Last year in Italy I needed to call my bank to ask about a declined charge. On the back of every credit card they conveniently give a number for calling collect. I was unable to call collect from a pay phone on the street and ended up using my cellphone with my USA SIM to call; an expensive chat! I'm going to Germany this summer and I was hoping someone can tell me how I can make a collect call from Germany to the US should the need arise.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9109 posts
You can make a collect call from Germany via AT&T's international access number: 0-800-225-5288. Press zero to speak to an operator to arrange it. http://www.att.com/esupport/traveler.jsp
Posted by
OP
CA, USA
1237 posts
Thank you Michael. I hope preparing to do this is like the insurance principle, you get it hoping it wards off needing it!
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9109 posts
Looking for and using pay-phones, to call home, is a bit passe these days Most all hotel rooms have a phone in them. In regards to Skype, I had an issue with calling my bank via Skype few years ago. I called the direct number via Skype and they refused to deal with me unless it was a collect call. I hung up and tried the 800 number via Skype and the same deal. Using AT&T collect was a lifesaver.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10605 posts
You can be patched through to your bank via the overseas Visa card number.
Posted by
The Heartland USA
8936 posts
Before the trip, when I call my card-issuing bank to alert them I will be traveling in a foreign country, I ask them for a number that will work from overseas. Sometimes it takes a while for the customer service rep to understand why their 800 number may not work, but I can get another number to call. If not toll-free, I can at least call and ask them to call me back at my number. I have had to do this a few times.