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Small Business Questions
How many lines can I switch?
How many toll-free numbers can I switch?
What if I have more than 25 additional lines? Or more than 5
toll-free numbers?
My company does not currently have a toll-free number. How can I
obtain one?
What is a Responsible Organization?
Can my company keep its current toll-free number after switching to a
new long distance carrier?
What if I obtained my toll-free number from a RespOrg that was not a
long distance carrier, can I still keep my toll-free number?
Can I have a calling card for each employee?
Can you handle special requests, like account codes?
Can SmartPrice.com save me money on dedicated (T-1)
service?
Will I be able to speak to someone about my account?
How long will it take to switch my business's long distance service?
Why does it take that long?
Why does it take longer to switch toll-free (1-800)
numbers?
Can you please expedite my order?
Do I have to fill out the credit application?
Why is there so much paperwork?
How much does it cost to switch?
How do I verify the switch request for my business's long distance
provider?
What else do I need to know about switching my small business's long
distance?
How many lines can I switch?
You can switch up to 25 lines on the SmartPrice.com web site. If you have more
lines to switch than that, please call our customer care specialists at
1-888-865-6760 and we'll be able to take care of you over the phone.
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How many toll-free (1-800) numbers can I
switch?
You can switch up to 5 toll-free numbers on the SmartPrice.com web site. If you
have more toll-free numbers than that, please call our customer care specialists at
1-888-865-6760 and we'll be able to help you over the phone.
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What if I have more than 25 additional lines? Or more
than 5 toll-free numbers?
No problem! Just go ahead and place your order, filling out as much of the
information as possible, and submit it. Then just give us a call at 1-888-865-6760
and we'll add the extra numbers to your order over the phone.
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My company does not currently have a toll-free number.
How can I obtain one?
Toll-free numbers are assigned on a first-come, first served basis. To obtain a
toll-free number from your long distance carrier, you must first switch your long
distance using the SmartPrice.com™ site. Then simply choose this feature on
the Additional Plan Features page of the SmartPrice.com™ web site. Please let
us know if you would like to check the status of a particular toll-free
number.
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What is a Responsible Organization?
Responsible Organizations, commonly called "RespOrgs," are toll-free service
providers or carriers. RespOrgs have access to the toll-free number database and
will know any information regarding the status and availability of any toll-free
number.
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Can my company keep its current toll-free number after
switching to a new long distance carrier?
Yes, toll-free numbers are portable. This means that your company may change long
distance companies without having to obtain a new toll-free number. You will have
to fill out a 1-800 number switch request form, also known as a RespOrg form.
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What if I obtained my toll-free number from a RespOrg
that was not a long distance carrier, can I still keep my toll-free
number?
Although most commonly a RespOrg is a long distance carrier, there are a few
companies that deal only with providing toll-free numbers. A toll-free number
subscriber has the ability to change from one RespOrg to another if
desired.
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Can I have a calling card for each employee?
Absolutely. You can add up to 25 calling cards on the SmartPrice.com site. If you
have more than that, just complete your order and then give us a call at
1-888-865-6760 - we'll take care of the extra calling cards over the phone.
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Can you handle special requests, like account
codes?
Absolutely. Ask one of our small business specialists to find out if the carrier
you selected on our website can set up accounting codes. There are two types of
accounting codes, non-verified and verified. The non-verified codes are normally
free of charge and do not have a specific sequence of digits associated with them.
Verified codes are a specific sequence and number of digits you must enter before
you can place a long distance call. Both the number of digits and the sequence of
the digits allow you to place the call - there is normally a per-month fee
associated with verified accounting codes. The fee varies from carrier to
carrier.
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Can SmartPrice.com save me money on dedicated (T-1)
service?
Yes, we can! We can handle voice and data T-1 lines. Just give our small business
specialists a call at 1-888-865-6760 and we'll arrange a quote for you.
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Will I be able to speak to someone about my
account?
Absolutely. Our small business specialists are available to discuss any questions
you may have. Just call us at 1-888-865-6760 and we'll help you!
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How long will it take to switch my business's long
distance service? Why does it take that long?
The industry standard switch time is 7-14 business days after we receive your
signed paperwork and send it to the carrier for processing. Here is the process:
First, each carrier does a credit check to make sure you will be a trustworthy
customer/pay your bills on time/not fraudulent. Next, the carrier enters you into
their billing system, so you receive the rates you were quoted online. They then
submit a request to the underlying carrier to reserve your lines. Finally, the
carrier sends the order to the local phone company for processing, and they
eventually receive a report back from the local phone company that the switch is
complete. Smartprice.com then sends you notification you are switched.
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Why does it take longer to switch toll-free (1-800)
numbers?
There is a little more legwork and paperwork involved in switching a toll-free
number, so these typically take a bit longer to switch to your new long distance
carrier than your regular phone lines. We try to get this done as quickly as
possible, so please be patient when waiting for those toll-free numbers to be
switched.
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Can you please expedite my order?
We can put in a request that the order be expedited, but we cannot guarantee this
can be done.
One thing that can help ensure the process moves efficiently is to fax us a copy
of two past, paid long distance bill or local phone bill copies, normally the first
page, that show a payment made (or credit to your account), along with your account
name and address. This is especially handy when switching a toll free number.
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Do I have to fill out the credit
application?
Please fill out the credit application to the best of your ability. If you are a
new company and do not have enough credit information to fill out the forms
completely, most carriers will set up a credit card payment plan and/or deposit
arrangement until you establish your credit with them. Also, you can send the first
page of two past, paid long distance/local phone bill copies with your paperwork.
This shows the carrier that you pay your phone bills on time - something they
really like to see!
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Why is there so much paperwork?
The paperwork proves to the carrier that you are a legitimate potential customer.
It also verifies the information associated with your account. Both SmartPrice.com
and the carrier you selected would like to ensure you do indeed want to switch your
long distance and the address and phone numbers you gave us through the site are
correct. The paperwork is something "tangible" you can keep for your records, as
well.
When filling out the forms, please be sure to use legible handwriting and answer
all questions on the forms - this will help us get your switch completed as quickly
as possible.
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How much does it cost to switch?
Your local phone company normally charges between $5-10 PER LINE to switch your
long distance service to a new carrier. Some carriers do credit your account for
switching to their service. Please use our site to review the detailed plan
information for the carrier you picked to see specific information.
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How do I verify the switch request for my business's
long distance provider?
Currently, there are two ways you can verify your switch request on the
SmartPrice.com™ web site: by signing an electronic Letter of Agency (eLOA) or
by supplying your fax number and having a paper Letter of Agency (LOA) faxed to
you. You must fax the paper LOA back to SmartPrice.com before your switch request
can be completed. Which verification method you use depends on which long distance
carrier you decide to switch your long distance service to.
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What else do I need to know about switching my small
business's long distance?
Much of the switch process is the same for residential customers as it is for small
businesses; be sure to read through the rest of our FAQs, because you'll
probably find answers to any additional questions there!
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