UNIT 4 -
LEKOA
4
USING
THE
TELEPHONE
Cultural Notes
Ordinary phone numbers in Poland consist
of
six digits
divided
in pairs
(e.
g.,
33-13-19). Larger
metropolitan
areas are beginning, however,
to
switch to seven
digits. Some frequently-used numbers (information, taxi,
weather
forecasts, time,
etc.) have only three digits,
and
are
not
divided. Area codes
for
most
long-distance
cal/s,
both
domestic
and
international, have
two
digits. You can
dial
direct
most
larger cities and European countries from Poland. IN
THEORY
you
can
dial
the
U.S.
direct,
but
usual/y there
is
a delay
of
several hours.
With
operator assistance, you
can
also place a long-distance col/ect cal/,
and/or
a person-to-person cal/.
So-called"
emergency cal/s," which carry a 100
percent
surcharge, are guaranteed
to
be
put
through
within
15
minutes.
If
you
place an
operator-assisted cali,
write
down
the operator's
number
for
possible complaints,
claims, etc.
Whenever
introducing
yourself,
NEVER
use
the equivalent
of:
"This
is
Mr./Ms.
Ooe".
Use
your
surname,
your
fuli
name,
or,
whenever
appropriate,
your
professional title, e.g., "This
is
the secretary
ot
Consul Brown", "This
is
Consul
Doe",
etc. You address the person
you
are cal/ing
as
Mr./Mrs.
or
his/her
title
or
rank;
again
NEVER
use
the combination
ot
Mr./Mrs. plus surname.
Privately-owned phones have
a
limit
of
50
cal/s
per
month;
any
additional
calls
are charged extra.
50
it
you
are visiting a Polish home, DON'T
OVERUSE
THE
PHONE.
77