I was recently checking on current rules, regulations and practices regarding visas for travel from the USA to UK and Italy and discovered that minor annoyances start before you get to the airport.
If you Travel to the UK and have questions regarding your visa, a phone call will cost you up to $12. E-mail enquiries are still free of charge.
As for Italy, if you have questions, the Consulate in New York lists a phone number for Visa Service (accessible only from 2:30 to 4:00 PM) yet I was unable to get anyone at that number and they do not take messages. I also tried the e-mail listed but I am still waiting for an answer a week later.
To make an appointment for your Visa you have to call. For this service, the Italian Consulate offers 2 numbers which will cost you $2.49 per minute.
In both instances, customer phone service for the UK and Italy is outsourced to private companies.
I am curious to know if Customer Service for a Fee has spread to many other countries.
Small details yet to me it does not add to the travel experience and the image of a country.
To finish on a positive note, I also had to check different travel matters with the Indian Consulate. I called their Fee Free Line too late but they were kind enough to reply to my questions by e-mail in less than 24 hours.
Thanks God for India.
(* Indian Consulate photo taken from Consulate pages)