a payphone!!!!? I didn't have any cash on me, hence I used my CC card to make a quick call home, and there is now a pending charge of $10.00 on my card!!!! Why would I be charged this???? Is this just a standard amount that the determine is an "estimate" of what I will use? Seriously, I was on the phone for not even a minute! What's up with this!?

That is just a temporary hold. Once you actually get billed the amount will be the correct one.

The authorization should drop in a few days and the actual amount of the call will show up on the bill.

And yes, you were charged this to make certain that you had the available funds to cover the call. Most credit card companies do this at hotels, restaurants and gas stations too.

P.S. My brother made a collect call home to me from a payphone not too long ago and I was charged 40.00 for less than 10 minutes so the call really could be that much.

Good Luck