UNITED STATES                   OMB APPROVAL
                  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION   OMB Number: 3235-0058
                        WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549         Expires: January 31, 2002
                                                       Estimated average burden
                             FORM 12b-25               hours per response...2.50
                       NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING
                                                          SEC FILE NUMBER
                                                             0--16715
                                                            CUSIP NUMBER
                                                             71921H505

(Check One) __ Form 10-K  __ Form 20-F __ Form 11-K  X Form 10-Q __ Form N-SAR

                 For Period Ended: March 31, 2002
                 [  ]     Transition Report on Form 10-K
                 [  ]     Transition Report on Form 20-F
                 [  ]     Transition Report on Form 11-K
                 [  ]     Transition Report on Form 10-Q
                 [  ]     Transition Report on Form N-SAR
                 For the Transition Period Ended:____________________________

 Read Instruction (on back page) Before Preparing Form.  Please Print or Type

   NOTHING IN THE FORM SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO IMPLY THAT THE COMMISSION HAS
                  VERIFIED ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN.
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    If the notification relates to a portion of the filing checked above,
           identify the Item(s) to which the notification relates:

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PART I - REGISTRANT INFORMATION

PhoneTel Technologies, Inc.
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Full Name of Registrant

Not Applicable
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Former Name if Applicable

North Point Tower, 7th Floor   1001 Lakeside Avenue
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Address of Principal Executive Office (Street and Number)

Cleveland, OH  44114-1195
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City, State and Zip Code


PART II - RULES 12b-25(b) AND (c)

If the subject report could not be filed without unreasonable effort or expense
and the registrant seeks relief pursuant to Rule 12b-25(b), the following
should be completed.  (Check box if appropriate)

  X      (a)     The reasons described in reasonable detail in Part III of this
                 form could not be eliminated without unreasonable effort or
                 expense;

  X      (b)     The subject annual report, semi-annual report, transition
                 report on Form 10-K, Form 20-F, 11-K, Form N-SAR, or portion
                 thereof, will be filed on or before the fifteenth calendar day
                 following the prescribed due date; or the subject quarterly
                 report of transition report on Form 10-Q, or portion thereof
                 will be filed on or before the fifth calendar day following
                 the prescribed due date; and

 __      (c)     The accountant's statement or other exhibit required by Rule
                 12b-25(c) has been attached if applicable.

PART III - NARRATIVE

State below in reasonable detail the reasons why the Form 10-K, 20-F, 11-K,
10-Q, N-SAR, or the transition report or portion thereof, could not be filed
with the prescribed time period.

The subject report could not be filed without unreasonable effort or expense
because additional time is needed to finalize amendments to the Registrant's
loan agreements with its lenders regarding waivers relating to financial
covenants included therein. The execution of the amendment will have a material
impact on the disclosure to be made in the subject report and therefore
additional time is required to make the appropriate changes.

                                   POTENTIAL PERSONS WHO ARE TO RESPOND TO THE
                                   COLLECTION OF INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS
(ATTACH EXTRA SHEETS IF NEEDED)    FORM ARE NOT REQUIRED TO RESPOND UNLESS THE
                                   FORM DISPLAYS A CURRENTLY VALID OMB CONTROL
                                   NUMBER.


PART IV - OTHER INFORMATION

(1)      Name and telephone number of person to contact in regard to this
         notification

         Don Paliwoda                   (216)              875-4303
         --------------------------     -----------        ------------------
                  (Name)                (Area Code)        (Telephone Number)

(2)      Have all other periodic reports required under Section 13 or 15(d) of
         the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30 of the Investment
         Company Act of 1940 during the preceding 12 months or for such shorter
         period that the registrant was required to file such report(s) been
         filed?  If answer is no, identify report(s).
          X Yes   __ No

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(3)      Is it anticipated that any significant change in results of operations
         from the corresponding period for the last fiscal year will be
         reflected by the earnings statements to be included in the subject
         report or portion thereof?    X Yes   __ No

         If so, attach an explanation of the anticipated change, both
         narratively and quantitatively, and, if appropriate, state the reasons
         why a reasonable estimate of the results cannot be made.

         See Attachment A incorporated by reference into this Form 12b-25.
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                             PhoneTel Technologies, Inc.
             ------------------------------------------------------
                  (Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

has caused this notification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
hereunto duly authorized.


Date March 15, 2002                  By /s/  Richard P. Kebert
    --------------------               ----------------------------------------
                                             Richard P. Kebert
                                             Chief Financial Officer

INSTRUCTION:  The form may be signed by an executive officer of the registrant
or by any other duly authorized representative.  The name and title of the
persons signing the form shall be typed or printed beneath the signature.  If
the statement is signed on behalf of the registrant by an authorized
representative (other than an executive officer), evidence of the
representative's authority to sign on behalf of the registrant shall be filed
with the form.

                                   ATTENTION
  INTENTIONAL MISSTATEMENTS OR OMISSIONS OF FACT CONSTITUTE FEDERAL CRIMINAL
                       VIOLATIONS (SEE 18 U.S.C. 1001).


                              GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

1.       This form is required by Rule 12b-25 (17 CFR 240.12b-25) of the
         General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of
         1934.

2.       One signed original and four conformed copies of this form and
         amendments thereto must be completed and filed with the Securities and
         Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549, in accordance with Rule
         0-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Act.  The
         information contained in or filed with the form will be made a matter
         of public record in the Commission files.

3.       A manually signed copy of the form and amendments thereto shall be
         filed with each national securities exchange on which any class of
         securities of the registrant is registered.

4.       Amendments to the notifications must also be filed on form 12b-25 but
         need not restate information that has been correctly furnished.  The
         form shall be clearly identified as an amendment notification.

5.       Electronic Filers.  This form shall not be used by electronic filers
         unable to timely file a report solely due to electronic difficulties.
         Filers unable to submit a report within the time period prescribed due
         to difficulties in electronic filing should comply with either Rule
         201 or Rule 202 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.201 or Section 232.202
         of this chapter) or apply for an adjustment in filing date pursuant to
         Rule 13(b) of Regulation S-T (Section 232.13(b) of this chapter).


                           PHONETEL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
                                   FORM 12b-25
                           NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING
                       FOR THE PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2002
                      (In thousands except for percentages)



                                  ATTACHMENT A
                                  ------------


This Attachment A includes this page and a draft of the Registrant's
Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) for the quarters ended March
31, 2001 and 2002. The following is a narrative of significant changes in
results of operations in 2002 from the corresponding period of the preceding
year.

The Registrant's first quarter 2002 revenues decreased by $2,604, or 22.9%, due
to a reduction in the average number of pay telephones operated by the
Registrant and the continuing impact of wireless communications on payphone
usage. Costs and expenses decreased by $2,869, or 19.3%, due to expense
reductions related to the decrease in the average number of pay telephones and a
decrease in depreciation and amortization. Costs and expenses also declined due
to cost reduction initiatives of the Registrant. The loss from operations
decreased from $3,511 in the first quarter of 2001 to $3,246 in the current
quarter due primarily to the Registrant's cost reductions. The net loss in the
first quarter increased by $602, or 9.7% due to the decline in loss from
operations offset by an increase in interest expense.


                   PHONETEL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
                                   FORM 12b-25
                           NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING



                                  ATTACHMENT A
                                  ------------


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT FOR SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
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                                                    THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31
                                                    ---------------------------
                                                         2001         2002
                                                      ----------   ----------

REVENUES:
    Coin calls                                            $6,716       $5,586
    Non-coin telecommunication services                    4,499        2,977
    Other                                                    141          189
                                                      ----------   ----------
                                                          11,356        8,752
                                                      ----------   ----------

COSTS AND EXPENSES:                                       14,867       11,998
                                                      ----------   ----------
Loss from operations                                      (3,511)      (3,246)

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
    Interest expense                                      (2,744)      (3,592)
    Interest and other income                                 38           19
                                                      ----------   ----------
                                                          (2,706)      (3,573)
                                                      ----------   ----------
NET LOSS                                                 ($6,217)     ($6,819)
                                                      ==========   ==========
NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE, BASIC AND DILUTED              ($0.61)      ($0.67)
                                                      ==========   ==========
Weighted average number of shares, basic and diluted  10,189,684   10,189,684
                                                      ==========   ==========