Looking into the right long distance telephone service to save money

It's a basic financial principal not to pay more than necessary for anything unless there's some benefit to doing so. When it comes to long distance telephone service, the sheer number of options available is mind-numbing, and many of us take the easy way out and choose a long distance telephone service without doing our homework on the long distance carrier. With a little effort and some clues about where to look for information, you can sort through the options and choose the long distance telephone service that will give you the most bang for your buck and lower your long distance telephone expenses. This site can offer you a great way to compare and find discount long distance rates without ever having to leave your computer. You can find the long distance telephone service you need and compare it's prices with other long distance telephone services.

What sounds like the cheapest long distance telephone service plan may not be the cheapest for your particular calling patterns, so it's important to determine what time of day you make the majority of your calls and whether they are out of state (interstate) or within the state (intrastate).

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.
   
   (a) How much is my total long distance telephone service bill (including in-state toll calls)?
   
   (b) How many minutes do I use on in-state toll calls?
   
   (c) How many minutes do I use on out-of-state calls?
   
   (d) How many 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 rates offered in your area. There are a number of online tools that will compare several plans based on your calling patterns and give you the details of each plan. This service allows you to compare discount long distance rates online.
   
   
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 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 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 totalling 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 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.

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