Skype, WhatsApp, Verizon for International Calls

When we visited Iran back in 1996, we set up Skype on our desktop computer upon our return. It would be a great way to stay in touch with our nieces and nephew. Time has passed and we all now have iPhones where FaceTime is available, but it has limitations - not everyone has iPhones. When it comes to making international calls we have been burned a couple of times. We used to have a land line with Xfinity just for that purpose. Since we moved to northern Virginia, we no longer need nor have a landline. When my husband made a call to France a few months back, it unexpectedly went on for over an hour - to the tune of $600+! I got the charge reduced to $15 - the cost of ATT international monthly plan for being a loyal customer for so many years. Shortly after that, we decided to switch to Verizon so as to get additional monthly plan reductions for having both internet and mobile service together. In the meantime I added the international plan to our phone lines - which only meant that we would be charged a reduced rate when a call was made. Because the phone calls are rare and not usually more than 15 minutes, that arrangement was “ok.” Since then I’ve been exploring other options. And Skype resurfaced again. We downloaded the app and tried using it - successfully. We were advised that WhatsApp was also an option, but that requires the other party having the app too. Since most of our overseas friends use Skype, we just decided to take that route. So I’m hoping I don’t need to think about it anymore. At least now we have a solution and hopefully we won’t have any more unexpected international calling charges. There is really no excuse given all the options. 

AT&T International Call Nightmare - I Knew It Would Take More Than One Try

Why does everything take more than one try to get the problem resolved? Last month my husband made two phone calls to France. Unfortunately we forgot we didn’t have an international calling plan for our AT&T mobile service. We no longer have a desk phone so it never was a problem before. And he rarely makes overseas phone calls anymore. So when we got notified that we had a $250 plus international charge the following day, I had a chat with Andy to resolve the payment. It was agreed that if we added the $15 international plan, he would eliminate the horrendous charge. We could also delete the plan within two days. So much for that. Three weeks later I got the AT&T bill and it was for over $500!! So I started a chat with Nataly and sent her the documented text of the conversation I had with Andy. I had a feeling I would need it. After reviewing the text, she said she would delete the charge so our bill ended up being the typical amount plus the $15. Of course, when the account was updated I lost my chat with Nataly. So I started another one with John to make sure the account was actually verified. It was, but it didn’t help with my overall frustration level. I should just know better that nothing ever gets taken care of in one try. Our big problem now is to decide if we want to continue with the $15 plan, go with the $5 plan with additional charges by the minute, or just make sure we add one of those options before a call is made. We just don’t make that many overseas calls anymore. But boy were we reminded of it when we did.