OK, I am now in the market for a more cost effective long distance plan. After reviewing my ld bill, I gave MCI a call and they said that the rates went up. What ticks me off is that they never contacted me to let me know that.

And, as a side note, I find it odd because ld rates are only going down, not up.

Anyway, I need a plan that doesn't charge a monthly fee and gives good rates on a per call basis.

Please share your knowledge so I can make an educated selection.

MCI Stinks!!! They called and called me bugging the crap out of me so I would switch to them. They told me 5 cents per minute long distance any time of the day or week. And if I made any long distances calls during the month they would waive the $4.95 per month charge.

Well when my bill came they had charged me 15 cents a minute. So I called them up and explained to them what the sales rep had told me. The customer service department said we have never had a 5 cents a minute plan. So I asked her why did they tell me this and why would I switch to a plan like this which is twice as high as what I was paying. She then informed to me that the last time that they had the 5 cents a minute plan was in May (This was August now).

MCI is currently being sued in a class action lawsuit for charging people too much, but I can't remember exactly what the details were.

I just use those 10-10 numbers now.

I was with MCI several years ago... I made a lot of international calls at that time... Every month I have to call the customer support and complaint for about 1 hour since they the rate wrong.

Lasy year I was with MCI too... nothing went wrong with the rate, except the connection is so bad (international calls) such that I think they do something like voice over IP (delays and static!). Even some calling cards (cheaper ones, the one that might actually use voice over IP) has a better connection than MCI (for 1/3 of the price) and not so much delay than the more expensive MCI connction.

Anyway, I have always used calling cards now, both for long distance and international calls. If you are a SAMS club member (or just get your friend who is), you can buy an AT&T calling card with only 4.9c/mi, no surchage, and no monthly fees. International calling cards vary depending on what contry you are calling. Calling cards work better for me...

cheers,
:beer:

I was screwed by them SOB`s also! I have the same problem as Matrix, except I think they said 7 cents per min and $4.95 a month. I just took a look at my bill for this month and sure enough they are charging me 15 friggin cents a minute! You know what the bad thing is? My wife told me not to go with them and that they were a scam! Well needless to say I now have to put up with her saying I told you so. :(

A lot of companies, even some considered reputable, make use of telemarketers who get paid only if they make a sale. They may do it by lying. It doesn't matter if they record your acknowledgemnet of the sale and repeat the lie. That only comes into play later, when you refute charges and they've already been paid.

The company will often say "That's what the telemarketers said, you still have to pay us." as if they had no responsibility in the matter.

The less aggravating way is not to deal with telemarketers and have everything in writing.

I was reminded of that recently with a company marketing digital pagers. An immediate report was filed with the state attorney's office.

I switch a lot before when I first get my own telephone line. But now I stay with AT&T and has been pretty happy so far with their quality and service. They do have a monthly fees if I am not mistaken.

Had one bad experience with MCI maybe about 1 or 2 years ago. They tried to make me switch and since I do mostly international call, I asked them right away straight to the point how much it gonna cost me for calling the country I called the most. They were quoting me the same rate as the one I am using at that time (AT&T). Even after telling them that I don't care about their ld rate is 1cent cheaper than ATT they still trying hard to get me switch. Even say that they will give me 100 mnts free every months for the next 6 months INCLUDING INTERNATIONAL CALL. I know that not typically the case, so I told them I will think about it first. Then someone else called from MCI and I asked about that offer before, and she said nope...it's only for LD. damn.... I had it with MCI... I even ask them to put my name on their DO NOT CALL list....

but lately, I am using calling card or 10-15-992 which only cost me 1/3 compare to ATT. Quality not as good.. but most of the time good enough for me....

conclusion, go with a good calling card or dial-around plan...cheaper... the quality usually not bad....

Michael, my suggetion is http://www.powernetglobal.com (I am with them). $0.05/min LD, $2.50 fee if less than $15/mo bill, otherwise no monthly fee. No charge to have a 800#/mo. and 6 sec billing. I have no complaints, and have been much happier since I switched off Sprint/MCI/ATT etc.

The best part of it is when ATT calls and starts blabbing, I cut off the telemarketer, and tell them:

"Let's cut to the chase- you got anything that can beat 24/7 $0.05/min billed in 6 secs., no monthly, and same rate for my no monthly inbound 800#?"

Shuts them up quickly and I've gotten fewer calls to switch recently :)

they also have a somwhat annoying but money saving way of cheaper international calls. if I dial Korea direct, I pay $0.40/min, but if I dial 888-30-30-630-number, it is $0.15 (which I like the price of much better so we speed dial the first part).

Hope that helps you...

[Edited by Chicken on 03-23-2001 at 01:27 AM]

Side note.

What I'd like is another LOCAL carrier. As I stated bove, my LD is thru powernet, but my phone service is through PacHell (oops, PacBell), and here's a summary of my last bill:

Keep in mind that all my LD is billed seperately.

Total: $67.52

Of which $39.95 is for DSL, so that leaves $27.57 and the calls I made (all 5 of them) total $0.40 and were local calls (which we get charged for) to the next town, San Pedro, CA and I'm charged between $0.0275-$0.11 depending on some method they use which I can't figure out.

Feb 9th 1:59 pm 1 minute was $0.07
Feb 9th 2:00 pm 4 minutes was $0.11

Go figure.

Anywhoooo... so were're at $0.40 regardless...

next we have two calls made using one of those 10-10 dial arounds, which this paricular one rips you off and I've begged my wife never to use again (one minute call to Skokie Illinois was $0.99!!!). She missed the all calls up to 20 minutes is only $0.99 (which means that a 1-20 minute call costs the same).

Anywhoooo... so were're at $3.63 total so far.

Somehow that becomes $27.57 which means I am paying $23.94 in assorted monthly charges, fees, taxes, etc. My buddy just dumped phone service to his house and uses his cell phone (and gets free LD with his plan).

I have a similar plan. Hmmmmmmmm.

Gordon? Why Gordon?

You know, Michael Gordon? Famous basketball player?

Really I'm just trying to confuse you. For whatever reason I mix you up with Gordon, I don't know why. I think I've done this before to either you or him via email too.

*slaps self with salmon*

Heh, Yeah I know. You did that to me before via email. I was just playin with ya!

Darn it all... and I just got one of those 7¢/min. if you place $25/mo in LD calls, or add $4.95/mo if you don't... only they also have a 9¢/min no monthly fee 24/7 rate... which is what I signed up for.

If dem *******s overcharge me, I'll be extremely peeved. I signed up both business lines and both residential lines... ooooh, I feel the need for Excedrin coming.

Chicken> thanks for the lead. I'm gonna check that out next, so I am prepared when it all hits the fan.

And here I thought I was doing a good thing!!! Sprint was charging me up to 36¢ for my first LD minute PLUS a $10/mo fee on my fax/modem line. Argh. :( Thanks for the warning, guys. I am glad I'm not going to walk into this one completely blind.

:D Bailey

Originally posted by WeinBar
OK, I am now in the market for a more cost effective long distance plan. After reviewing my ld bill, I gave MCI a call and they said that the rates went up. What ticks me off is that they never contacted me to let me know that.

And, as a side note, I find it odd because ld rates are only going down, not up.

Anyway, I need a plan that doesn't charge a monthly fee and gives good rates on a per call basis.

Please share your knowledge so I can make an educated selection.

Broadwing can get you some pretty good rates. They got a real good rate on our long distance (We switched from MCI).

The best thing to do if you have a somewhat of a large long distance bill is to get a Voice T1 ($120/month + loop) and your rates will be from .02-.05/minute. You'll only get a good deal if you spend over $1,500/month in long distance though.

Let me know if you want my reps contact -- he will take care of you.

Check out http://callatn.com I have been using them for about 3 years at the same $.069/minute with 6 second billing and no monthly fee. I also have a 800 number with them with the same rates for inbound calls.

Originally posted by Chicken
... and were local calls (which we get charged for) to the next town, San Pedro, CA and I'm charged between $0.0275-$0.11 depending on some method they use which I can't figure out.

Must be a CA thing. Here in north east NJ, I don't get charged for calls in my neighboring towns. I can call for free 85% of my county and about 50% of my neighboring county.

Local calls in this area are free, but long distance charges are outrageous. You can't go with Verizon, ATT, or MCI. You need to go with an alternate provider or else you'll be paying for an arm and a leg!

Originally posted by Marty
Check out http://callatn.com I have been using them for about 3 years at the same $.069/minute with 6 second billing and no monthly fee. I also have a 800 number with them with the same rates for inbound calls.

Marty, interesting. I actually tried to sign up for atn, but was called by someone about powernet who convinced me to go with them instead. I think this is some sort of switch thing which is most likely illegal, but anywhooo, the site looked professional, and they answered the call-back, so I decided to abort my mission with atn.

It was a bit odd however.

You've got to love how the phone company works. I'd switch entirely to a cell phone, but I don't get coverage at my house, too many trees.

LOL, opposite problem, too many buildings and cement! Also, sending faxes etc... (I have to explore web>fax and see what the deal with that is. I've looked at it before, but if anyone has any wonderful links, please post).

Chicken,

That is strange, maybe ATN just doesn't do service to chicken coops. :)

Yeah, the rep said something about atn closing down, which I didn't fully believe, but the rate was better at the other place, and their site looked more professional so I decided to go with them. Really a bit odd though. It was like some 3rd party something that I *think* sold to both atn and powernet (but I could be wrong on that).

We were *really* lucky in terms of a long distance war among our Alaska Telco giants...

GCI is the new commer

ACS is been around and use to be called ATU run by the city of Anchorage, ACS bought out ATU

ATU had about a 75% market share in local service in anchorage

GCI started taking those customers away. So ACS ran a campain called "Infinate Minutes" which you can get unlimited calls instate and outofstate for only $30 a month.

Now this is Alaska, and we always have higher prices, no matter what service it is. Everyone signed up for this deal, and as it turns out, 5 months later ACS is already trying to scrap the plan because they are loosing money (DUH!) Under normal fees, we usually pay 10 cents to out of state and 14 cents in state

so we got a bargin :)

MCI sucks........

They have more dirty people working in MCI than any other company i know of.......

If you can help it,i would advise staying clear of MCI

The Dude :)

I use ezTel at my house.

4.9 cents a minute, interstate and intrastate, no monthly fees, no minimum account usage requirements and most importanly, 6 second billing increments.

Their URL is http://www.eztel.net

Originally posted by The Dude*
MCI sucks........

They have more dirty people working in MCI than any other company i know of.......

If you can help it,i would advise staying clear of MCI

The Dude :)

Hey, my brother is in charge of all of the fiber in Washington DC for WorldCom, which is MCI!

He's not dirty . . .

haha. Bye MCI. Thank you, T-Mobile :)

PS Yes, they called back trying to enroll me on the 5c /min plan.

Originally posted by timechange
haha. Bye MCI. Thank you, T-Mobile :)

PS Yes, they called back trying to enroll me on the 5c /min plan.

I have a t-mobile cell phone (like a motorola) built in aim I'm in love with it lol..The thing about t-mobile that bothers me, is when I bought the phone, I asked how much extra AIM text messages were and they kept questioning why I wanted more then 500 a month (incoming and outgoing), which I could easily burn up. They accused me of wanting to spam and all this crap. But in the end it worked out.

The Dude, goodness, last post was 03-27-2001, you can start a new thread when it is this old!

I just now realized that...lol...pathetic times..

I stick with ATT. They annoy me the least of any of the companies I've dealt with.
I won't use MCI because they keep calling and writing me. Hate it.
I used Sprint briefly. It was pure hell. The plan they sold me didn't exist and everytime I called to get it fixed I ended up with a new account and finally had six accounts -- for one number -- before I gave up on them completely.

att small business 7.9 cents per minute

I now use TalkAmerica. Depending on your location, they may be available. I haven't paid more than $35/month since switching from a local telco, Ameritech. Those losers charged me over $17 for a single phone call and the total bill was more than $90. That's when I switched.

10-10-811 then the number its only 5 cents a minute and no monthly fees.

epitomized,

ezTel Network Services

Q: What’s the cost for long distance calls?

A: It’s 4.9 cent a minute state-to-state calls all the time when you choose electronic billing, and 6.9 cents a minute for paper billing

I hate 2 say this,but 1010220 (mci) is 5 cents for 20 mins...

So,all you do is call someone,talk for about 18 mins,hang up and call back! (hehehe,keeping it at 5 cents)

And,i wasnt saying ALL people in MCI were dirty,didnt anna offend the dude who said his uncle or someone laid the fiber...

The Dude :)

MCI feedback at Planet Feedback.


Long Distance Service (http://www.planetfeedback.com/sharedLettersList/0,2941,102400-9-0-0-20-0-fb_date-desc,00.html).

More feedback on MCI

http://www.thecomplaintstation.com/cgi-bin/frames.cgi?0459

I was with MCI for a while and decided to switch over to At&T but i keeped seeing MCI's monthly charge on there i had to call twice inorder to get my account closed.!!!:angry: :angry: :angry:
but they said they will credit my account and i had to go thure an automated system to close my account. im going to call on fryday to verify my account is indeed closed.


chicken hey thanks for the heads up on the comp your using i am in the need for a 800-888 number :D

laters