If you call a cellphone (without voicemail) and it doesn't answer,
> after a few rings an intercept recording will come on and tell you the
> party is not available and terminate the call.
> When you reach that recording, is that call chargeable? I don't think
> it should be since it was unanswered, but my experience is that one > does get charged.
In general, it's not chargeable. However, some systems get "confused" (intentionally misbill, since the consumer probably won't notice, and the company need only refund the amount of the overcharge, so there is little risk.)
(TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: However, considering that a cell phone is normally always within its owner's reach (a holster fastened to your trousers, in your purse, in a holder near the driver of an automobile, etc) it would seem very odd that it had to ring more than three or four times, at best, unanswered. PAT]