long distance

 Does anyone know if this is possible:

I make very few long distance calls. My current long distance has been
creeping up the minimum monthly charge (it started as no minimum and is now
3.50 plus tax). I'd like to cancel my long distance service that I currently
have and instead use some type of prepaid card where I call a local number
and then enter the long distance number I would like to call.

My questions are:

Will a local phone company allow someone to have local service without any
long distance provider?
Will I be able to recieve long distance calls?
Can I call 800 numbers with just local service ( I assume 800 calls won't be
free if I use the prepaid card)?

I know there are long distance services that don't charge a monthly minimum
but they require credit card info and an ssn to do a credit check so I'd
rather avoid them if I can.

Are there any recommendations for prepaid long distance? It would have to be
something where the time doesn't expire since I don't want to have to be
buying more time every so often.

Thanks

  On Fri, 20 Jul 2007 04:25:49 -0400, "mrtdddejspioewhfq"


Zilbandy

 

YES.  Be sure to ask them to freeze your account or whatever they call it to
avoid getting slammed.


You can call 800, 888, 866 numbers for free with just local service.  The
only problem is directory assistance (which is a ripoff anyway).



You can also ask your local telco for whatever longdistance plan is
available in your area without a month minimum or a monthly charge and sign
up for that 'plan', then just never use it.  Just make sure everyone in your
home knows to use the calling card.  (I have the calling card number posted
on an index card next to the phone as a reminder, or you could program it
into your phones memory).



We use the card we bought at Sam's Club several years ago.  I think it comes
out to somewhere around 3 cents per minute, depending on how many minutes
you buy at a time, and the time never expires.  I usually buy 2000 or 2500
minutes at a time and it lasts for about a year before I need to renew it.

 You already got some good answers.  (I dumped my land line long
distance and just use my cell for long distance.)

But I just wanted to add that you might want to try "Skype"

You talk through your computer with a microphone.  It's totally free
when you are talking with someone "computer-to-computer."  But it does
cost if you want to use it to talk "computer to someone's phone."

The sound quality is very very very good.  I talk to people in other
countries with it.

 mrtdddejspioewhfq wrote:

I think your plan to dump them is smart.  There's no reason to pay a monthly
fee, especially when you have low usage.


Yes, I believe the law requires them to let you choose your long distance
provider, and I believe they must allow you to have no long distance
provider at all.  I have done it myself, although it has been years.

By the way, not everyone realizes this, but you actually have two long
distance provider choices to make:  inter-LATA and intra-LATA.  The US is
broken up into areas called LATAs (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LATA  ),
and you can choose on provider for calls within your own LATA and one for
other calls.  The reason I mention this is that you may need to be clear
with your local phone company about which one(s) of these two services you
want to have turned off.  If you don't have them both shut off, I think
they could continue to bill you a monthly fee for just intra-LATA.  My
phone company tried a stupid trick with me like that once:  there was
something like a $2 fee for being on a plan called "1+ Saver".  The $2
fee entitled me to lower rates on calls to an area I never called in
my life.  Grrr.


Sure.  When I had no long distance provider, I was able to.


You should be able to call 800/866/877/888 numbers for free, yeah.  And
you shouldn't need to use the prepaid card to call them.


I had PowerNet Global for many years and was happy with them.  Rates are
low, no monthly fees, they will send you a paper bill in the mail if you
want (on-line billing isn't required), and you can pay by check if you
don't want to do credit card.  http://www.powernetlongdistance.com/  if
you're interested.  They do want an SSN though.


That's why I'd go with a regular plan.  You don't have to worry about
minutes expiring, remembering to fill up your card/account/whatever,
or dialing the access number.

   - Logan