Consumer Tips

• EXPLORE OPTIONS FOR LOCAL PHONE SERVICE – There is an alternative to your local phone company.  By taking advantage of a Competitive Local Exchange Provider (CLEC), you can save up to 50 percent on your local phone bills for the same quality service.
  
  CUT YOUR LONG DISTANCE CHARGES – If you subscribe to one of the "big three" long distance carriers – AT&T, MCI and Sprint – you could be paying too much.  The big three charge by the minute while their smaller competitors typically charge in 6 – 30-second increments.  Thus, consumers can typically save up to 30 percent when opting for the smaller carriers.  Also, don"t be fooled by claims made by the big three that the quality offered by their competitors is inferior – remember, fiber optics is fiber optics.
  
  
  
• CAREFULLY READ YOUR PHONE BILL -- If you haven"t read through your phone bill recently, chances are it may include extra charges for items you don"t need such as service fees and package plans.  Call your phone company to delete any redundant local, long distance or Internet access packages.
  
  
• DON"T GET "SLAMMED" -- "Slamming" is phone company slang for switching local or long-distance carriers on your phone bill without your consent.  This process often results in increased rates.  If you have been "slammed," contact your phone company and instruct them never to make changes to your account without your written authorization.
  
  SAY NO TO TELEMARKETERS -- Avoid saying the word "yes" when speaking to a telemarketer.  Doing so could mean you have just given them authorization to change your phone service carrier, thus potentially increasing your rates. 
  
  
• AVOID SWEEPSTAKES CONTESTS -- Even though a sweepstakes offer may be appealing, examine the fine print before participating.  By signing up to win a new car, for example, you may have just unwittingly changed your long distance carrier to a more expensive one.
  
  
• CONSIDER DROPPING LINE/WIRE INSURANCE -- One of the most common "extra" fees on a phone bill is the line maintenance/insurance charge.  Because phone wires have an average life span of nearly 15 years and rates of breakage are low, consumers often end up spending hundreds of dollars for unnecessary insurance.
  
  
• BE WARY OF 10-10 CALLING NUMBERS -- While many 10-10 calling plans have appealing offers such as "20 minutes for $1," what the company doesn"t tell you is that if you dial the 10-10 number to make a 30-second call, you still pay the full $1.  Use such plans judiciously.