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Has your phone bill become too much of an expense for you? With the high local service we all have to maintain, plus the extras on our phone, then we have the long distance, this can all add up to a large monthly expense. So most of us need to reduce this monthly cost and we can, that's for
sure.
Let's talk about the extras. Do we actually need them all? The caller identification that costs about six dollars a month, is it really necessary? Do we get that many calls that we need to look at the little box to see who is calling on every ring of the home phone?
Then there is the call waiting, is it necessary, now this could be to a lot of people as they have very important calls due to their job occupation, etc. and may need this option. Do we need three way calling? How many times will we want to talk with two other people at one time, really, it won't be much. Sometimes it is less expensive to just pick one or two of these options that run at least five to six dollars and month and less the others off and save those dollars per month.
Sit down and talk with family members and make some decisions on these monthly options.
Call your local phone company say two times at least a year and say what do you have to offer, what are the costs, and see if you need more services or different ones that you have now that may amount to the same exact prices per month.
If you dial a long distance call and dial it incorrectly, call the operator and tell her the call was dialed incorrect and she will issue a credit for the call. Don't think well it was only a few cents, those misdialed calls can mount up to a bunch over a month's time if you aren't careful.
Are you having the phone company come out every time you have a phone problem? As there is an extra charge for this service, you can test your phone lines yourself, first make sure all phones in the home are on the hook, are plugged in and working, then check the plug out to the pole: perhaps this has been pulled out for some unknown reason. Remember, if the problem is to the telephone pole to your house it's their problem and from the pole to your home it is your problem and you will be charged for your problem.
Now on to long distance service charges: check with your local phone company on the instate rates and also the out of state rates, chances are you won't get instate long distance as cheap as out of state, but inquire first to be sure with your local phone company. Then you'll need to shop around for the best deal for long distance, a lot of long distance companies will charge you a monthly fee to get a cheaper rate, perhaps it will be cheaper after 7 pm. or on the weekends, then you'll need to make the decision if you want to save money on long distance to call friends
and relative, etc. at those special times when the rates are lower and save on those long distance calls.
Also if you own your own phone in your homes it will be cheaper than renting the local phone company phone for a monthly fee. The best advice I can possibly give you is to be a smart and aware consumer with your telephone service, the options, and the long distance and then you will spend less than if you didn't get the correct information, now just enjoy the convenience of having that personal phone in your very own home.
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