Know Your Telephone Calling Habits

General talk about office stuff

Raymond Klesc () -

Getting to know and understand your own calling habits, or patterns, can pay handsome dividends when selecting your telephone carriers. Do you make a lot of lang distance or international calls? Do you make most of your telephone calls during the day or night? Do you make your long distance calls throughout the week or wait for the weekend?

Knowing the answer to these questions, and following a few simple rules which we will share with you, will help you to get the best value from your carrier and your calling plan. So where do you start? Read on and we'll try to shed a little light on what you need to be aware of when selecting your long distance carrier or other telecommunications providers.

1. Ask if there are any special promotions:

Don't be afraid to ask your long distance provider if they have any special promotions available. Many times they have unadvertised specials available for the asking. You can also ask other providers if they have any special switching promotions or benefits available.

2. Buyer beware - read the fine print:

All providers have special restrictions and offerings regarding their calling plans. Many times these restrictions or offerings will be different between their various offerings. Make sure that you read and understand these restrictions and offerings before you accept. If you don't understand something in the fine print then be sure to ask. Reputable providers will answer all of your questions simply and directly so you will understand. If a provider fails to give you clear answers then move on to someone else.

3. Watch out for the added charges:

The per minute cost is not the only way providers make money. Check to see if there are monthly minimum charges or per-call charges in addition to the per-minute rates. For instance, if a provider charges a $5 minimum and you only make one 10-minute phone call, you will be charged for the $5 minimum - that's $0.50 per minute!

4. Comparison rates in advertising can be misleading:

You should be aware that some advertising showing comparison rates, such as 50% off normal rates, may be misleading because the "normal" rates may not be the lowest rate available from that provider. It’s the same as getting a 50% discount from a hotel's rack rate (normal room rate). In this case the "rack rate" is their full 100% price that they seldom, if ever, get from customers.

5. Check out the provider’s web site:

The provider should have detailed information concerning their calling plans, options and promotions on their web site. You might also be able to find support facilities, live help, FAQ's or more as well.

6. Strategic partner tie-ins and other promotions:

Some providers make strategic alliances with other companies in order to cross promote their products and services. Some providers make frequent miles from airlines available when using their services. You may also be able to find promotional tie-ins between credit card companies, hotels and more.

7. Check and double-check:

Get in the habit of regularly reviewing your monthly telephone bill. Even the best providers make mistakes and if you suspect that you have been charged in error then call your provider and ask for an explanation.

8. Commit your "10-10" codes to memory:

If you use a 10-10 service, then you owe it to yourself to become familiar with the specifics of their plan. They all have restrictions that define their service and abiding by these will save you money. I have a terrible memory so I make a little cheat sheet for each service I use that I carry with me. It's saved me on several occasions.

9. Time for wireless?:

There are many wireless plans from many different wireless providers available in the market today. This industry has matured vary rapidly and many of these plans may fit your calling needs quite nicely.

10. Limited or few long distance calls:

If your long distance calling is vary limited then you may want to consider not enrolling with a long distance provider. In this case it may be better to simply select a 10-10 dialaround service or use a long distance calling card instead. Make sure you select a carrier or card with no monthly fee and low per-minute rates. If you select one of these options make sure to call your local service provider and tell them that you do not want to have a long distance carrier.

Following these simple rules will ensure that you get the best value for your money.

About the Author

About Global Value Connect:

Global Value Connect ( www.globalvalueconnect.com ) has been providing the best value in telecommunication products and services for the home or office since 1995. If you want to cut your telephone bill in half register today for our free eBook entitled "Telephone Bill Saving Tips for Home and Office" and is available at: http://www.globalvalueconnect.com/Saving_Tips.htm

• http://www.globalvalueconnect.com/Saving_Tips.htm

Comment #1 Pete101 from NJ -

If you really want save money on your phone bill just use one of the PC to Phone software products on the market like, Skype or WebPhone. All you have to do is download the software onto your computer, pony up about 5 dollars a month and you receive your very own phone number, voicemail, caller ID and all of those other features + the rates to make long distance calls are even lower than the 10-10 services.

Try it and you will see savings.

Comment #2 Ralph from New York City -

The VOIP services from Vonage, Packet8, and others have an big advantage over the software products.

They offer VOIP service on your regular telephone. Your regular answer machine works, as does your regular caller-id. It also works whether your computer is on or not.

You get a little box that you plug into your DSL router and your telephone. (If you travel you can take the box with you and use your phone just like you were at home).

You can get telephone numbers from anywhere in the USA. Even if you live in New York, you can get a Los Angeles number.

The monthly fee isn't much (you can probably get service for about 20 bucks a month including calls to anywhere in the USA).

If you live outside the USA you can get a USA phone number that works just like you were in the USA for price, placing or receiving calls.

Comment #3 Turtle from the Pond -

I haven't heard anything really positive about Vonage other than the price. So why change from the phone company?

Comment #4 Joe from South America -

I used to use packet8.net and then switched to vbuzzer (with a voip box)... my bills went from $150/mo to under $50/mo.

A good reason to get started with VOIP now is because it is the future of telephonics as before long all telephones will be voip whether you get service from the regular phone company or not.

By moving to VOIP now it will help that evolution move faster. It will also help support smaller businesses rather than the great big phone companies.

You also get more flexibility with phone numbers. You also have a tremendous advantage if you say work at home part time and office part time or travel on business. You phone and number can go with you.

You can also get incoming numbers in various states and/or countries making contact from customers there easier.

911 is a whole different issue... but the world survived for many more years without it and with it. Also once you get out of the USA it is not used so much for trivial stuff.

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