Before signing up for long distance service, you may want to consider the following questions.
• How much money do you want to spend on long distance each month?
• Do you make most of your calls during the day, night or on weekends?
• How many minutes in long distance calls do you usually make in a month?
• Do you mostly call people inside your state, outside your state or in other countries?
If you are thinking of changing long distance service use this quick and simple check list to make sure you are getting the right plan for you.
Before signing up, know all your choices. Shop around for long distance service. There are many providers and many types of plans offered. Most wireless and internet phone plans include long distance calling.
Check out the details of an offer made over the phone. If a telemarketer has called to offer you a great deal on long distance phone service, ask the caller to send more information by mail or to suggest a Web site where you can review the plan's details. Offers made over the phone generally highlight the potential savings, but do not disclose the fine print details that may render these savings moot. Note: a telemarketer representing a long distance company may contact you, even if you are on the "Do-Not-Call" list, if the company can show it has a prior business relationship with you.
Look out for monthly fees and per-call minimum charges. A great per-minute rate may be sabotaged by a monthly minimum fee. In order to ensure that you have a full understanding of how much you will be paying for long distance each month, it is important that you take surcharges and minimum fees into account. Other low-rate plans charge a minimum fee for each phone call you make. Most companies also add on surcharges, such as "regulatory fees" that vary by company.
Consider whether you will frequently use a calling card. Low cost per minute rates are sometimes paired with much higher charges on calling cards. It is important to consider whether the price is right for the calls you will likely make.
Check for restrictions. Some advertised rates only apply at certain times of the day or only on certain days of the week. Some plans price differently depending on the length of the call. And, some rates are only for a limited period of time; these are generally called introductory or promotional rates. Check for any restrictions that apply and decide if these restrictions will make the plan less valuable to you. Check the rate after introductory rates expire.
Be aware of in-state versus inter-state long distance rates. Long distance companies usually charge different amounts for calls made within one state and those made between two different states. Often, in-state long distance calls are actually more expensive than calls between states. So if you live in the same state as most of the people you will be calling, be sure to specifically inquire about the cost of intra-state long distance calls per minute.
Figure out if a "bundled" plan is right for you. Some phone and cable companies "bundle" services – such as local, long distance, wireless telephone, cable, and high speed Internet – into one bill. To determine if the bundled package offers true savings, compare what you pay now for each of the individual services to the cost of a bundled package. Also consider whether you can afford to, or want to pay for all of the services in the bundle. Especially if you're a "no-frills" user, you might be better off paying separately for the services you want.
If the plan advertises a discount on the basic rate, what is the basic rate? Often, a "basic" rate is another term for the highest rate available. Thus, an advertisement for 50 percent off the basic rate may not be such a great deal.
