Over the past year, hundreds of you have asked Whistleblower for help. While we can’t investigate each tip, we want to share more of what you tell us. In 2009, we started publishing a few tips each week to stimulate online discussion and create ways for our readers to help each other. Unlike our news stories, we have not verified this information, so we do not include the names of the parties involved. If you have a tip, send it to whistleblower@startribune.com.
A Ham Lake woman was hit with a $171 bill for three collect calls from her son recently. Her son was receiving in-patient care at a chemical dependency and mental health treatment center across the border in Wisconsin.
“Of course I accepted the calls but had no idea about the cost of those calls,” she said.
The calls lasted 55 minutes total. The taxes, fees and surcharges added up to $41.35, so the per-minute charge averaged $2.37.
The woman says she received the bad news from a Florida billing service that contracts with local telephone companies.
“I believe this is highway robbery,” she said.
Do you agree? Does a phone customer have any recourse?
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More From Star Tribune
More From Local
West Metro

Golden Valley Police Department looks to change training practices amid hiring trouble
The department will lean on Hennepin County deputies to cover shifts and delegate more to civilian staff, while mayor accused former officers of "sabotaging" recruitment work amid reform efforts.
St. Paul
Unlicensed driver gets year in jail for fatal crash after speeding through red light in St. Paul
Officials said Salvador Battles, who grew up in Ohio, did not have a Minnesota driver's license.
Local

Hennepin County Board committee approves $2 million to clean up contaminated sites
The effort improves economic viability and disparity reduction of projects.
Duluth

Once-retired musher Keith Aili wins his second Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon title
Ryan Anderson, trying for a record fifth title, led for much of the race, but finished about 8 minutes behind the winner.
Politics

What you need to know about abortion bills moving at the Minnesota State Capitol
The Protect Reproductive Options Act — PRO Act for short — passed the state Senate early Saturday on a 34-33 vote after 15 hours of debate.