[KarynB]

Ok guys,

I just opened my phone bill from when we were away...not good news.

We used our calling card to call our kids and each call (about 8 in total, 15-20 minutes each) was about $100!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!! So, now on top of the adoption debt we are paying off we have this to deal with. I feel so STUPID for not checking this before we left.

Anyone else deal with this? Anyone fight the phone company and win?


This is not good....

[teranga]

I don't know if you can fight the phone company...it's really their call on what they charge unfortunately.

We were told before going to Ethiopia that calls are about that much, so what we did (what you could do next time?) is get a phone card. You go to...I think it's "prepaidafrica.com" or something like that, and you buy a phone card. (you can google "africa phone card" if "ive got the address wrong) It's cheap--like .20 (US)/min. and you buy what you think you'll need (30 minutes worth or whatever). The only hitch is that your family needs to call you in Africa--you can't call them...so you have to pre-arrange when they will call.

With us, we told our kids' grandma (who was watching them) to call us at 6pm. her time on each Tues. and Th. and we gave her our hotel info, and the phone card. Then she used the phone card to call us at that time, and we waited in the hotel for the call.

I don't know if I've explained that well, but anyway, for many calls, it cost maybe $20 rather than hundreds.

Sorry you got hit with such a huge bill...hopefully you can use the phone card next time.

Teranga

ps- just editing this b/c I just read that you are home w/your baby boy, so I guess you won't be going back there any time soon. Sorry...I was hoping I could help for a 2nd trip...but congratulations on your son!