Long Distance Rate

If you have a nagging feeling that you are paying too much for long distance services, you're not alone.

According to a recent study, more than 70% of long distance customers are not certain they are getting the best long distance rates with their current companies.

In an effort to help you save money on long distance rates, you've find here ways to lower your long distance expenses.

Use a calling card.
When you are traveling, don't call collect or use the long distance service provided by a hotel. Collect and hotel calls are the highest priced long distance calls in the industry. A prepaid phone card is a more cost-conscious alternative for those times when you're away from home.

Make your long distance calls during evenings and weekends.
It might sound obvious, but most plans offer significant discounts on their long distance rates during non-business hours. Under some plans you might pay four times as much for the same call made during the day vs. the evening.

Review your phone bill carefully.
According to the FCC, cramming and slamming are the main sources of consumer complaints. Being charged for services you never requested (cramming) or being unknowingly switched to a different long distance carrier (slamming) are both illegal activities, yet they occur frequently because many consumers don't pay attention to their bill. If these things happen to you, you could be dramatically overpaying for you long distance service. Review your bill each month to be sure any strange charges or company names haven't suddenly appeared.

Know your long distance needs.
There is not one right plan for everyone when it comes to long distance. Some plans have very low per minute long distance rates but high monthly fees. Others have much higher per minute long distance rates and no fees. By understanding your calling patterns you can make a much more informed buying decision.

Consider the following:

how many calls you make a month
how long you talk
the time of day you usually make calls
where the calls are placed (local, domestic long distance or international)
the rate per minute or per month, and
any monthly fee or minimum spending limit.

Shop around.
Don't rely on a telemarketer to call you with a good deal, go out and find one.
While you could spend a year reading about long distance rate plans and still not have researched them all, it is a good idea to compare at least a few plans.

Read the fine print.
Before signing up for a new long distance service, get out your magnifying glass and read the tiny print. That's where long distance companies usually hide the most important information about their long distance rates. In particular, look for minimum monthly fees, regular monthly service charges and calling length restrictions.