It was very interesting, this being my first foreign call and all.  I used a Dial-around service 1015335, they advertise $2.50 for the first 10 minutes and $.27/min after that (rates vary for different countries), with a 9.9% surcharge.  If anyone's interested I could let ya know what the final tally was. But it was a heck of a lot cheaper than the international rate my current long distance would give, and the connection I got was EXCELLENT.  I expected to have to shout, because she would sound as far away as she actually is.

So I call and I get this 'da' on the other end.  I say 'hello', get a few more grunted 'da's' then I ask for Mariana a couple of times, finally this person puts the phone down and shouts "Mariana... America!", and a huge grin crossed my face.  Couldn't help it... I thought it was funny

A few seconds later she picks up the phone...

She spoke english at least as well as her profile on e700 states (level 4), and only had difficulty with a few words.  Although I was a tad peeved to learn that whilst I was paying $8 a pop for so called 'Translation fees' she was getting my letters straight in English, and said the agency did this because they knew she spoke good enough english, and she wouldn't want translation anyway, since it ruins the meaning in her mind.  She had email this whole time, but e700 strictly forbids putting email addys in the letters (they will strip them out, as I understand it) so I essentially tossed probably $50 in the toilet (considering there are other methods which prove cheaper, and yeah, yeah I'll spend a lot more than that, but my fiscally responsible side hates knowing it wasted ANY money.)

So while this e700 experience was a little traumatizing to my paranoia level. This phone call has removed all question of her existence, and having received all of my letters.  Now that I have reached this point though, I am going to remove my profile from e700.  My personal list of advice to anyone using their service!

1) Before you open any of the emails, surf the girls profile (obviously), but understand that there is a high probability chance that some piece of information is incorrect (Mariana's profile transposed month and day on her birthdate).  Only write to one's whose profile really grab your attention.  Weed 'em out...

2) Hammer away as quickly as possible for addresses and phone numbers for the girl you are writing.  I would go as far as asking in the first letter you send out.  You spend $8 to open her letter, and $8 to reply.  So each subsequent receipt/response runs $16.  Unless of course you have money to burn - in which case, lets you and I talk ;-) She might thwart EC's contention that women in Russia don't have access to email.

3) I have read somewheres that you stand your best chances with a woman if you catch her when she is just starting her foreign husband search.  e700's dbase is pretty decrepid.  There are tons of girls, but the database is not terribly current.  I would definately recommend using your money to respond to girls who write you, and not waste money trying to initiate the contact with women.  Non-refundable $8 to try your luck on someone who may already be married and living next door... (Yeah, yeah this happens allover, but e700 blacklists are relatively specific about the accuracy of their dbase).  I personally never received a response from the gal I wrote initially, and someone else posted the same problem.  You would be 10 times better off writing a form letter, stockpiling free addresses, and trying your luck at $2.50 a letter...

4) Push for that Addy and phone number!  If it's Yuri writing to you, you will save money in the long run if you have a strict policy.  Personally it took 2 letters to get Mariana's Address.  I wouldn't ask more than twice, based on my current experience, but wouldn't consider an ask once policy too far out there...  With the accusations surrounding the scams with e700, and the 'so-called' uncontrollable agency...  I wouldn't fart around...

My .02

Clay

1010220's been running me .16