-=> Quoting Greg Mayman to Mark Lewis <=-

 -=> Mark Lewis said to Greg Mayman
 -=> about "NETMAIL?" on 05-03-03  14:14.....
 
 ML> let's see what happens... and don't forget to be doing it in the
 ML> proper message area >

 GM> The sysop says he disconnected Netmail Outgoing. Apparently it
 GM> was set to dial the receiving BBS direct (is that the Crash
 GM> mode?) and he disabled it after receiving a three figure phone
 GM> bill for attempts to connect with an o'seas BBS that was
 GM> apparently not working.

 GM> Have you noticed that when the BBS crashes or locks up, the
 GM> modems still answer the incoming calls?

Not necessarily. Many LD carriers charge for calls by *assuming* that
any call that lasts over some amount of time (60 seconds?) connected. 

I got bitten by this. I was attempting to connect with a system on the
East Coast (I'm on the West Coast) and he system was down. By the time
the modem got done waiting for an answer and gave up, the call had
lasted for something like 70 seconds. And I got nailed for each call at
10 cents each.

I hadn't noticed at first, because it *used* to be that the carrier I
was using only charged for calls that *connected*. And yes, the phone
system *can* tell the difference. It's just easier for the cheap LD
companies to go by time.

This is why I set up Internet Rex.

BTW, most BBS software has a way to set costs for netmail and not allow
users to send mail that will result in a charge unless their user
record shows that they've got enough credit to cover it.

 GM> So far he hasn't worked out how to route the netmail through the
 GM> hubs, but he's looking into it.

First, he has to have permission. Second, "echo-routed" netmail was
never all *that* reliable. These days, I'm not sure I'd trust it.


--- FMailX 1.60