How to choose a Local and Long Distance Service Provider

a. Do your homework. Customer service varies from provider to provider. For Long Distance, make sure you will be billed for usage in six-second increments, so that you are not billed for a full minute of calling when you made a call shorter in length. Also, divide your total local line charges by the number of lines you have to determine how much you are being charged per line. Many long-term phone company clients pay for services they do not use. You may request a customer service record from the phone company to determine for which services your company is paying.

b. If it sounds too good to be true, it frequently is too good to be true. Like most other industries, the telecommunications industry has a few bad apples. They bill for full minutes of service, bill in total call units (TCUs), or are experiencing financial difficulties that affect their ability to offer good customer service. Local phone service providers are sometimes using minimal staff to perform customer service duties.

c. Be aware of current market pricing. Long distance carriers price their services by volume. The more usage you have or other products and services you use, the lower the per minute rate will be. Usage is billed in four major ways: Intrastate or In-State. Intralata, Interstate, and International. The Interstate rate is usually the least expensive, and thus, the rate that is advertised. Make sure you ask what all of the rates are and then compare. If your company makes a lot of International calls, request a list of rates, they vary widely by country. In addition, many carriers increase per minute rates if you are not currently under contract. These rates can be as high as a dollar a minute or more, so watch your bill closely. For local service, the rate you are paying per line is the basic charge, plus the charge for the end user line fee and other features on the line.

d. When accepting proposals for local and long distance service, make sure the comparison is equal to your bill. In order to provide an accurate picture of what your usage is and how much you spend per month on local and long distance services, the service provider will need to look at a recent bill. Be sure to give them a month’s bill that is typical, and let them know if there are any months when the bill would be significantly lower or higher (for example, ski resorts will have significantly higher usage during the winter months). The proposal should show how much your current usage would cost with the carrier they are proposing. This should be done in a format you understand. If you’re not sure about the numbers quoted, do not be afraid to ask questions.

e. Be a vigilant consumer. Be sure to review your phone bills frequently. Make sure you are paying the per minute charge and line rate you were quoted. Also, make sure the numbers listed on the bill belong to you and your long distance carrier doesn’t change without your consent. Sign a PIC freeze form with your local phone company. This can help to ensure your service is not “slammed” to a different long distance provider. In addition, long distance charges go up significantly when contract terms expire.

Let Delta Technology Solutions assist you through this process. Our initial consultation is done at no charge to you. We can help you select the best service to meet your telecommunications needs.