Choosing a Long Distance Plan

Long Distance rates are on the rise! Have you ever said to yourself,
"Some companies charge a monthly usage fee and I don't have to pay a
monthly usage fee with my ten cents a minute plan. Why would I want
to switch?"

Let's break this down a bit for you:

.10 cents a minute times 200 minutes per month = $20.00 a month
.045 cents per minute times 200 minutes per month = $9.00 a month.
Even if you add in the $2 monthly usage fee, the total for your long
distance bill is only $11.00!
That is a savings of $9 per month or $108 per year. Why not take
that $108 per year and invest it in a single share stock option and
watch that money grow, instead of just throwing it away?
So how does one choose the right Long Distance Plan?

Are your long distance calls for pleasure or business?
When do you make the most calls -- time of day/day of week?
What area do you call the most?
How long do your calls last?
Do you need a plan that allows you to call all over the world, at any
given moment, offering the best rates 24/7 or do you need a plan that
allows you to call one particular area for the best rate?
Are there time restrictions on when you can call for the best rates
and if so, will those restraints work out for your calling needs?
Carefully evaluate package deals. Sometimes, you can get cheaper
deals by making your own package. In other words, pick and choose
individual plans versus taking a "package" full of unnecessary items
simply because the amount of hours you use your long distance
complies with the minutes in the package.
Read the fine print to any plan before you sign on. Know what you
are getting, so that there are no surprises.
What is a Dial-Around Service and are they better than having the
standard long distance plans?

Dial Around phone service simply means that you are "dialing around
your current long distance carrier." This means that you are using a
800 number, then dialing a pin number, then dialing the number you
wish to call. (Automatic entry on pre-designated phones such as your
home phone.)
You can use a Dial Around phone service even if you do not have a
land-line long distance carrier because it works the same way a
calling card works. The difference is that you are billed monthly
based on the calls you make.
Dial Around programs work best when you live in an area that doesn't
offer great low rates for long distance, when you travel away from
home and tend to make a lot of calling card or hotel room calls, or
when you live in a dorm where you do not have the option of changing
the long distance carrier or getting cheaper long distance rates.
Make sure you know the fees involved in Dial Around programs...

What are their universal service fees (USF)?
Is there a minimum usage fee?
What is the per minute fee?
Is there a monthly fee and will it be waived over a certain usage?
Are there time restrictions on when you can call for the best rate?

The most important thing about picking your long distance plan is sit
down and figure out what types of calls you make on a daily basis,
what time of day, what city and state, how many minutes per month,
etc. Once you have this broken down, it is time to research plans.
Pick the best plan for the calls you make and don't shy away from a
monthly usage fee because adding in that fee can still cut your over
all monthly costs down substantially.