Even though I consider myself a seasoned traveler with flying more than 100,000 miles many years and travels to numerous countries I was shocked by the outrageous price of using a pay phone at the Seattle-Tacoma airport. After three long flights that originated in Bangkok, Thailand I arrived at the airport in Seattle. The person who was to meet us had not arrived and I was without a cell phone due to the foreign travel. The sign on the pay phone advertised 4 minutes anywhere in the U.S. for $1.00. Being without change, I used the credit card option. Imagine my surprise when I received my credit card statement for $8.69 from NCIC for a 2-3 minute local phone call. Contacting NCIC I was told in a rather rude manner that the advertised price was for cash only and this was the credit card price and I should have asked for charges even though there was a sign stating the fee. After speaking to a supervisor, I was told they would reduce the charge to approximately $5.00 – which still has not shown as a credit on my account. At over $4.00 per minute for a local call is outrageous and certainly takes advantage of tired and stressed travelers. Both NCIC and the Port of Seattle should be ashamed to allow these practices to exist. I'll always carry a phone card in the future in case I don't have a cell phone or the battery is dead.