I survived driving on the left in Ireleand, its narrow, winding, and bumpy roads, and what must be more than 300 roundabouts.
The GPS maps for Europe I bought for $110 turned out to be a good investment. My vacation would have been much more stressful without the GPS.
As far as money is concerned, things worked out OK. They accepted my World MasterCard for rental car insurance. That saved me about $300. There are a few stories and observations I’d like to share over the next few days. The first story is $27 for a 1-minute phone call.
After I finished the paperwork for getting my rental car, I headed to the ATM machine to get cash. To my chagrin, it didn’t work. After I entered my PIN and the desired amount, the machine just spit out my card with a message saying “this transaction cannot be completed.” I tried five or six times with different amounts, but the results were the same. I tried it at a different ATM. Still the same thing, although the two ATMs were from the same bank (Bank of Ireland).
My immediate reaction was that my card declined the withdrawal because I was doing it from an international location. Before I left, I called them to let them know my travel plans. Maybe they didn’t record it correctly. No problem, I thought. There’s a phone number on the back of my card which I can call collect from outside of US.
I called collect to that number, but the automated system said it couldn’t complete the call. I tried to get an operator to help me place the collect call, and the operator told me he couldn’t do it either.
I panicked. Not having access to cash would make it really difficult for my vacation. I also wasn’t thinking clearly because of the jet lag. It was 2:00 a.m. in my time zone. It had been 22 hours since I got up. I only had off-and-on naps on the plane.
I decided to call that number on the back of my ATM card straight, with my credit card. I got a recording, which gave me a different number for lost and stolen cards, and a message saying customer service is available between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Time. A few days later I found out that 1-minute phone call cost me $27.
In the grand scheme of things, $27 isn’t a large amount. When you are traveling in a different country, you end up paying a lot more than the locals do. You don’t have time and resources to shop for good deals. The foods in tourist places are both bad and overpriced. I could’ve easily saved $27 elsewhere during my vacation.
But still, $27 for a 1-minute phone call is excessive, don’t you think? I will dispute it with my credit card company because the rate was never quoted to me, nor accepted. I don’t expect to win though. I don’t think the credit card companies are on the cardholders’ side.
The company that ripped me off is BBG Communications. The name that appeared on my credit card as a pending authorization was originally BBG Luxembourg. It’s a global company that prays on tourists from payphones, airports and hotels worldwide. Ripping off people is BBG’s business model.
Remember that name and stay away! Class action plaintiff attorneys should sue this company out of business. [Update on December 9, 2010: A class action lawsuit was filed in March 2010.]
If I wasn’t sleep deprived, there were a number of things I could’ve done in that situation. I could’ve tried to find an ATM machine from a different bank. When I did that a few hours later at a different location using a machine from Allied Irish Bank, my ATM card just worked. I could’ve tried using the debit function for a purchase at the airport, just to see if the card blocked international transactions. I could’ve tried withdrawing cash using my credit card. A 3% cash advance fee plus interest for 10 days is still a lot less than $27. I could’ve looked for a calling card for 5 or 10 Euros for my call.
There are also a number of things I could’ve done before I left the U.S. which would prevent me from getting into the panic situation in the first place. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Lessons learned from my cash woes:
1. Never, ever make a call with your credit card, both in and outside of U.S.
2. Before leaving the U.S., call the toll number on the back of the cards you plan to use and ask about their hours of operations. This will also confirm that the number hasn’t changed.
3. Have a backup for getting cash. It can be a second checking account with extra money in it. Or it can be Traveler’s Cheques. Many banks and credit unions sell Traveler’s Cheques without a fee. AAA also sells them without a fee if you are a member. Unused Traveler’s Cheques can be deposited back to a checking account like any other checks.
4. Get a calling card that works from outside of U.S. Many calling cards that work in the U.S. also work from outside of U.S. You just need to know the access number in the country you are traveling to.
For example, I use OneSuite for long distance calls in the U.S. OneSuite has international access numbers in 25 countries. Ireland happens to be one of them. Their rate isn’t the lowest but it isn’t outrageous either. Had I known the OneSuite access number, my 1-minute phone call from Ireland would be $0.51, not $27.
The Verizon/MCI calling card sold at Costco also has international access numbers from 138 countries. Because the minutes never expire on the Verizon/MCI card and it works from practically anywhere in the world, that makes it a good all-purpose emergency calling card. Had I known the Verizon access number, it would be $0.25 a minute, not $27.
I learned these lessons the hard way so you don’t have to. Live, learn, and share. That’s the purpose of this blog.
Say No To Management Fees
If you are paying an advisor a percentage of your assets, you are paying 5-10x too much. Learn how to find an independent advisor, pay for advice, and only the advice.
Wai Yip Tung says
Bring some cash. Never count on the ATM card alone. My worst fear is it will confiscate your card after 3 failure.
Wai Yip Tung says
$27 is crazy. I made a one minute roaming call to the AT&T wireless customer service and they charged me $3. I thought they are robbing me already.
ZXT says
$27 per minute is absurd! Good thing you only got a recording and didn’t able to talk to a live person or else you might end up talking for 5 minutes or worst more if you put on hold.
This is the reason why I bring some cash whenever I travel just enough to last me a couple of days just in case there would be a problem with ATM’s. I also take note of the access number overseas. In my case I also use Onesuite so I write down the local access number plus the rate so I know what charge I’m expecting for using the service which is usually way way lower than using my mobile (roaming) or like in your case BBG Communications.
Catherin says
That is weird… My bank called me yesterday to ask for a pending autorization from BBG communication in Luxemburg… and I didn’t use my card for a while… and not to make any phone call…
Rahul Joshi says
My story is also same, for a 1 minute local call BBG Communication charged me 17$. I was in hurry at the airport, saw a payphone, first tried to call using coins but it was not connecting , then tried to call using debit card, after that call got connected but was shocked to see 3 transaction for BBG Communication. In total they charged 17$.One should avoid using payphone with card.
bbush2325 says
we gat charged $111.41 for 17mins.
heyhey123 says
yea mine was $53.53 for 8 minutes.
Mary says
$45 for 3 minutes, US from Paris. What can we do about this?!
Harry Sit says
@Mary – My credit card dispute is still being investigated/processed. I suggest you also file a dispute with your card. First you may win. Second, even if you don’t win, BBG will have to spend (wo)manpower on responding to the disputes. BBG’s bank may charge BBG a fee for processing each dispute because the bank also has to spend (wo)manpower on responding to the disputes. If every BBG’s charge comes back as a dispute, BBG’s bank may cut BBG off from processing credit cards. That’s the end result I’d like to see. Also write to California state Attorney General. BBG’s US business appears to be in San Diego.
Márcio says
A one-minute call from a payphone at Caesar’s Palace Casino (Las Vegas) to a cell phone in New Jersey costed my son exactly $20.44.
DH says
I actually called BBG Communications and got them to dismiss the charges because the rates were not disclosed and I had never heard of nor used their system before. I’m sure that was only a one-time deal, but I think they’ve had so much difficulty with people disputing the charges that they’ll grant you a reprieve as it’s less costly for them (and there are plenty of people who never think to call them and ask!)
Jantho says
I also used my credit card to make a call, but the prices were clearly outlined.. Now a week later BBG Luxembourg is charging me AGAIN with 6 Dollars after they allready made me pay the dollar as written in the cabin.
Weird company
SUMMER KENTON says
I MADE TWO PHONE CALLS FROM OUR COSTA RICA HOTEL ROOM, NEITHER OF WHICH WERE ANSWERED (BY THE PERSON I WAS CALLING), AND I WAS CHARGED A TOTAL OF $83.85! NO RATES WERE DISCLOSED AND I PLAN TO DISPUTE THE CHARGES AS WELL, FIRST BY CALLING THEM, AND IF NO RESOLUTION, WITH MY CREDIT CARD/ DEBIT CARD COMPANY. THIS IS INSANE!
Ryabchikov says
I made 3 min telephone call from Davos, Switzerland to Moscow for which I paid same day from visa card 1 USD. Then 10 days later BBG subtracted from my card 31 USD without any explanations.
I think it is criminal company and it should be punished.
Franko says
I made 2 one-minute calls from Narita airport in Tokyo to Seoul ( it’s not that far…)and they charge me 66 US$!!!
First they charged me 1 US$/call, even for some calls that nobody answers, which was ok…but 66 US$ for 2 one-minute calls, no way!
There is no way I am going to let them screw me like that…I’ll sure call them and contact my credit card company to contest the bill…
SUMMER KENTON says
I CALLED AND SPOKE TO “CINDY” (07/15/09) WHO TOLD ME THE CHARGES HAD TO “POST” TO MY ACCOUNT BEFORE I COULD DISPUTE THEM. WHEN THEY INDEED POSTED (07/17/09), I CALLED BACK AND SPOKE WITH “SCOTT” WHO WAS NO HELP AT ALL – WHEN I ASKED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE HIGHER WHO COULD HELP ME, HE TOLD ME I NEEDED TO CALL BACK AND GET ANOTHER REPRESENTATIVE. HE WAS A JERK! HE PROCEEDED TO EXPLAIN TO ME THAT I SHOULD HAVE CALLED THE COMPANY FROM MY COSTA RICA HOTEL ROOM (BEFORE I EXECUTED THE CALL TO FLORIDA) AND HAVE ASKED FOR THEM TO DISCLOSE THE RATES. THE RATES OF: $30-45 DOLLARS FOR THE FIRST 5 MINUTES, $1.00 CONNECTION FEE, $3.99-5.99 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL MINUTE AFTER FIRST 5. THAT IS CRAZY! MY CALLS WEREN’T EVEN ANSWERED BY A HUMAN; THEY RANG UNTIL THE VOICEMAIL PICKED UP AND THEN I HUNG UP! IF I HAD KNOWN I WAS GOING TO GET CHARGED ($84.35) FOR THE FREAKING CALLS I WOULD HAVE AT LEAST LEFT A MESSAGE- AND PERHAPS HAD ONE WAY PHONE SEX FOR 5 MINUTES ON THE VOICEMAIL! I FEEL SO SCREWED AND I DIDN’T EVEN ENJOY IT! BEWARE OF THESE SCAM ARTISTS!!!!!!!!
Aneri says
Just got a call from my bank as well….$27 for 1 minute – but talked for 20 seconds. Yeah, that’s some new math that makes them a fortune…a**holes!
Betsy M. says
My son is in the UK and just had the EXACT SAME EXPERIENCE as you did with BBG Telecommunications. I wish I had seen your column before he made the phone call. Thanks for putting this info out there.
Yacila says
I made a phone call from Geneva to Peru the 8th of August. It didn’ t work and it costed 1 euro. Now I have a bill of almost 30 euros with the same number of reference, for “buy phones articles the 11th” with the BBG name in my credit score…They are stealing…
Can you help me? I am student and I need the money.
Thanks
Rachel says
I was just charged $49 for leaving a 30 second message. I made the call from a hostel in Costa Rica to the U.S. I am going to try to dispute the charges as well.
Jules says
The same thing happened to me- I was charged $41 for a quick two minute call. Sucks!!!!!!!!!
Colby says
Same here. $87 for a four minute local phone call from the airport in Prague to a hotel in the same city.
Jeffrey says
Can anyone who has tried to resolve this give me a hand? I have the same story, a $76 charge for 1 phone call that lasted roughly 10 minutes. When I called the number listed on my credit card statement the guy who answered the phone would do nothing unless I gave him my entire credit card number. I explained to him that I was calling to dispute a charge from his company and was not comfortable giving him my credit card number. If he wanted the last 4 digits or my name and some other info I told him I would provide it. He wouldnt move past getting my credit card number and I eventually hung up. Am I right here? I really dont feel comfortable giving that out over the phone to some guy whose company already ripped me off. Has anyone actually had success resolving this? Thanks, Jeff
Harry Sit says
Jeffrey – I disputed the charge with my credit card company. They credited me and I never heard about it again.
francesca woolls says
I used my debit card in a Sydney payphone to make a call to the UK and was only on the call for 30 seconds maximum leaving a voice mail. I’ve now been charged 3 times for $57.59, $15.81 and $3! One of the transactions on my statement is listed as 1800-185-615 LUX, does anyone know if this is the company BBG Communications and is there anything I can do?
Erica says
i was charged to charged for 78 and 89 dollars also my boyfriend who i called and spoke with for less than 5 minutes was charged 99 dollars
Les Durham says
I called from a phone in Heathrow. One was a voicemail, the 2nd was a 2-3 min quick call. I’m being charged almost $90. The phone was clearly marked with: “International calls for 40 pence a minute”. Unfortuneately I didn’t have any English change so I put it on my debit/credit card. I would not have looked at my statement for awhile if it was merely a credit card, and possibly not have even noticed it when I did. This is what these scam businesses intend on happening. I’m refuting the call and I’m thankful someone mentioned they have a company in the U.S. because they will be called also.
Les Durham says
EVERYONE, MAKE SURE YOU REFUTE THESE CALLS!!!!!!!! START WITH YOUR CREDIT CARD COMPANY AND SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY MORE SUGGESTIONS BUT JUST MAKE SURE IT’S DONE.
Harry Sit says
To all who are watching this thread – I was contacted by a class action attorney who is investigating BBG. If you would like to contact the attorney or to be contacted, please use my contact form and give me your e-mail address. I will forward the attorney’s contact info to you.
Steve says
£2.20 English Sterling for a phone call which connected for only 2 seconds before I hung up (it went to voicemail)
That was from a British Telecom Phone Box which is disgraceful
Pankaj says
Hi ALL – Here is the what I am charged for for approximately 5 minutes of calls
$124 USD
????????????????
Does anyone knows this organization ?
Surupa says
I had a similar experience when somebody made a call using my card and I was charged twice…..
This is big scandal please beware
Sueli Casanova says
I received an inquiry from my Credit Card company about a charge in the amount of US$ 41.91 made my BBG – Luxembourg-United Kingdom that they thought was fraudulent. When I called the credit card company, they asked if I had charged a telephone call to my credit card. Last week I did make a call from São Paulo Airport to the US, with time only to say I had arrived. It couldn´t take more than 1/2 minutes and I was charged US$ 41.91. It there have been so many cases, I wonder why a bank like Chase accepts this Company´s debts.
I´m going to dispute the charge but would like to know what else I can do, in face of so many people complaining???
jasmine lux says
!@#$, I wish I had read this before trying to make an international call from Fiji to Canada with my credit card because it was a complete emergency…
@#$%.
But mine was 2 minutes each, thus 150$ down the drain for this winter…
What a ripoff!!!
Elize says
I had the same experience from this company. I was on Frankfurt Airport on 12 December 18h030, had a World Call Card (10 Euros), but it did not work with the payphones (T-Mobile) on the airport, did not want to accept my code for authorisation on the card. I have made a call to my friend in Scotland; the lady did not disclose the cost to me. My friend’s phone went to voice mail as he was not available and I hung up. The call was not even 2 second. I received a SMS from my bank for the cost of R325.00 (30 Euros) and when I have checked my credit card statement I have noticed that I have been debited yesterday with R7.00 and again today with a further 325 Euros. This is ridiculous to pay this kind of money for a call that was not even been made. This is even more expensive than opening up your phone for international roaming. If I look at all the complaints against this company, I am surprised that nobody has done something to the company as this is a total rip-off of uninformed tourists. Surely one can be warned about the high cost before the call. I will never make use of their services again.
David says
Same thing.. Local call in Heathrow airport (London, UK) to a friends cell# (English number), $9 for first call (1 minute voicemail), $19 for second when i spoke to him for 2 mins or so. THIEVES! Because it said British Telecom I thought I was safe.
Zoe says
I made four phone calls in Costa Rica using BBG none of them were answered and the company is charging my visa $212. This company must go DOWNN
Walter O'Neill says
My daughter called us from Costa RIca…for a 5 minute call…$110 on her VISA from BBG. I will start to contact both the company and the attorney mentioned above and recommend to anyone to do the same!
Noam says
Does anyone have the contact info for the company? I want to dispute their charges with them, but I’m not actually sure how to reach them. Thanks!
I was charged $36.90 (and possibly an additional $47 that’s still pending with my credit card company) for a two minute phone call from a hotel in Spain to the U.S.
Noam says
Correction: I just talked to my credit card company and they gave me the number: 1-800-608-0855. I called the company and after being placed on hold for a ridculously long time and yelling at the unfortunate customer service person he was willing to give me a one time $10 credit. I’m still going to join in with the class action lawyer…
Chintu says
Local Call from LHR:
24 Mins = $85
$15 Connection Fee and $2.88 per minute charges.
Called and they are giving a one time credit for $30. The pricing was not published any where 🙁
Chintu
Jean says
my credit card company sent me an Confirmation of recent transanction: BBG was approved on or around xxxx LUXEMBOURG, United Kingdom.
I was shocked that my daughter only phoned me about two minutes and it was charged $49.10. It is found service comes from BBG. What should I do ?My daughter told me she could not get any information about rate.
Jean says
Cont, my daughter was offered free hotel in Barbados airport due to her flight was cancled. A staff of hotel told her to use phone in her room via credit card. She could not find any informaiton about rate of call from Barbados to USA.
L says
I got charged AUD $55.16 three times for three calls at Bali Denpasar airport. That is a unbelievable $165. First two calls i got voicemail, third was for about 5 minutes. Trying to get hold of bali airport to see which company it is that charged me, but no one there seems to speak english “all of the sudden”. Well, no surprise there I suppose…
Filed it with my bank who will investigate. Complete ripoff!!!
Maria says
I was in Depasar, Bali (Indonesia). I had to make an emergency call and i made 2 calls – one didnt go through so i thought it wouldnt charge me but the other one i talked for 30 seconds or even less and its charging for three calls, two for $56 and one for $59. I am thinking of disputing with the bank. Did any one get a postiive reply?
Sharmila says
I have a similar story, amount being 70$ and location being Frankfurt airport. No prior rate disclosed, or post-call receipt provided.
Everyone has the same story, but no one has posted a solution.
Is there any lawwer who can advise us on what to do ?
mary lou says
I was on vacation in St. Maarten. I had a mesage from my company to return a call. However, I had to use my credit caard according to the sign in the room. I had to make a couple calls because my bodss’s voice mail was full. In the meantime my card wa cut off because the bank thought it was being compromised. So I had to use my othr half’s card. When I got home and called the bank I was SHOCKED at what the calls cost btween the 2 cards it was $255.00. Then I pulled the info from your website and was floored at the number of people who had the same problem. So now my company won’t pay me the money I had to shell out and the bank will not consider it as fraud because I did make calls. In the meantime I had to wait for a new credit card with a new number. There has got to be something that can be done about this company. I thought there was a class action suit against them at one time.
Fran Hunter says
They got me too… 5 calls at 49.00 a piece… never connected on any of them, no markes on phone..
ciannella says
THIS FIRM BBG LUX ARE BASTARD
BUT WHY NOBODY OF THE GOVERNEMT INTERVINES
WHAT THE HELL IS THAT
WE PAY TAXES
HELLO JUSTICE MINISTER DO SOMETHING
stef says
My husband got ripped off too making a 7 min call from germany to USA. we’ve both called the company many times all to the same end: no information, or they keep changing the amounts and only gave averages, not exact amounts for ‘his’ call.
i dont know (with how old some of these are) if the class action attorney is still investigating. i’ve emailed the contact form given. i will post again if anything comes of it.
-seems as though there are a LOT of angry people and only one guy giving solutions. i’ll see if it’s still valid.