[comp.dcom.telecom] Who Pays for International DA

henry@garp.mit.edu (Henry Mensch) (09/13/89)

   Date:     Tue, 12 Sep 89 1:04:10 CDT
   From: TELECOM Moderator <telecom@eecs.nwu.edu>

   [Moderator's Note: There is no 'international DA operator' that I am
   aware of. The AT&T long distance operator simply handles every foreign
   DA request I've ever made. I agree it seems like a waste of time for
   the operator to stay on the line, however customers have been known to
   connive and con less sophisticated foreign operators into completing
   the call for them, obviously on a no-revenue basis to AT&T.

I reckon you haven't been paying attention; every time I call I get
transferred to the "international DA operator."

# Henry Mensch    /   <henry@garp.mit.edu>   /   E40-379 MIT,  Cambridge, MA
# <hmensch@uk.ac.nsfnet-relay> / <henry@tts.lth.se> / <mensch@munnari.oz.au>

[Moderator's Note: Everytime I place an overseas call from here at my home
in Chicago, I dial 00 (double zero) and ask the AT&T operator who answers
me "Give me DA in Exotic Land."  She says okay, checks her tube for the
correct routing, rings it, and stays on line passing the information badk
and forth. I do not get handed off to any other operator for the purpose
of directory lookups. The Chicago AT&T operator then asks if I want her
to dial it. Usually then I hang up and dial direct.   PT]