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Posted By: JC_Austin International Phones - 07/22/05 02:32 AM
I posted essentially the same message when replying to the "July Trip Report" posting. Just wanted people to know about this rip-off.

We were in Caye Caulker last week and noticed that several of the regular BTL phones were replaced with blue international phone units. They look very similar to a phone we used in Bahamas several years ago (and were charged ~US$35 for a short phone call). The phone at the C.C. hotel we stayed at also had one of those phones. If the phones are the same, they're probably owned by NCIC (www.NCIC.com), a Texas-based telecommunications firm that specializes in operator-assisted international calls and inmate telecom services. You can see their rate structure here: http://www.ncic.com/FLASH/PDF/International.pdf

It's a legitimized scam, since they have their exorbitant rates for everyone to see. Five minute calls will cost between US$17.50 to $32.50. All international calls have a US$10.00/call surcharge.

We bought a BTL calling card and that's what we used for all of our international calls from Caye Caulker (just punch in the numbers on the blue international phones like any other phone). It cost us a fraction of what it would have had we used the phone company's "service." Please spread the word on this.
Posted By: Auxillou Beach Suites Re: International Phones - 07/25/05 12:04 AM
Caye Communications on Front Street, Caye Caulker offers international calling at reasonable rates, no phone card necessary, with prices ranging between $.50 U.S. - $2.00 U.S. per minute depending on the destination country called.

Thanks and cheers,
Wendy Auxillou
Caye Communications
Posted By: Lynchbug_Lisa Re: International Phones - 08/03/05 06:05 PM
Here's a suggestion for Caye Caulker visitors.
On our last trip to CC we contacted our long distance phone carrier prior to leaving the US and signed up for a temporary international calling card. I believe the rate for Belize was around 50 cents per minute. Our trip was over Christmas so we made several long calls back home and our phone bill was very reasonable and there weren't any additional service charges. When we returned to the States all we had to do was call and cancel the card at no additional cost.
Posted By: Anonymous Re: International Phones - 08/04/05 09:56 PM
Buy a used, UNLOCKED GSM 1900 phone from e-bay for about 30 or 40USD. This will work in most of Central America and Europe. You can then get a SIM card from the local provider and sometimes even a prepaid plan inexpensively. Then you have your own travel phone and probably the best rates.
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