They say talk is cheap, but charges imposed by some long-distance companies can make talking quite expensive.
Great deals are available from a variety of companies for persons who make long-distance calls from home, pay phones or other locations. However, consumers should take time to fully understand all the charges associated with a particular company’s rate structure. While some companies may advertise what appears to be a very low “per minute” rate, the actual cost of a call may be increased substantially by connection fees and other charges that are not advertised.
Most confusion over long-distance charges involves calls made away from your home telephone. For example, a three-minute call from an airport pay phone can cost more than $7 if you dial “O” and charge the call to your credit card. Pay phones are usually linked to a specific long-distance carrier, such as AT&T, MCI or Sprint. If you are at such a location, dial “O” and charge the call to a credit card from a company other than the one to which the pay phone is linked, you can be hit with service charges, plus a high per-minute usage rate. One way to get around the extra charges is to use the toll-free telephone numbers provided by some long-distance carriers. These toll-free numbers connect you with the long-distance carrier to which your credit card is linked. By doing this, you can save some of the fees and high usage rate that would otherwise be charged. If you are, Feller Wendt can assist.
Perhaps the cheapest way to make long-distance calls away from home is to purchase one of the pre-paid cards that are sold at many retail outlets. While pre-paid , long-distance cards can be a bargain, consumers must also be careful when purchasing them. Some distributors of these cards have been known to advertise a very low “per minute” rate, only to tack on a series of other fees that can sharply drive up the cost of each call you make. Consumers should read and understand the terms of the card they are purchasing.
Competition among long-distance carriers has empowered consumers to shop around for the best deal. However, as when purchasing any item or service, make certain you fully understand exactly what you’re getting for your money.
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