Beware of phone solicitors mentioning your local phone company or your current long-distance provider, then promising one phone bill, but will not change your carrier. The major carriers do not bill through the local company and provide competitive rates. The solicitor is a reseller of a major carrier and is likely to actually increase costs if you give the O.K.
Your local phone company will be mentioned during the call, or that they work with your current long distance company and have arranged to put your calls (separate bill now) on your local phone bill. They often imply this will save you money, but haven't a clue what you pay now.
If your local phone company is calling to provide this service the call is legitimate. Many of the Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOC's) have recently been given permission to sell long-distance. AT&T, Worldcom/MCI and other carriers know as CLEC's (Competitive Local Exchange Carriers) can offer one bill and long-distance in some regions of the country. However, most CLECS use direct sales people and AT&T or Worldcom/MCI would also tell you they would be replacing your local phone company, not billing on your local phone bill.
Resellers often contract minutes with most of the major phone companies, so they can honestly tell you that they won't change your carrier... they will change your rates. BEWARE! |
Frequently Asked Questions