read in to psql from file

Hi,

As I understand it, in order to read in a file containing  sql commands
I should use the \i <file> syntax in psql.

So, from the psql prompt I type:

\i /root/phones

I get back "/root/phones: permission denied"

I am in psql as the user who owns the database.
The file in question is readable and writeable by all.

What do I do next?

V/R,
Doug Moore