INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS overcharged for a local payphone call Ysidro, California

I recently received a re loadable debit card in the mail.  Today I loaded it for the first time.  I placed a local call from a pay phone outside of a grocery store that was supposed to cost .50 but, upon looking at my statement when I got home I had a charge for $15.98 (for a local call!) I immediately called my card company and they told me I would have to wait until their records show a transaction & I would have to wait to file a dispute but, when I looked at my online statement, it was posted already which is why I called in the first place.  I then called the telecommunications company that charged me the $15.98 for a .50 local call & they said I would have to wait for my bank/card company to finalize the pending transaction.  What I don't understand is, why I got charged $15.98 in the first place when the sticker on the payphone clearly said, in bold letters, ".50 for local calls"  I researched this problem online only to find many others who have had similar problems as I have. I found out that this could be a scam not only here in the U.S. but, I read of people in Canada that have had problems with this payphone scam.  What I want to know is how is it linked to payphones and why haven't the phone companies done anything about it? I couldn't find a website for the company.  The only thing I could find is ripoffreport.com with stories and situations from others who have had major problems with this company.  I for one am sick and tired of these companies thinking they can do whatever they want to us hard working people.  I sent an email to my local news station about this.  They have a man there who specializes in investigating fraudulent activities and scams so, I hope they return my money...for their sake!