Because the cost of long-distance calling comes as a surprise to some students, some of whom have never before been responsible for their phone expense, ACUS imposes a credit limit on new accounts. At any time the total account balance exceeds this amount, the associated PSC is restricted to local or free calls only. The limit is not a monthly amount. Account balances are checked daily and restriction applied if charges exceed the limit. Calls in progress are not interrupted and the ability to receive calls and call on-campus is never shut off except in cases when a particular phone has been used for fraud, theft or harassment.
Instructions are on the card.
An ACUS PSC is required to make any off-campus call from a student residence phone, including calling card calls. Students are reminded that many calling cards have a built-in surcharge and may cost more than if dialed direct. Because of the uncertainties involved in charging the appropriate individual for collect calls in shared residences, collect calls to student phones are not allowed. Although most long-distance carriers participate in an arrangement that blocks such calls, a few carriers still send collect calls through. When this occurs, the University is billed for the call and then attempts to identify the student who accepted the call.