Long-Distance Deals

Looking for a great long-distance deal?

Think youíve found the cheapest rates,

but still confused by all the ads? Hereís how

to sort out whatís clearly in ads and whatís

not.

Look for all the information

related to PRICE.

Monthly Fees: When an ad promises 10

cents a minute, look for any monthly fees or

surcharges youíll have to pay to get that rate.

Minimum Charges: Look for minimum

charges for each call. If every call has a 50-

cent minimum, even a two-minute call can

cost you 50 cents. On ìup to 20 minutes for a

dollarî plans, a one-minute call or a message

you leave on an answering machine is a

dollar.

Climbing Rates: An ad may say that all

calls up to 20 minutes are a dollar. Look for

information on what happens to the rate

structure after 20 minutes. Rates may

increase dramatically.

Look for all the

information related to

RESTRICTIONS

on the advertised rates.

Time Restrictions: Is the advertised rate

available when you want it? Some rates may

apply only at certain times of the day or only

on certain days of the week. What are the

rates at the other times?

Geographic Restrictions: Is the advertised

rate available on all long distance calls ó

those that you make to someone in another

state as well as those that you make to

someone in another city in your own state?

Some plans do not include long distance

calls in the same state. Find out what those

rates are and factor them in when you make

your decision.

Promotional Restrictions: Are the advertised rates constant or an introductory offer

thatís good for a limited time ó like the first

60 days of your subscription? If so, what are

the rates once the promotion is over?

Decode

COMPARATIVE

CLAIMS. CLAIMS

Basic Rates: An ad promising ì50 percent

off the basic rateî isnít a good deal because

the ìbasicî rate is another term for the highest rate available.

February 2000

F C EDERAL RADE OMMISSION T FTC OR HE ONSUMER

1-877-FTC-HELP www.ftc.gov
Long-Distance Deals

Comparable Services: When ads compare

calling rates, are the services comparable?

Is the information on both sides of the

comparison as current as possible?

Look for the

FINE PRINT. FINE PRINT

Read it.

Advance Work: Offers and restrictions vary.

Each long distance provider has their own

deals. Read the details from all the

companies you are considering before you

sign up. If you have questions, call the

company for an explanation.

Look at your

MONTHLY BILLS

carefully.

Pay attention to your bill, checking to make

sure you are being charge exactly what

you expected. If you think thereís a mistake,

or if you just donít understand your bill, call

your provider for an explanation.

To File a Complaint

Federal Communications Commission

For additional information about telephone

service plans, please call the FCCís toll-free

number 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322):

TTY users 1-888-835-5322. You may write

the Consumer Information Bureau, Federal

Communications Commission, 445 12th

Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20554.

Additional information is available through

the Internet at www.fcc.gov.

Federal Trade Commission

The FTC works for the consumer to

prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair

business practices in the marketplace

and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file

a complaint or to get free information on

consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call

toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-

4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC

enters Internet, telemarketing, identity

theft and other fraud-related complaints

into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online

database available to hundreds of civil

and criminal law enforcement agencies in

the U.S. and abroad.

Produced in cooperation with the

Federal Communications Commission