Cheap long distance plans come in a variety of sizes. You can purchase cheap long distance plans through an independent long distance service, or you can simply dial certain numbers to access long distance service. Let’s take a close look at some of the options that are offered with both types of cheap long distance.
Long Distance Services
These cheap long distance phone plans are probably the most popular. You sign up for the plan and you receive a bill each month—same as your local telephone bill. This kind of cheap long distance plan has a few distinguished characteristics and we’ll take a look at each of those.
- • Some of these cheap long distance plans have an incentive for you to sign up with them. For example, you may receive a free bonus 200 minutes when you sign up. This means the first 200 long distance minutes you use are free. Once those minutes are gone, the standard long distance rate will apply.
- • The standard rates will vary from company to company. One company may offer a fixed standard rate of $.04 a minute while another offers $.07 a minute. This is still pretty cheap long distance, but be aware of the price differences.
- • In-state long distance is generally more expensive than state-to-state long distance. Cheap long distance phone companies know more in-state long distance calls are usually made. That’s why the prices for in-state long distance are more expensive. The phone companies just make more money from in-state long distance service.
- • Most cheap long distance companies won’t charge a monthly service fee. This means you won’t end up paying $4.95 a month regardless of how many calls you made. However, there is in most cases a minimum usage fee. Typically the minimum usage fee ranges from $2 to $3. This means if you don’t at least incur a $10, $15 or $20 long distance bill, you will have to pay the minimum usage fee.
- • Cheap long distance carriers will normally have 60 second billing increments. This means each second is rounded up to the minute. For example, if you made a cheap long distance call for two minutes and two seconds, you would be charged for three minutes of use.
- • Most cheap long distance carriers will also assign you an 800 number if you desire. Instead of people calling you collect at $1 a minute, this 800 number will save you money. People can call your 800 number and you pay the same in-state or state-to-state cheap long distance fees.
Long Distance Dialing Numbers
Something that has emerged over the last few years is cheap long distance dialing numbers. These numbers offer a cheap long distance rate. You don’t sign up for any plan. You don’t pay any monthly fees. You simply dial a cheap long distance dialing number and the number of the person you’re trying to call. If that sounds confusing here is an example. You dial the long distance dialing number, 55-55-555, and then the person’s number 555-555-5555 and you’re instantly connected. Typically you’re charged between three and seven cents a minute. It’s a pay as you use cheap long distance service. Normally the charge will be on your local telephone bill.
By John Ivie