Telephone Shopping Shortcuts
What Type Of Customer Are You?
- I make very few toll calls, (fewer than 800 minutes per month) and I live in FairPoint territory. I’m not interested in any optional features…
- Consider switching long-distance to Touchtone or Pioneer. Keep FairPoint for local service only.
- I live in FairPoint territory and use fewer than 800 toll minutes per month. I am interested in Caller ID, Call Waiting or Call Forwarding…
- Consider switching local and long-distance service to USA Telephone or Homefield.
- I live in FairPoint territory and use more than 300 minutes per month of instate toll calls…
- Consider Homefield Telecom.
- I plan to use DSL service as my Internet connection in FairPoint territory and want the most economical phone services. I use fewer than 800 minutes per month…
- Keep FairPoint for local service because, currently, most DSL providers will not provide DSL service if you switch your local service from Verizon. You should consider switching your long-distance services to Touchtone or Pioneer.
- I live in FairPoint territory and use more than 800 minutes per month…
- Consider unlimited local and long-distance plans. IDT is the cheapest at $40 per month (not including standard surcharges and taxes). If you use DSL and want an unlimited plan, you’ll probably be limited to one of the FairPoint Freedom packages.
- I am served by a local independent rural phone company…
- Switch instate and interstate long-distance services to Touchtone. You have no alternative choices for local service, other than wireless and voice over Internet.
WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THOSE AT&T ADS?
Last July, AT&T surprised many by announcing that it will no longer market its local or its long-distance services to residential customers. Such news would have been hard to believe in 1983 when AT&T was the monopoly local and long-distance phone company that carried virtually every call in the U.S. Although AT&T has stopped marketing to residential customers, it will continue to serve its existing customers and any new customers who want its service. However, as the Ratewatcher has suggested for the last several years, most consumers have better options than AT&T.
