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
day or night? Do you make your long distance calls throughout week or wait for weekend?Knowing answer to these questions, and following a few simple rules which we will share with you, will help you to get 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 asking. You can also ask other providers if they have any special switching promotions or benefits available.
2. Buyer beware - read 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 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 added charges: The per minute cost is not only way providers make money. Check to see if there are monthly minimum charges or per-call charges in addition to 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 $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 "normal" rates may not be lowest rate available from that provider. It’s same as getting a 50% discount from a hotel's rack rate (normal room rate). In this case "rack rate" is their full 100% price that they seldom, if ever, get from customers.
