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:: HOME :: CREDIT CARDS :: LONG DISTANCE · Main Page · Residential Plans · Business Phone Plans · VoIP Phone Service · Local & Long Distance · Tips & Advice - New! · Long Distance FAQ · Long Distance Glossary · Calling Card Deals · Long Distance Carriers · Info & Resources :: INTERNET SERVICE :: LOANS :: CELL PHONES :: INSURANCE :: ONLINE BANKING :: KNOWLEDGE :: MORE |
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Long Distance Phone Tips and Advice Center Topic: Frequently Asked Questions See the subtopics menu for tips and advice about alternatives to traditional long distance phone service. For additional information about long distance phone service, see the topic list directly below.
:: Question List What is VoIP Phone Service? VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocal) is a term used to refer to the technology used to transmit voice over a network using the Internet Protocol. VoIP refers to a method for taking analog audio signals (what you hear on a traditional phone) and turning them into digital data that can be transmitted over the Internet. VoIP long distance can be a lower cost alternative to traditional long distance, as it bypasses the circuits (and charges) of your phone company and instead untilizes your existing internet connection to place and receive calls. · Compare VoIP phone service here ^ Back to the Question List I have never heard of any of these long distance companies - What's the deal? Recently, long distance rates have been only minimally regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Minimal regulation in the long distance market has led to increased competition, which ultimately has led to more choices and lower overall costs for consumers. In this now highly competitive long distance market, many smaller, lesser-known long distance providers have surfaced and are able to offer extremely cheap rates to consumers. See the next question for more information on how these smaller long distance companies operate and why they are able to offer such cheap rates. ^ Back to the Question List How are these lesser-known long distance companies offering these cheap rates? These smaller, lesser-known long distance carriers actually use the same networks to transmit calls as the larger, more well-known long distance carriers. The main difference between these smaller and larger long distance carriers is usually in the area of customer service. These smaller companies provide their own customer service and have their own billing departments. These (smaller) companies often "rent" in bulk from a major carrier and then re-sell this to consumers at a cheap rate. They are able to provide cheap long distance rates by keeping costs down. These companies avoid the large costs associated with advertising and marketing and don't have to worry about many other expensive aspects of running a large-scale corporation. ^ Back to the Question List What are billing increments? How is my long distance plan affected by this? A billing increment is the unit of time that is used to calculate the cost of a phone call -- usually one minute, 30 seconds or six (6) seconds. Example: If a plan bills in one-minute increments and a specific phone call is 36 seconds long, the time of the call is rounded up to one minute. A plans that bills in six-second billing increments would bill that same 36-second call as a 36-second call, not a one-minute call as the previously mentioned hypothetical plan would. Calling plans that have smaller billing increments can save a customer money because of fractional charges like the hypothetical example above. Long distance calling plans with smaller billing increments usually save customers money when compared to similar calling plans that have larger billing increments. Be sure to thoroughly read over the terms and conditions of any long distance plan before signing up. ^ Back to the Question List What is a minimum call length requirement? Minimum call length refers to least amount of time (seconds or minutes) that a call must last with a specific long distance plan. Example: If a customer makes a call that lasts one minute but his/her plan has a minimum call length of five minutes, he/she will be billed for a five-minute call despite the fact that the call was, in reality, only one minute long. Calling card providers and dial-around providers often utilize this type of requirement. And some, but not all, traditional long distance plans have minimum call length requirements. Be sure to thoroughly read over the terms and conditions of any long distance plan before signing up. ^ Back to the Question List What is a monthly minimum requirement? This refers to the least amount of total monthly charges that a specific long distance plan requires. Example: If a specific long distance plan has a monthly minimum of $20 but only $15 worth of calls are made that month, that customer will still be charged $20. Any total under the monthly minimum is rounded up to meet that monthly minimum. Some long distance plans have monthly minimums while others do not. Be sure to thoroughly read over the terms and conditions of any long distance plan before signing up. ^ Back to the Question List What is dial-around long distance service? Dial-around (or 10-10) service is a specific type of long distance service that requires customers to dial an access code (i.e. a "10-10" number) before dialing the actual long distance number that they wish to reach. This is done to bypass the customer’s current long distance carrier, usually to save money because of better rates. ^ Back to the Question List What is a local toll call? A local toll call, also known as "intralata toll call" or "local long distance," is a call that is too close to the originating location to be considered long distance but too far from the originating location to be considered local. Often times with local toll calls, a caller is required to dial "1" plus the area code for the call despite the fact that the call is within the same area code. ^ Back to the Question List What is a personal toll free number? A toll free number allows the person or company receiving a call to pay for the call, rather than the caller. Currently, any phone number beginning with 800, 888, 877 or 866 is a toll free number. This type of number is often used for a comany's customer service line or in other situations where it is beneficial for the receiver to pay for the call, raller than the caller. Often times, a personal toll free number is set up to allow children in college, or other family or friends to call at no cost to them. This can be a cost effective alternative to using calling cards, calling collect, etc. ^ Back to the Question List I found unauthorized and/or strange charges on my phone bill -- what should I do? It sounds like you may have been a victim of cramming. Cramming is the practice of placing unauthorized, misleading, or deceptive charges on a customer’s telephone bill. Cramming is illegal -- Click here for more information on this topic. ^ Back to the Question List I think my long distance service was switched without my permission -- what should I do? It sounds like you may have been a victim of slamming. Slamming is the term used to describe what occurs when a long distance customer's service is switched to another service without that customer's knowledge or consent. Slamming is illegal and violates FCC rules -- Click here for more information on this topic. ^ Back to the Question List I just switched long distance carriers - Do I need to cancel my old service? Generally speaking, your previous provider is notified when you switch your long distance phone service, and that previous provider should close your account. But this doesn’t always happen smoothly. It is in your best interests to notify your former long distance provider of the change - after your service is switched to the new provider. Use the contact information that they provided when you signed up and let them know that you would like to close/cancel your account. This way, you’ll avoid be charged any monthly fees, etc. associated with that old account. ^ Back to the Question List
:: More Long Distance Frequently Asked Questions :: Compare Long Distance Plans and Rates Now
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