Articles About Long Distance

Money-saving Tips
Six Easy Ways to Lower Your Long Distance Bill
Hotel Calls: A Costly Convenience
The Dos and Don'ts of Selecting a New Long Distance Plan

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 of Internet users conducted by Millward Brown IntelliQuest, more than 70% of long distance customers are not certain they are getting the best long distance rates with their current companies. In fact, SmartPrice.com estimates the average consumer is paying up to 65% more than they have to for long distance.

Deciphering a long distance phone bill is an intimidating task. It's so much easier to just pay the bill and be done with it. But that attitude can cost you. In an effort to help you save money on long distance, we've compiled six easy ways to lower your long distance expenses.

1. 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 pre-paid telephone card is a more cost-conscious alternative for those times when you're away from home.
   
   
2. 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.
   
   
3. 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.
   
   
4. 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 rates but high monthly fees. Others have much higher per minute rates and no fees. By understanding your calling patterns you can make a much more informed buying decision.
   
   
5. 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 plans and still not have researched them all, it is a good idea to compare at least a few plans. A service such as SmartPrice.com allows you to compare prices for dozens of plans in just minutes. This time could result in hundreds of dollars in savings a year!
   
   
6. 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.
   

The good news is, SmartPrice.com has done all of the legwork for you so you don't have to worry about these things! We've assembled the best long distance companies and plans in one place so you can quickly and easily find the best one for you. Let us help you save money on long distance today!

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Hotel Calls: A Costly Convenience

Your trip is over and it's time to head to the lobby to pay the bill. Much to your dismay, the bill is higher than expected. What could possibly be the culprit of those excess charges? The telephone in your hotel room could be the reason. Those "free local calls" your hotel advertises may really not be free at all; and if you called anywhere long distance, plan on spending a pretty penny.

According to Tom Parsons, editor of Best Fares Magazine, hotels bring in over $1.8 billion in annual revenues from the telephone access fees charged to hotel guests. Though hotels usually avoid discussing this topic, one major hotel chain announced signing a long- term contract with a large long distance carrier in order to increase the commission the hotel receives from long distance calls.

You are not alone if you have ever been surprised by the high cost of using your hotel telephone. Hotels typically charge fifty cents to a dollar just for an outside connection, even for a local call. In addition, some hotels add a per minute surcharge up to a dollar or more on top of the long distance rate calls from your hotel room.Some hotels don't have a surcharge if the guest uses a calling card to make outside calls. Check with the hotel to see what their policy is and to make sure you're not subject to a connection fee.

3. Use toll-free numbers. 
Policies differ from hotel to hotel, but toll-free numbers are not always subject to a surcharge. Again, check with the front desk.

4. Group your calling card calls. 
If you are going to be making multiple phone calls with a calling card, do not hang up after each call. Most cards allow you to let the other party hang up while you are still on the phone. Once this happens, press the pound sign (#). This will usually keep you connected and you will not be charged another connection fee.

5. Five digit codes. 
Many calling card carriers have a five-digit code that may be entered before dialing the 800 number of the carrier. This code allows you to get around the fee the hotel may charge for accessing a calling card number. Check with your calling card carrier to see if your carrier has such a code.

6. Pre-paid calling cards. 
Although you are often subject to a connection fee, the per-minute rate for calling long distance will come from your pre-paid card rather than being charged to your bill. Using a pre-paid card also allows you to know how much you will pay per minute.

These are just a few steps you can use to help avoid expensive hotel long distance rates. If you know ahead of time that you will be making phone calls from your hotel room, ask for the telephone rates when reserving your room to avoid any surprises. If all else fails, the safest way to avoid surcharges is to use to the pay phones in the lobby or a phone outside the hotel.

One of the smartest things you can do is make sure you're currently on the best long distance plan for you, with the features you need for convenience while traveling. Get started here to find the best long distance plan for your needs; once you select the best plan for you, be sure to sign up for a toll-free number and a calling card so you are better armed while traveling!

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Whether you're a frequent long distance caller or only an occasional user, there is a long distance plan out there for you that can save you money on all of your calls.

To make sure you have the best plan based on your individual usage, here are some things to do - and not to do - when choosing a long distance plan.

DO read all the information the plan has with regard to price. You should specifically look at calling patterns, monthly fees, minimum charges and climbing rates.

DO shop for long distance service as you would for any consumer product. Ask about any sales, promotions or special discounts. Remember to check out the long distance company's web site to learn even more about the company.

DO check for restrictions on the advertised per minute rates. The three most important restrictions to consider are time, geographical and promotional restrictions.

DO decode comparative claims. Most smaller long distance companies compare their "discounted rates" to the much higher basic rates of the major carriers. Basic rate is another term for the highest rate available, making an ad claiming 50 percent off a basic rate not very appealing or even worth your time.

DO make a list of comparable services. Make a list of services offered by each long distance company you are consider switching to. Compare similar services when looking at the rates.

DO look at your monthly bills carefully. Pay attention to your bill every month, checking to make sure you are being charges exactly what you were told and expected. If you think there is a mistake or don't understand your bill, call your long distance provider for explanations.

DON'T skim over the fine print or skip it entirely. Many important details about the plan you are switching to are contained in the fine print.

DON'T make a hasty decision when switching long distance service providers. Take the time to research any claims they may be making.

DON'T assume all long distance companies are the same. They aren't. 

DON'T pay your long distance bill without looking over it each and every month. Mistakes can - and do - happen, and you want to catch them so that you're not being charged for services you didn't use.