Korean Job Discussion Forums

[periwinkle]

I'm trying to contact a company via e-mail, but they aren't returning my e-mails, so I have to call them (it's an American company, btw). I don't know how to make calls with my calling card to toll free #'s. Can anybody give me some advice? Thanks!!

[cheeky monkey]

sorry, it can't be done. the key is to call using your calling card, and as soon as you get an operator, ask them if the company has a no-fee number for international customers. if they do, hang up, call an operator, and have them call the number collect. the company will have an automated voice on the other end accept the charges for the call.

[jinglejangle]

Hmmm, my advice first of all, is get a different calling card. I'm not very well educated in calling cards, (and woud love to know where to get really cheap deals for calling to the US and/or Ireland by the way.) but I'm pretty darn sure that you can call toll free numbers very straight forwardly with any of the calling cards sold on US military installations. I have no idea what the legality of someone buying one for you is, although I suspect it would be allowed as a gift if it wasn;t habitual. (And, as a habitual purchase, it would not be wise. I believe that much cheaper cards are available in Itaewon, although, as I said, I don't know where or which.)

One thing to bear in mind however, is you will want a card with a lot of minutes, since you are likely to be put on hold for most companies, and I have generally found this can get expensive. There is no point wasting a $5 dollar card and never getting to speak with anyone.

If your situation allows, I would seriously consider getting someone in the states to make any calls simple enough to be communicated by e-mail.
Holding is simply too expensive to make a lot of calls worth it.

Often better to blow your hard earned cash elsewhere.

Hope this was helpful. With luck someone more knowledgeable will chime and tell you I don't know what I'm talking about and why.

[cheeky monkey]

i have actually tried using cards purchased on the korean economy, as well as one from a military base, and had no luck calling toll-free. i asked several of the operators that i spoke to if there was a way to do it, and they all told me that the method i described above is the only way. do tell if anyone knows a way to do this and has done it successfully!

look around, you should be able to find a calling card for 15,000 won or so that will give you about 180 minutes. good luck.

[superhal]

iirc, dial normally and just use one 1 (don't use the 1 from 1-800, only the 1 for the US country code.) local charges still apply.

[jinglejangle]

OK, I just tried both of these and they both work.

Global Access card. (SSRT) Treats it just like a regular number.
World Phone USA (KT) Treats it just like a regular number.

Of course, the pay off for all this research on ya'lls behalf is now I have cards to call my mom.

Woo hoo!

[kelly]

If your looking for a good deal for calling the US and Ireland I recommend "first class" calling card, I get mine from the foreign exchange next to the "red door" in Itaewon. For 20,000 you get approx 566mins to Ireland and about 600mins to the US. We use ours to call the states and Ireland at least twice each weekend and the card generally lasts about 2mths. Good deal, well the best I've found so far.