Some things to know before you choose a long distance carrier

Tips & Information

• The first thing you should know is that long distance is more than just "InterState" calls. Most of those plans only address InterState when a large portion of the calls most people make are IntraState or International. We have a complete package of competitive rates whether you dial InterState, IntraState or International.

  InterState Calling are those calls to another state.

  IntraState Calling are those calls within your own state.

  IntraLATA Calling are those calls within your local service area(local long distance). These calls are also referred to as IntraState by most consumers.

  Consumer Alert
  Long Distance Companies advertise their lowest long distance rate(7¢, 5¢, 3.9¢) which is the InterState rate or calls from your state to another state not calls within your State. The IntraState(in-state) rate is almost always a higher rate not their advertised rate.

  *Most long distance companies charge a different per minute rate for IntraState calls(calls within in your state) than InterState calls(calls from your state to another state). If you make more in-state calls than out-of-state calls, check the IntraSate rate for your state to obtain the best rate and the most Savings.

• Depending on your calling patterns, how a long distance carrier rounds the length of the call (known as billing increments) can have a impact on your bill. If you make a lot of short duration calls, the smaller the increments, the better off you are.
  Billing increment policies of 30 or 60 seconds means that the first and/or last minute of any call are rounded up. The billing increments alone can be the difference of 20% to 30% in your bill.

• Access and minimum fees seem to be a hot item now. For low usage clients, some of these fees can have a major impact on the bill. Day and time restrictions on when you can take advantage of the "low rates" can also be a factor.

  What is a USF Fee?

• The USF (Universal Service Fund) is a federal tax imposed on interstate and international usage. The USF was set up to provide telecommunications access to schools and colleges in rural or low income areas. The amount imposed is different depending on your state and/or local area (because every state has a different level of need). We can't tell you exactly what the USF fee will be for you, nor where to find it on your bill. It could be included in any or all of the Federal, State, or County tax, and part could also be included in a category called Special Tax.

  What is a Dial-Around?

• A dial-around is simply a method to dial a long distance number using a provider other than your subscribed switched long distance service. In effect, you dial "around" them, rather than "through" them. There are two types of dial-around access - PIC code and 1+800 number.

  Other Providers!

• You may not be familiar with companies such as UniTel, PNG, Covista, CogniWorld, CogniState, TTI National, Opex or CogniPhone, but they resell time on a larger carrier's system at a substantial discount. In fact, most long distance companies are resellers of a major carrier's service, and almost all long distance traffic (in the US) now travels over high-quality fiber-optic cable, regardless of carrier. Long distance service has truly become a commodity in recent years. We can offer better pricing because so much of our business has become computerized, and most of the processing is done over the internet.

  How do I find my best rates?

• The easiest way is to use our Discount Rate Long Distance Search. Any plan depends on your calling patterns. What's good for someone who makes a lot of long distance calls is not always best for the occasional caller. Use the Discount Rate Long Distance Search to find a plan that best meets your needs.

  How do I settle a billing dispute?

• Always contact the service provider responsible billing error first. Do this immediately in order to try and resolve the issue prior to the due date of the bill. If they are unable to resolve the issue to your satisfaction you can take several different steps.
  Complaint Resolution:
  For Long Distance Providers, file a complaint with the FCC
  For Local Service Providers, contact your state PUC or Attorney General. Contact the Better Business Bureau

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