Warm: $.07 Long Distance and Local Toll Calls

[jrichrds]

Found a small drawback to having no out-of-state carrier. I am not smart enough (or it can't be done?) to make an out of state FAX call, if it's not a 1-800 FAX number. I can't figure a way to get around having to dial the OneSuite.com 1-800-access, and then a Toll call to FAX.

What you do is manually make the fax call using either the handset on the fax machine or the "speaker" function, and then hit "Send" when you hear the fax tones.
But I've tried on numerous occassions to use OneSuite to send faxes, and the line quality is just too low for faxing. Almost always, I get a line error at some point during the fax process. I don't have any problems using my Sprint phone card to do faxing.

I see a $5 "Interstate Subscriber Line Charge" on my Verizon telephone bill. Does this go away if I cancel my long distance provider?

On the other hand, I've heard that some local phone companies will charge you a monthly fee if you don't have an out-of-state carrier? Is this true?

 

[Meltz]

Looking at my bill so far, I have to say that I've been really pleased with Kiss Long Distance so far. There's a $3.00 monthly fee, but I get 3 cents/min in the US, 5 cents a minute to Canada and 31 cents a minute to Jordan. Since the people living in my apartment call all 3 countries, it's been great. My Jordanian roommate pretty damn happy to be paying half the rate he was before I switched, let me tell you!

 

[slaman]

Sketchy phone card from Chinatown... Mandarin only, but it's hella cheap... $20 phone card for $18, no connection fees, no setup fees, nothing... Plus I get 812 minutes to Canada with it. I suggest phone cards for everyone - go to your local ethnic supermarket and buy one today! I've bought them from Chinatown and a few Arab stores... both have great cards

 

[MyBuds]

Originally posted by: slaman
Sketchy phone card from Chinatown... Mandarin only, but it's hella cheap... $20 phone card for $18, no connection fees, no setup fees, nothing... Plus I get 812 minutes to Canada with it. I suggest phone cards for everyone - go to your local ethnic supermarket and buy one today! I've bought them from Chinatown and a few Arab stores... both have great cards

The "sketchy phone cards" usually are only good if you make long calls. They often have hidden connection charges, monthly fees, and large increment billing. Here's an example. Text1.5 cents a minute to canada and europe from US. but there is a 99cent conection fee, 3 minute billing increment, 49cent/month maintance fee. Theres a similar deal for a US only card. a $20 card gets you 3822 minutes, but thats only if you make one call. when you make many calls, your minutes drop drasticaly because of fees.

 

[technophobic]

I use peachcard.com and pay 1.8 cents a minute for my long calls. I tried using the internet telephony companies before, but I don't think the line quality is as good, especially with international calls.

 

[esquared]

I just checked peachcard out. and while not too bad, they do charge 0.25 per connection and 0.19 per week charge. According to their web site senario of 10-30 minute calls per month (300 minutes), their charge would be 8.66. 300 minutes at Onesuite is 8.70. I make more than 10 connections per month (probably 25-30, which is 6.25 to 7.50 in extra charges per month) so I am better off at Onesuite. Good find for others though.

 

[Mje]

Another vote for OneSuite. I use it almost every day. Sometimes I have to dial the number twice because it doesnt pick up, but I have it on speed dial w/ zip dial so its not too bad. I've never had any other problems, been using it 6 months now.

 

[badluck]

It's funny how people still use other services when there hasn't been a better deal since OneSuite started a few years ago.

 

[diggger]

Another company to consider is Kiss Long Distance (www.kissld.com).

They are 3 cents/minute interstate, billed in 6 second increments, and provide intrastate service as well. (I pay 3 cents for call is in NJ). Billed to your cc.

No numbers to dial, etc. - they replace your current long distance carrier.

There is a $3 monthly fee, but waived "for life" if you 2 people to sign up. (and, no, I am not looking for any referrals from this!)

They also have very good international rates. They are affiliated with Covista.

FWIW.

 

[jrichrds]

I'm still wondering if the $5 "Interstate Subscriber Line Charge" on my local monthly phone bill will dissappear if I cancel my long distance provider. I hear local phone companies also tack on a charge when you don't have a long distance provider.
Would like to hear from anyone who canceled their long distance provider in favor of prepaid cards such as OneSuite, etc.

 

[highwire]

I use onesuite.com. I know most of the LD related surcharges go away with cancelling the LD service. Someone can confirm. I know that the dial-a-round number I was using before was adding something related to this. There is nothing added to the onesuite 2.9 cents. No tax, no nothing.

But, they WILL charge you a full 2.9 cent for a 30 second call. Seriously, is that a problem? If you do a lot of hangup calls, I don't wanna know about it.

I am not sure about the comment that onesuite is an internet based system. The blurb on their site implies they are retailing standard system connections - From their site:

How the heck do we do this?
...
We've made a huge advance purchase of long distance bandwidth-basically, call capacity-from one of the big three providers (so the service is pre-paid for us, too!). Because we committed to a large order all at once, they, in turn, gave us a great deal on it.

I've done the internet IP phone thing and it works, but the delay, etc. is noticable. Onesuite seems like regular phone connection service to me. Maybe someone can expand on this.

A light duty LD user can get by on $20 a year for 11 1/2 hrs of LD. And, the rate is 24/7, so you don't have to plan your calls like you were trying to catching a plane. I'll keep it 'till I see something better. Maybe, like completly free.