Long Distance Company

When you're shopping for the lowest rate long distance plan, you'll evaluate plans from several long distance companies. How do you tell which one will give you the lowest rates?

Remember that the deals and packages these companies offer are constantly changing; there often are other short-term or regional offers that may be better. In addition, not all plans are available in all states, and the charges for long-distance calls within a state usually are determined separately. If you make lots of in-state long-distance calls, you may want to look at the small print covering that aspect of a plan as closely as you do the interstate fees.

Having said that, here are some questions you need to ask of each long distance company as you shop around:

Is there a monthly fee?

Even the cheapest plans often include a monthly fee, and companies are offering multiple arrays of minute/fee packages.

What's the minimum monthly charge?

Some plans require a minimum amount of long-distance calling to get the lowest rates.

Do I have to buy other services as well?

Companies are trying to lure businesses by offering a bundle of services.

Can I have different plans for different lines?

The best solution might depend on your phone line. For example, many businesses with a dedicated fax line spend relatively little on long distance for that line. In that case, you might want to pay the monthly fee for low-cost calling on your voice line, but sign up for a lesser discount (and no added charge) on your fax line. You could even say you want no long-distance service on that line and, if you need to use it, dial in one of the "10-10" codes that are so prevalent.