1-900 Numbers
Any time you call a 1-900 number, be aware that:
- You are paying for the call — often at a minimum charge of about $35.
- Area codes 1-900, 1-976 and 1-809 have a similar minimum charge.
- The promoter gets a portion of the money from each incoming call.
- Pay-per-charge numbers are used by legitimate businesses to charge their customers for information services; however, such businesses tell you about the fee upfront.
- One scam artist often sells to another the names and telephone numbers of people who’ve lost money.
- If you are concerned, you can order a call-blocking service from your telephone company that restricts your phone from making certain types of calls. Don’t confuse 1-900 numbers with toll-free numbers, which allow consumers to contact government and business offices without paying a long-distance charge. Toll-free numbers begin with area codes 1-800, 1-888 and 1-877.
Two 1-900 Number Scenarios
Scenario 1
His pager alerted the man to call an odd-looking number beginning with 1-900. He called, then sat through a long information message about health. Before he spoke with a live person, the line was automatically disconnected. Shaking his head, he hung up.
A few weeks later, he received a telephone bill for $35 with the 1-900 telephone number he had dialled earlier in the month beside the amount.
Scenario 2
The newspaper ad said to dial the 1-900 number splashed across the page in bright red print to win a trip to Mexico. "All you have to do is call!" It sounded simple enough.
The consumer decided to take the plunge. After all, what did he have to lose?
He dialed the number and waited patiently for the lengthy information message to end. But before he could speak with someone, the line was automatically disconnected. He hung up.
One month later, the man’s telephone bill showed a $50 charge for the 1-900 call he had placed.
