Long Distance

Long Distance Contract: Read The Fine Print

There are many new long distance companies that are promoting low rates through direct mail and telemarketing. Many long distance companies sound too good to be true and, in fact, are. If you read the fine print, you may find that there are monthly long distance access charges and monthly long distance minimums required for such low rates. We have also come across a number of long distance companies that require a minimum duration per call. For example, one long distance brochure's fine print read that there was a 3-minute minimum on all long distance calls. Callers that make a one-minute long distance call under such a plan are actually being charged for three minutes. These long distance charges and fees can add up and only the high-end long distance user will save money under these long distance calling plans.

Looking At Your Long Distance Telephone Service

1. First, sit down with your long distance telephone service bill from the last two to three months and determine your long distance telephone service calling patterns.

How much is my total long distance telephone service bill (including in-state toll calls)?

How many long distance minutes do I use on in-state toll calls?

How many long distance minutes do I use on out-of-state calls?

How many long distance minutes are peak (7:00 am to 7:00 pm Monday through Friday) calls and how many are off-peak (evening or weekend calls)?

2. Call the toll-free customer service number on your long distance telephone service bill and ask your current carrier if you're on their least expensive long distance telephone service calling plan. They should review your records to determine if another long distance telephone service plan would save you money.
   
   
3. Use the internet to scope out the best long distance rates offered in your area. There are a number of online tools that will compare several long distance plans based on your calling patterns and give you the details of each long distance plan. You can visit our long distance page to compare long distance rates.
   
   
4. Choose the long distance telephone service plan you think sounds best suited to your personal calling habits and call the long distance carrier to confirm the details of the long distance telephone service plan before signing up. You may find that your current long distance telephone service plan IS the best plan for you, but many people will find they're paying more than they need to for long distance telephone service. So-called 10-10 plans (where you dial an access code starting with 10-10) often have hidden charges or call minimums

   Features that can make a difference in your overall long distance costs include:

   Billing increments - most long distance telephone service companies bill in one-minute increments, but some bill in 30-second or 6-second increments. If your long distance plan charges in one-minute increments and you make a call that lasts two minutes and three seconds, you'll be charged for three full minutes.

   Minimums - some long distance telephone service plans charge a minimum for the first five or ten minutes, then charge the lower per-minute rate for any minutes after that. Be wary of these plans unless most of your calls are lengthy, or you may end up paying as much as 50 cents a minute for your shorter calls. Other long distance telephone service plans have a minimum call volume you must reach before you get the lower rates (for instance, you must have calls totaling over $25).

   Monthly Fee - many long distance telephone service plans charge a flat per-minute rate for a set monthly fee, which may range from $1.00 to $8.95 and up. Other plans don't include a monthly fee but have a variable per-minute rate, typically higher during the day (7:00 am to 7:00 pm) Monday through Friday and lower on evenings (after 7:00 pm) and weekends, especially Sundays.

   Calling Plan	1 Hour	2 Hours	4 Hours
   $0/month fee + 25¢/minute rate	$15.00	$30.00	$60.00
   $4.95/month fee + 10¢/minute	$10.95	$16.95	$28.95
   $15/month fee + 5¢/minute rate	$18.00	$21.00	$27.00

   Calling card rates - don't turn down a plan just because the calling card rates are high. Instead, look for one of the independent calling card companies that offer lower rates. You no longer have to have your calling card with the same company that provides your long distance service.

   You've probably known people who have been "slammed" by phone companies. Slamming means that a long distance telephone service switches you to their service without your authorization. Review your phone bill each month to ensure that you're still receiving services from the long distance telephone service you signed up with. Also watch for these ploys: Cramming: a company other than your local phone company somehow places charges on your local phone bill for products or services you didn't order. Scamming: Unauthorized charges, services, or products appear on your phone bill.

   Long distance telephone service plans are constantly changing, so it pays to do a long distance telephone service check-up every six months or so to ensure you're still getting the best deal, or if your calling patterns change or you move to a new city.