT]