10 QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE SWITCHING TELEPHONE SERVICE

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Rural Humboldt County, CA, USA January 30, 2006 --

As the options for for telephone service become more numerous, more businesses and households can save money or obtain better service by switching to different local and long distance service providers, or even different forms of telephone service. However, many find themselves with unexpected problems and expenses after switching incautiously or incorrectly. Sam Thorne, of CompetingPrices.com offers service-switching tips for comparison shoppers who consider switching phone services.

According to Thorne, the answers we need are only available to shoppers who learn what the questions are:

Does a phone company always charge the same rate?: Most long distance telephone companies charge rates for in-state calls that are different from the rates they charge for interstate calls. Most, but not all, charge the same rate for Intra-LATA, (Local Access and Transport Area, a.k.a. �local toll calls�), calls that they charge for in-state calls. Make sure of the new phone company's policy. Switching Intra-LATA service when choosing a new long distance carrier is usually optional, so be sure which option is chosen.
What if my PIC is Frozen?: Each long distance telephone company handles PIC, (Presubscribed Interexchange Carrier; refers to a seven-digit code that identifies each long distance carrier), Freezes according to procedures dictated by technologies that may vary from one location to another even for the same company, so any attempt by the consumer to handle the process before receiving instructions from the new phone company can cause problems, delay starting the new service, and cost more money. It's best to ask the new phone company for instructions at the first opportunity.
Should I cancel my old phone account?: This depends upon the kind of service is replaced:

Local phone service:

If the local phone account is canceled, the consumer must pay to have a new account installed by the Local Exchange Carrier, (LEC).

Local, VOIP, or cellular phone service:

If the existing phone account is canceled, the consumer no longer has a phone number to �port�, (keep the old number), and a new number must be assigned.

Long distance phone service:

The new phone company will switch to their service for the consumer, but they have no authority to cancel the current long distance account, so if the current long distance company charges a monthly fee, they will continue to charge that fee until the consumer cancels the account. Even if they don't charge a fee, it would only be proper to notify them that their service is no longer in use.

What taxes and fees will I pay?: Taxes and other fees vary, not only from one type of service to another, and from place to place, but also from one carrier to another, and from place to place for the same carrier or type of service. In general, most taxes and fees are charged as percentages, so once you have established what the variables are for your situation, you can generally lower your taxes by lowering your cost.
What if I only want to change my local phone service?: Local phone service is generally only sold bundled together with long distance service, so make sure that the new bundled service does not place the customer under contract to keep the bundled long distance service. Once the bundled account is established, the customer's long distance carrier will be happy to switch the long distance to their service.
What if I don't already have a phone line, or my phone is cellular or VOIP?: If the local phone company denies a consumer service due to an unpaid bill or credit rating, it is unlikely any competing company will offer service, regardless whether the consumer deserves such treatment, or not. It may be easier to obtain a prepaid phone account.; Otherwise, it may be possible to order a new phone line through a phone company other than the LEC, (Local Exchange Carrier). However, many customers who do so experience severe delays and poor service because:; Therefore, Thorne suggests ordering new phones line through the local phone company, and only switching to the chosen phone company when satisfied that the line is correctly installed.
What if I have DSL?: Consumers with a DSL line will need to cancel DSL service before transferring local phone service to a different company. DSL service may be reinstated afterward, if the new phone company offers it. Most don't, but any type of broadband service that is available may still be installed on a separate line. Keeping DSL service on the same line may require installing a new line, on which to order new services.
What if I have Universal Lifeline Service?: Consumers with Universal Lifeline Service will lose that status when changing to a different telephone service or provider, so they are better off to keep the Universal Lifeline telephone account. To save more money, try comparison shopping for long distance carriers, instead.
What about VOIP, (Internet Telephony)?: A VOIP telephone account can be an economical alternative to local telephone service, depending upon how the service is used. In general, VOIP service requires an existing broadband Internet connection. However, some consumers who have reliably fast dial-up Internet service can multi-task a regular telephone line by using a VOIP account over the dial-up connection. However, using VOIP over a dial-up connection will have a severe impact upon the bandwidth available for other uses. To use VOIP over a dial-up connection, make sure that the VOIP plan chosen allows use of the phone from any Internet connection, because it will appear to the VOIP service that the customer is using a different connection every time the Internet connection is dialed
What about Cellular Phone Service?: Many consumers are switching entirely to cellular phone service, usually for the sake of increased mobility or features, or as in Thorne's case, to obtain more reliable service. �A storm can knock out my cellular company's tower out of commission as easily as it knocks out my landline, (local phone service), but on the landline, I can't call on Roam, (using a competing company's cellular tower)�, according to Thorne, who is a disabled college student living in rural Humboldt County, near Eureka, California.