LONG DISTANCE CALLS

LONG DISTANCE CALLS

With the number of telemarketing calls telling you about a competitors low rates and the plethora of commercials advertising flat fees for long distance calls you may be wondering if now is the time to switch your carrier But switching phone services may require canceling your old account and getting a new number It seems like such a chore even if you do save money. However an easier way to go about it is to simply negotiate your way to lower fees with your current carrier Telephone companies realize that the competition is fierce for keeping your service The next time you get a phone call or see a television ad for less Costly long distance rates write down the amount and the provider Then call your current telephone service and ask if they can meet that offer When you call tell them that you are dropping their service unless they can give you a lower rate Often not only will they meet the less Costlyer offer you quite them but they will often give you a better price or offer you a promotion such as one months service fees free or a lower minute rate for 90 days Another great way to get less Costly long distance is to look into bundling different services all through one company If you use a combination of three or more of the following you may qualify to get a bundle price on your services

Cable television

Local telephone service

Long distance telephone service

Internet

Cellular phone service

Bundles are usually offered through telephone or cable services While you do have to cancel all your old accounts and switch over to the new service provider it may be worth it To find out if the deal really is a good one add up your current monthly bills for the services in the bundle To figure your long distance bill average out your costs for three months As long as the bundle comes in well under the total it is definitely worth the trouble of switching

Internet Long Distance

If you call long distance frequently you may want to look into Internetprovided phone services Most providers require a highspeed internet connection in order to work DSL or cable broadband modem Adding the Internetprovided service is a good way to save money and get a lot of perks

Vonage is one Internetprovided service that allows you to call long distance in the United States Canada and Puerto Rico Local and long distance calls to those areas along with more than 20 other features are all packaged together for a low monthly rate currently at $24 99 Some of the additional features include

Keeping your old phone number

Voicemail

Caller ID

Caller ID lists

3way calling

Call return

You can purchase larger plans if you need to make international phone calls and rates are offered a low price

Another Internet long distance option is Skype This allows you to call people through your computer You can purchase domestic unlimited calling for only $14 95 a month through January 31 2007 and for $29 95 a month after that If you need to make international calls you can check their rates before making a call Video features are even available should you wish to be able to see one another while you talk However Skype is not a total replacement for a home telephone as you cannot make emergency calls from it

Calling Cards

Using a calling card may be a great option for those who want to make occasional less Costly long distance calls Telephone companies often charge a monthly fee for the long distance service even if you place no calls that month

Calling cards can be found in gas stations drugstores and discount chains International phone cards are also available Be sure to check the fine print on the calling card To be sure you are getting a good deal find out the following

Is there a connection fee If so what is it

What are the rates for the country or state I am calling

How many minutes does the rate translate to for my purposes

What is the expiration date

Is there a monthly fee after I activate the card

Does using the card from a pay phone cost an extra fee

Shop around several places and compare cards to get the best deal If you are purchasing international phone cards buy a few different brands in a small amount like five dollars Sometimes a delay results when calling other countries and using some cards makes the delay better or worse