long distance run-around

April, 1999.
By Molly E. Holzschlag. (Link to original article.)

If you're staring at your long distance phone bill wondering how the heck you managed to spend so much money, you are not alone. Statistics show that six out of every 10 people in the United States pay more than they have to for long distance service.

This article will teach you where to go online to get comparison pricing, and offer several tips for maximizing your long distance enjoyment: minimize the runaround, expense, and confusion born of the jangled phone free-for-all.

Take stock

The first step in getting the best ring-a-ding for your hard-won dollar is to review your long distance phone bills. If you have the last six months on hand, that is especially helpful. Carefully examine your bills. Note when you make the most calls, where you make them to, and how long you generally talk. Do you see any trends over the months, too?

When I originally sat down to review my bills, I couldn't even understand them! If you are like me, and find items or codes on your bills with no obvious definition, a visit to your carrier's Web site is in order. Or, you can do it the old fashioned-way, and give them a call.

Understanding your billing and taking stock of your long-distance behavior will enable you to make the best choices when shopping around for the carrier that suits you best.

Negotiate with your carrier

Your current long distance company may be charging you a higher price than they charge other customers. This is because most companies offer a range of promotions and calling plans. Often, you have to be the one to track the plans down and ask for them! Once you know your habits, you can check with your current carrier to see if you're getting the best price available.

The advantage of looking to your current carrier for better service is that you don't have to change plans, which also means new calling cards and bills--and possibly additional charges from phone companies to make the switch. So, if your carrier has a great comparative deal, you might want to stick with them.

Get the most for your mileage

Here are some hot tips to get the most for your long distance mileage.

Bill calls to your credit card.

All experts in the field recommend routing your bills directly to a major credit card that offers frequent flier miles or other benefits. Pay the bill in total every month, and you could be finding yourself actually being with your loved ones more frequently than accepting the next best thing.

Careful with the calling cards!

If you're away from home using your handy calling card to ring up your friends and family, be aware that most calling cards are not running on the standard pricing that your phone at home is. Check with your carrier for calling card rates before racking up a bill that will take you by surprise.

Know the codes.

This is for those of you who have the time, and the stomach, to deal with the new wave of complex 1010 codes. You can tap into added deals on top of your own carrier's plan--but be wary of traps such as over-rated savings, higher first minute charges, and other rate-plays that are not in your favor.

Use email.

There's a lot you can do with email that you can't do on the phone. You can send photos, write long, detailed letters, write more frequently, and not add fat to your phone bill. If you're technically inclined, you can even record your voice and send it in a sound file to your friends and family.

Comparison shop online

Here's a list of terrific Web sites to help you get chatting longer for less:

A Bell Tolls

This long distance telecommunications clearinghouse will give you all the information you need to comparison shop for the best carrier, pricing, and service. The site also includes information on the 1010 codes, calling card providers, and a huge list of long distance phone companies.

TRAC: Telecommunications Research and Action Center.

Track your telecommunications consumer rights and interests at TRAC. Lots of juicy information on how to reduce long distance costs, how to use the Internet to improve your telephone needs, and up-to-date consumer news.

Consumer @ction: Telephone Publications and Links.

A list of articles, surveys, and press releases of interest to telephone consumers.

ESmarts Long Distance Buying Guide.

Information on long-distance plans for Internet users. An interesting alternative to standard long-distance at ESmarts.