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 ECGYes, you can sign up with ECG online and still use your caller ID and other features that you have with SBC. ECG will just be your long distance provider and that will not change any features you currently have with your local service provider.... It is very rare that the providers on our website change the rates from the rates that are listed. Unfortunately there is not any guaranteed period for the rates you sign up for, but if the provider does happen to change the rates, you will be informed directly. At that point, you can either stay with the provider or look for alternative options. We find in a lot of cases that the long distance providers we review, actually opt to lower rates. (i.e. ECG just...... FeesThe additional taxes could include a federal excise tax, Federal Telecommunications Relay Service Fund, FCC Common Carrier Regulatory Fee, and other State and county taxes.
All of these fees vary and depend on your specific area. I would recommend looking at a previous long distance bill from someone with the same area code and prefix to find out more specific taxes for your area.... Currently 3U Telecom and Pioneer Telephone are the only long distance providers compared at PhoneDog.com that do not charge a monthly fee. The other discount long distance carriers listed like ECG, Opex, and TCI charge very minimal monthly fees ranging from $0.27 to $0.99 a month on certain plans. From the long distance section you will want to select your State, enter your area code and prefix, and a list of available providers and plans will appear. ...... There are no charges for the long distance service during a billing cycle if you make absolutely no long distance calls. The USF fee, in-state connection fee, and carrier cost recovery fee are only charged if you make long distance calls during that billing cycle.**For companies that charge a monthly fee (ECG and PowerNet Global) then the monthly charges and fee will apply even if no calls are made. ... The USF fee (Universal Service Fund) is required by federal law to be charged by all long distance service providers. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has set the current USF rate at 11.7% for all long distance calls. That means if you were to make $10.00 in long distance calls during the month, you would be charged a USF fee of $1.17 for that bill.
The fund offers support to telecommunication carriers in rural and high-cost areas, low-income consumers, schools,...... In researching each long distance company that we compare at PhoneDog.com I was able to discover that half of the companies will credit you back for the charges while the other half won't. But remember, even the companies that do not credit the switching fee have incredibly low rates, and will make up for that small fee in the long run!
COMPANIES WHO CREDIT SWITCHING FEE
OPEX
PowerNet Global
Total Call International (TCI)
Unitel
COMPANIES WHO DO NOT CREDIT SWITCHING...... A switching fee may be charged by your local phone company to change the long distance carrier code (PICC CODE) on your account. As you saw in the previous question, some of the long distance carriers may credit you for this fee. It should only be a one-time fee that ranges from $5 to $10. Keep in mind if you have to pay the fee, it will be well worth it when you start using your new low long distance rate!
... GeneralAfter signing up for a long distance service provider reviewed at PhoneDog.com your request in sent to that specific company. After approved for services by the long distance provider, please allow 3 to 10 business days for activation.
This time is spent getting the proper codes and information to your local provider. You will receive confirmation from your new long distance company after this time via e-mail or telephone. Once confirmed, make a...... No, as a consumer you are not required to have long distance on your residential telephone account. Long distance is an optional service that can be added at the customer's discretion. If you believe that you may ever need or want to add long distance services to your home phone, I would recommend returning to PhoneDog.com to review the discount service providers available in your area. ... "Switch regional calling area" means that you are giving the new service provider authority to take over your local toll calls (also known as regional calls, or local long distance calls). These calls are made directly beyond your local calling area, and will be charged at the in-state rate. You can refer to the front of your local phone book to determine how far your local calling area extends, and when the regional calling area begins.
... No, you do not have to have internet in your home to receive service from the long distance companies on our website. The long distance companies on our website offer traditional long distance without any special catches or access codes to be dialed.
The VoIP companies listed on our site are the only companies that require that you must have high speed internet service to home to switch to their services. ... Unfortunately at this time the resale long distance companies that we compare do not offer service in Alaska or Hawaii.... None of the long distance carriers compared at PhoneDog.com require contracts to be signed to receive their services. You can sign up for any of the long distance companies on our website and if you decide the plan is not for you, all you have to do is call or e-mail the customer service department of the company you have service with and inform them that you want to cancel.... Most of the providers on our website will inform your current provider of the change for you. However, we always recommend that you follow up with your current provider to be sure that they cancel your services once the new service is active. This helps to ensure that there are no misunderstandings.
... No, unfortunately none of the long distance companies on our website provide long distance service plans for cell phones. Each long distance provider listed offers services for business and residential land line phones. We recommend that you contact your cellular provider directly for further information on obtaining access to long distance through your cellular phone.... There are two possible reasons you could find different information on our site compared to what the long distance company is offering.
In some instances because of our relationship with the long distance provide they will let us offer a better rate to customers via our website. These rates are guaranteed and only on-line specials.
We make every effort to provide our on-line visitors with the most accurate and up to date information available...... Contact us immediately at infodog@phonedog.com and we will be more than happy to make any necessary corrections to your order. If you do not discover the error until 24 to 48 hours after the order was placed, your order may have advanced to the next level of processing and you would then be required to contact the provider directly. ... No, you will not be required to dial an access code before placing a long distance call with any of the providers listed. All of the long distance companies that are compared at PhoneDog.com offer 1+longdistance number. From the long distance section you can find the best plan offered in your area.... To keep your current 800 number, follow the simple steps below:
Choose your new provider and plan at PhoneDog.com
Proceed to the Secure Sign Up section and complete
E-mail us at infodog@phonedog.com requesting a toll free transfer form
Include in the e-mail your name, telephone number, and new provider
Form must be completed and faxed to your new long distance company
Once the form is received by your new provider the transfer process will begin, so be sure to request the...... Currently at PhoneDog.com, all of the long distance companies we review do offer toll free number services. You have the option to request a new toll free number or transfer your existing toll free number to the provider you select.
Return to the long distance section at PhoneDog.com to select a new provider today!... The "regional calling area" is the area just beyond your "local calling area" but is not considered regular long distance. You would always select "regional calling area" unless you pay your local phone company an additional monthly fee, which is very rare and usually more expensive.
You can refer to the front of your local telephone book to find out how far your local calling area extends, and when the "regional calling area" begins. ... Each company has different requirements to obtain service. The companies that do require a Social Security number will verify a customer's creditworthiness and verify positive identification so they can be assured they are switching the proper account and that they will receive payment.
With such low rates, many companies cannot afford to provide service to non-paying customers. We do everything possible to ensure this information stays secure. It is never sold or distributed to any group.... PioneerYes, Pioneer can definitely provide service for your seasonal home. However, I would recommend signing up and keeping your long distance service year round. There is no need to cancel since Pioneer does not charge a monthly or minimum usage fee. You would only pay for the calls that were made the two months you were visiting the home.... When wanting to view your monthly statement with Pioneer, please go to www.mybillonline.com . Once you have entered the site, first establish your login ID and then go into Ebill and click on View Bill. One the left side of the page, please click on Long Distance Calls which is under Call Details. Then click the Refresh icon. If you still are having an issue viewing your bill, please contact Pioneer customer service. ... When setting up Pioneer long distance service that includes the use of a fax machine, you will be charged the standard per minute rate. Pioneer would be able to assist you with your specific request and the set up process is a snap. I would recommend looking at the plans that Pioneer offers to choose the best plan to fit your needs.... Unfortunately at this time Pioneer calling cards only work in areas covered by the North American Numbering Plan (npa-nxx). However Pioneer is exploring ways to expand its use in the future. ... There is one other difference between the two Pioneer plans offered in most areas. The difference is not only in the price but also in the billing increments. The plan offering the slightly lower price bills in 60 second increments while the slightly higher priced plan bills in a 6 second increment.
60 second increments bill up to the nearest minute after the call is completed. Example; you make a 2 minute and 6 second call, but you will be charged for 3...... Yes, Pioneer Telephone will contact your local provider to complete your new long distance transfer. You would only be required to contact your local provider if you had a long distance freeze on your account. This freeze would keep Pioneer from being able to complete the transaction for you.... After completing an order at PhoneDog.com for new long distance services you will be notified that a confirmation email is being sent. If you do not receive your confirmation email then you should do just what you did, contact us! We can be reached at infodog@phonedog.com and will be more than happy to resend your confirmation email.
To help ensure we are able to find your order quickly please remember to always provide us with the following details about the order...... When making a call to a toll free number, the party you are calling will be charged for the call, not you. If you were wanting for others to be able to call you using a toll free number, Pioneer Telephone does offer this service. In that situation, each time someone used your toll free number you would be billed for those calls. ... To find out who your long distance provider is you may call 1-700-555-4141. This call must be made from your home phone. If the name is unfamiliar, it is likely that the long distance carrier is using the line of another carrier. (ie Pioneer uses Global Crossing in most cases)
Feel free to contact your new provider, if you have any questions.... I have attached the section of the Pioneer Telephone agreement below for better clarification. There is no minimum usage fee for our customers signing up via the site. New sign up's from the website will receive their statements via e-mail. The only way the minimum usage fee comes into affect is if you contact Pioneer Telephone after establishing a new account and request to receive a paper bill.
Pioneer Telephone Agreement Excerpt
Customer understands there is a...... Yes, Pioneer will combine the telephone numbers onto one convenient bill for you when you are requesting long distance services in multiple States. This can occcur even if the rate plan is different for each of the calling areas. Don't worry Pioneer will bill the calls properly from each line.
Is Pioneer available in your area? If so, here is how it will work.
Sign up under the long distance section at PhoneDog.com. Once activated, calls made from each telephone......
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Long Distance - Did you know?The USF fee is a mandatory fee implemented by the FCC. Companies can however charge a higher % than required. A higher USF fee can have a significant effect on your final bill. We include the USF Fee into our "Yearly Savings" formula which has a significant role in which plan has the highest Yearly Savings value. This fee goes to High Cost/Low Income Fund, Schools, Libraries, Rural Health Care, and Telecommunications Relay Services or TRS Fund. Got a minute? We'd love to hear from you...We'd appreciate a minute of your time to help us better understand our precious visitors. Click here to take a short and completely anonymous survey. ~ many thanks :)
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